Browsing Not Active on Domain, w/All Firewalls Off!

[Guest]

My wireless network (desktop connected by Ethernet to Linksys Wi-fi router,
second desktop also connected via Ethernet, laptop with Wi-fi) was working
perfectly until I went away last weekend and used the laptop on another
network via a direct Ethernet connection.

Upon returning, I'm getting precisely the symptoms described in

http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html

when trying to share files between the first desktop and the laptop (I
haven't yet touched the second desktop, which is a roommate's machine).

I've done the initial troubleshooting, and "browstat status" is returning
the "Browsing is NOT active on domain" message on the laptop. My desktop
returns what looks to be a valid message: there is a master browser, a backup
browser, and a domain, all correctly named (with the name of my desktop).

I have changed all "Default" NetBIOS over TCP/IP to "Enabled." I have
unplugged my router from the cable modem and turned off all firewalls
(TrendMicro on the laptop, ZoneAlarm on the desktop) . Same problem. The
physical network is working beautifully -- I'm posting this from the laptop
and the roommate's desktop is working fine (when I get a chance I'll check
file sharing between it and my desktop).

In terms of intermittent behavior, once in a while I have gotten full
functionality ("browstat status" returned an error=5 which appears to be
standard and innocuous), and sometimes instead of "Master name cannot be
determined" on the laptop, I get that it (LAPTOP) is master browser, even
though browsing is still not active on the domain.

What the heck is going on? It seems that my network configuration may have
been wrong before (TrendMicro firewall appears to have been set to "Direct
Connect" instead of "Wireless" and Windows Firewall appears to have been on
as well -- unless these settings were changed automatically when I used the
computer on the LAN last weekend), and everything worked fine. Now that it's
set up correctly, this.

 

[Guest]

Furthermore, I have used Regedit to change the Node type for the laptop from
peer-to-peer to "Unknown" (I've added the EnableProxy value = 0 and it's
still reporting Unknown), and that hasn't fixed anything, although both times
I've checked, I get

Browsing is NOT active on domain.
Master browser name is held by: LAPTOP
Master browser is running builed 2600

rather than the "Master name cannot be determined" error.

 

[Guest]

Doubly furthermore, services.msc confirms that the Computer Browser is active.

 

[Chuck]

On Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:39:01 -0700, Eric M. Van <Eric M.

My wireless network (desktop connected by Ethernet to Linksys Wi-fi router,
second desktop also connected via Ethernet, laptop with Wi-fi) was working
perfectly until I went away last weekend and used the laptop on another
network via a direct Ethernet connection.

Upon returning, I'm getting precisely the symptoms described in

http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html

when trying to share files between the first desktop and the laptop (I
haven't yet touched the second desktop, which is a roommate's machine).

I've done the initial troubleshooting, and "browstat status" is returning
the "Browsing is NOT active on domain" message on the laptop. My desktop
returns what looks to be a valid message: there is a master browser, a backup
browser, and a domain, all correctly named (with the name of my desktop).

I have changed all "Default" NetBIOS over TCP/IP to "Enabled." I have
unplugged my router from the cable modem and turned off all firewalls
(TrendMicro on the laptop, ZoneAlarm on the desktop) . Same problem. The
physical network is working beautifully -- I'm posting this from the laptop
and the roommate's desktop is working fine (when I get a chance I'll check
file sharing between it and my desktop).

In terms of intermittent behavior, once in a while I have gotten full
functionality ("browstat status" returned an error=5 which appears to be
standard and innocuous), and sometimes instead of "Master name cannot be
determined" on the laptop, I get that it (LAPTOP) is master browser, even
though browsing is still not active on the domain.

What the heck is going on? It seems that my network configuration may have
been wrong before (TrendMicro firewall appears to have been set to "Direct
Connect" instead of "Wireless" and Windows Firewall appears to have been on
as well -- unless these settings were changed automatically when I used the
computer on the LAN last weekend), and everything worked fine. Now that it's
set up correctly, this.

Eric,

The problem here is SMBs, that the browser depends upon, are being blocked.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/browstat-utility-from-microsoft.html#NotActive>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/browstat-utility-from-microsoft.html#NotActive

For my money, TrendMicro is at the bottom of the problem. Make sure that
there's no TM component that you aren't aware of. Can you get TM back to
previous settings, to see if this makes the symptoms go away, at least for a
while?

 

[Guest]

Great call (cross fingers!). I uninstalled Trend Micro, since I've never
been a big fan of it and wanted to switch to Zone Alarm. It was smart enough
to reactivate Windows Firewall, and all is back to normal, hopefully
permanently.

Thanks for answering and for the extraordinary and comprehensive blog guides!

 

[Chuck]

Great call (cross fingers!). I uninstalled Trend Micro, since I've never
been a big fan of it and wanted to switch to Zone Alarm. It was smart enough
to reactivate Windows Firewall, and all is back to normal, hopefully
permanently.

Thanks for answering and for the extraordinary and comprehensive blog guides!

You're quite welcome. Thanks for the feedback!
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/how-to-post-on-usenet-and-encourage.html#Followup>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/how-to-post-on-usenet-and-encourage.html#Followup