Can't see myself (WS1) when browsing workgroup?

[***** charles]

Hi all,

I just installed XPH with SP2. Turned off firewall.
Set workgroup name to MYLAN, set name of
computer to WS1, shared D drive so any could
read/modify. Rebouted computer. When I try
to click on MYLAN in Windows Explorer it
should list my computer (just like it does in W98).
However I get the following error message:

MYLAN is not accessable.
You might not have permission
to use this network resource.
Contact the administrator of this server.
to find out if you have access permissions.

The list of servers for this workgroup is
not currently available.

My acount name is CHARLES and I am the one
who installed the OS and I have administrative
privilages. I will eventually need to transfer files
from a W98 machine to this one but if the XP
machine can't even browse the workgroup, that
will never happen. The NIC of the XP machine
is hooked to a switch and the link lights are
working appropriately. The DHCP services
are working fine and the XP machine has an IP of
192.168.1.100 with a mask of 255.255.255.0
What am I missing? Shouldn't I be to at least "see"
myself in the workgroup?

thanks,
charles.....

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

Try:

1. On the XP machine, click Start/Control Panel/Perfomance and
Maintenance/Adminstrative Tools/Services. Double click on Computer Browser
and change the setting from Automatic to Manual. Reboot and wait several
minutes - it can take 15 minutes for a newly started machine to appear in
the browse list.

2. Even if you cannot browse, you may still be able to transfer files. On
the Win98 machine try: Start/Run \\192.168.1.100 ENTER.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[***** charles]

Hi Doug,

Thanks for the response.

At the moment the 98 machine is not even connected to
the switch. The only machine connected is the XP machine.
I thought I would take it one step at a time:
setup the XP machine
setup the 98 machine
copy with Windows Explorer all the data with drag and drop
all I need to do is copy and paste the MY DOC dir.

Since the XP machine is the only one on the local net, isn't
it reasonable that it is the master browser? and after I add
the 98 machine, the XP machine will still be the master
browser between the two? Isn't the browse list provided
by the computer that is the master browser of the lan?
(no domain). I thought that the first Windows machine
that is turned on in a lan (pier2per) is and stays the master
browser until it is turned off. And if it is turned off, there
is a vote amoung the computers that are left on the lan to
determine which computer will take up that function.

by the way, the XP machine has SP2 on it. I did disable
the firewall but I haven't checked the file sharing part yet,
which I suspect may be part of the problem.

charles......

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

I assumed that the Win98 computer was connected.

The master browser for a network is selected through an election process.
It does not matter which machine is started first; every time a potential
browser is started, it will force a new election.

Theoretically, the newer/superior operating system should win the election.
So if the XP's Computer Browser service is running, XP should win an
election against a Win98 machine. In practice Win9x machines are notorious
for refusing to accept defeat in elections; this causes conflicts and can
result in browser failure. If you turn off the Computer Browser service on
the XP machine, the Win9x machine will be the master browser. However,
unless you have at least 2 machines connected to this network, there is no
point in trying to troubleshoot.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

Hmmm - that wasn't quite right was it? Meant to say that whenever a
potential browser starts and cannot find a master browser, it forces an
election. You are correct that XP 'should' remain the master browser, but
don't count on Win98 recognizing it. If the sole purpose of this network is
to copy the My Documents folder from a Win98 machine, you do not need
browsing anyway. Also, it might be easier/faster to pull the Win98 hard
drive and install it as a slave in the XP machine.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[***** charles]

Hmmm - that wasn't quite right was it? Meant to say that whenever a
potential browser starts and cannot find a master browser, it forces an
election. You are correct that XP 'should' remain the master browser, but
don't count on Win98 recognizing it. If the sole purpose of this network is
to copy the My Documents folder from a Win98 machine, you do not need
browsing anyway. Also, it might be easier/faster to pull the Win98 hard
drive and install it as a slave in the XP machine.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

Already thought of doing the hd swap but would prefer to learn more
about windows networking so I can solve future problems if/when they
occur.

Just an aside, I have had a W98SE machine and an XPH machine
on the same lan and the W98SE machine saw the D drive on the
XPH machine that was formated NTFS. Never thought that
would happen.

charles......

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

You should be able to network these two machines. There are often some
peculiar browsing problems between Win9x and XP, but they can usually be
resolved. A Win9x machine is capable of accessing NTFS shares - it just
can't access local NTFS volumes.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP