Problem w/- My Network Places

[Gil]

Windows XP Pro SP1

I have suddenly lost *My Network Places* from the Start menu.
It exists in Explorer but I can only see *Entire Network* - in other words
all the shared folders on this and other machines on this p2p setup have
disappeared.
NetBios over TCP/IP is enabled and Computer Browser is started
automatically.

Any ideas please?
TIA
Gil

 

[Nico Tomacelli [MSFT]]

Hi Gil,

You can manually add it back to the Start Menu by doing the following:

Right click Start - Properties. Customize button. Advanced Tab.
Under Start menu items, select the check box for My Network Places.

Or you can simply add a shortcut to My Network Places, and then it will
automatically add My Network Places to the Start Menu.

As far as all the shared folders disappearing.

How long has it been since this machine has seen the other machine? More
than 48 hours? If so, then it will delete all the shares since it's last
contact with the machine was 48hours +. However, the next time you open the
My Network Places window...it will redetect them.

Is the workstation service running? What happens when you do a net view
<other computer> from a cmd line? Does it see the shares? Have you turned
the firewall on, on either machine?

Please let me know if none of the above worked.

Thanks,
Nico Tomacelli
Microsoft Corp.
US - Windows Core:SOLID

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[Gil]

Many thanks for the reply.
It now appears that, unbeknown to me, another user had _manually_ removed
the shared folders from Network Places.
They have now been restored by deleting(?) their keys in the registry (
WorkGroupCrawler/Shares - if memory serves).
I read somewhere that the theory is that having been removed manually it is
assumed that the user no longer requires them so there is no *refresh*
facility.
So, presumably, the only way to resore them is via the registry.

TKS
Gil

 

[Nico Tomacelli [MSFT]]

Hi Gil,

Yes, the registry is the only way to correct the issue of the user deleting
the shortcut from My Network Places. It is under
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\WorkgroupCrawler\Shares.

Thanks,
Nico Tomacelli
Microsoft Corp.
US - Windows Core:SOLID

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
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When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader
so that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
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