Can I assign a permanent Browsemaster?

[Guest]

I have a home network of several computers, a mix of desktops and laptops.
All are running XP Pro, SP2. For some reason, one of the laptops frequently
gets set to be the browsemaster. When this happens, the others are unable to
browse the network (I get a message saying unable to browse the network,
remote server is paused). I want one of the desktops to be defined as a
"permanent" browsemaster. At the same time I don't want to do anything to
any of the laptops that affect their participation in any other networks when
they leave my home. Can I do this?

Also, can anyone explain why the laptop ends up being the browsemaster when
all systems are running the same version of Windows? Can anyone further
explain why I would have problems browsing the network when the laptop is the
browsemaster?

Thanks.

 

[Guest]

I forgot to say that the laptops are connected to the network via wireless
router/access point.

 

[Chuck]

I have a home network of several computers, a mix of desktops and laptops.
All are running XP Pro, SP2. For some reason, one of the laptops frequently
gets set to be the browsemaster. When this happens, the others are unable to
browse the network (I get a message saying unable to browse the network,
remote server is paused). I want one of the desktops to be defined as a
"permanent" browsemaster. At the same time I don't want to do anything to
any of the laptops that affect their participation in any other networks when
they leave my home. Can I do this?

Also, can anyone explain why the laptop ends up being the browsemaster when
all systems are running the same version of Windows? Can anyone further
explain why I would have problems browsing the network when the laptop is the
browsemaster?

Thanks.

Liz,

The browser is an interesting source of networking problems. In a peer-peer
network, with no actual servers, everything is equal, and choice of master
browser (browsemaster) can be seemingly random.

If you have one computer that is guaranteed to be online whenever any one
computer is active, that is the computer that needs to be your browsemaster.
You need to Stop and Disable the Computer Browser service on the other
computers, and ensure that the Computer Browser service on the designated
computer is Started and Automatic.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/services-running-on-your-computer.html>

To understand the reasons for the laptop being chosen as browsemaster, and to
diagnose the problems caused, please read my article, and the linked articles by
Microsoft.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Chuck. If I disable the browser service on the other computers, is
that a permanent change? Will my family members need to restart it when they
get to work or school?

 

[Chuck]

Thanks, Chuck. If I disable the browser service on the other computers, is
that a permanent change? Will my family members need to restart it when they
get to work or school?

Thanks, Chuck. If I disable the browser service on the other computers, is
that a permanent change? Will my family members need to restart it when they
get to work or school?

Liz,

If you have a portable computer that's being carried between 2 or more networks,
it shouldn't be acting as the browsemaster on either. Windows Networking
depends upon having a consistent browsemaster, that's online whenever its
services are needed. When any computer that's acting as the browsemaster moves
to another network, both networks can suffer.

Also, the browser only provides a service to all computers in the same domain or
workgroup (by name), so I'd be real intrigued to learn how the other computers
(of your family) network in other locations. Windows Networking, and browsing,
really works best for static LANs. When you have computer moving between LANs,
you have various possibilities for problems.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/have-laptop-will-travel.html>

 

[Guest]

Thanks again, Chuck. I disabled the browser service on the laptop that
seemed to win the "browser wars" and my desktop is now the browsemaster. As
I think through the situation, I don't think any of the laptops actually are
members of another network. They are just single computers accessing the
internet - one at my husband's work and my two daughters are college
students. In any case, none of them really need to access other computers
except when they are home and we share files and printers.

So I think I am OK now. Thank you so much for your help.

 

[Chuck]

Thanks again, Chuck. I disabled the browser service on the laptop that
seemed to win the "browser wars" and my desktop is now the browsemaster. As
I think through the situation, I don't think any of the laptops actually are
members of another network. They are just single computers accessing the
internet - one at my husband's work and my two daughters are college
students. In any case, none of them really need to access other computers
except when they are home and we share files and printers.

So I think I am OK now. Thank you so much for your help.

Glad to help. Thanks for letting us know how it turned out.