Common problem two PCs one cant see the other browstat and ipconfig files enclosed

[Tony Williams]

I have two computers A and B A runs XP home, B runs XP Pro
B can see A and access files, B can see A but can't access files
Followed all the tips from previous posts about File and Printer Sharing and
checked firewall but no luck
Here are the ipconfig and browser files for both machines

Computer A
browstat.txt
Will not produce a browstat.txt file nothing there???

ipconfig.txt
Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Wendy

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : WAG54GS



Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : WAG54GS

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast
Ethernet NIC #2

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0A-E6-32-E3-8D

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.100

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.1

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 62.6.40.178

194.72.9.38

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 17 March 2006 11:15:59

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 18 March 2006 11:15:59

Computer B
browstat.txt
Status for domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{27814B2A-D5D5-4B62-BE34-F68FF1F01B11}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: WENDY
Could not connect to registry, error = 53 Unable to determine build
of browser master: 53
Unable to determine server information for browser master: 5
1 backup servers retrieved from master WENDY
\\WENDY
There are 2 servers in domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{27814B2A-D5D5-4B62-BE34-F68FF1F01B11}
There are 1 domains in domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{27814B2A-D5D5-4B62-BE34-F68FF1F01B11}

ipconfig.txt
Windows IP Configuration



Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : tw

Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :

Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown

IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : WAG54GS



Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 9:



Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : WAG54GS

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Instant Wireless USB Network
Adapter ver.2.6 #7

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-06-25-19-1E-56

Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.101

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.1

DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.1

DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 62.6.40.178

194.72.9.38

Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 17 March 2006 12:13:56

Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 18 March 2006 12:13:56

Looks like there is a browser problem with A but I've no idea how to solve
that as I'm not a network expert. Can anyone help? Chuck??

Thanks
Tony

 

[Tony Williams]

Sorry got browstat on 2nd try
Here it is
Status for domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{63AE7699-8A37-4023-8BA4-871A3B2B5F76}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: TW
Could not open key in registry, error = 5 Unable to determine build
of browser master: 5
\\\\TW . Version:05.01 Flags: 71203 NT POTENTIAL BACKUP
MASTER
1 backup servers retrieved from master TW
\\TW
There are 2 servers in domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{63AE7699-8A37-4023-8BA4-871A3B2B5F76}
There are 1 domains in domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{63AE7699-8A37-4023-8BA4-871A3B2B5F76}
Thanks
Tony

 

[Chuck]

OK, Tony,

I have looked at your earlier problem reports, and progress to date. Let's
review the situation.

You have 2 computers - one from work, and the other at home. One is a laptop,
and the other a desktop. One is running XP Home, the other XP Pro.

I'm guessing that Wendy is the home computer, the desktop unit, and it's running
XP Home? In which case, is TW running XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled
or disabled?

If Wendy sees TW as the master browser, that means that TW is running the
browser service. Let's try stopping the browser on Wendy, then shut both
computers down. Then bring up one computer, followed by the other. Then rerun
browstat on both computers.

 

[Tony Williams]

Hi Chuck glad to hear from you!!

TW is running XP Pro with simple file sharing enabled
Do I need to restart in any particular order ie desktop first of laptop
first?
Thanks
Tony

 

[Tony Williams]

Sorry Chuck you said "let's try stopping the browser on Wendy how do I do
that?
Tony

 

[Tony Williams]

Ok so I closed both machines down and started TW first and then Wendy and
here are the browstat reports

TW
Status for domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{27814B2A-D5D5-4B62-BE34-F68FF1F01B11}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: TW
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master TW
\\TW
There are 4 servers in domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{27814B2A-D5D5-4B62-BE34-F68FF1F01B11}
There are 1 domains in domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{27814B2A-D5D5-4B62-BE34-F68FF1F01B11}


Wendy
Status for domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{63AE7699-8A37-4023-8BA4-871A3B2B5F76}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: TW
Could not open key in registry, error = 5 Unable to determine build
of browser master: 5
\\\\TW . Version:05.01 Flags: 51203 NT POTENTIAL MASTER
1 backup servers retrieved from master TW
\\TW
There are 4 servers in domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{63AE7699-8A37-4023-8BA4-871A3B2B5F76}
There are 1 domains in domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{63AE7699-8A37-4023-8BA4-871A3B2B5F76}

Does that help Chuck? There is obviously a problem here.
As a matter of interest I've just connected another laptop running W2K to my
network. It could access TW no problem but couldn't access Wendy although it
could see it. Do I assume the problem is therfore with Wendy? (She'll be
dismayed to know it is )
Thanks for your help
Tony

 

[Chuck]

Ok so I closed both machines down and started TW first and then Wendy and
here are the browstat reports

TW
Status for domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{27814B2A-D5D5-4B62-BE34-F68FF1F01B11}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: TW
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master TW
\\TW
There are 4 servers in domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{27814B2A-D5D5-4B62-BE34-F68FF1F01B11}
There are 1 domains in domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{27814B2A-D5D5-4B62-BE34-F68FF1F01B11}


Wendy
Status for domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{63AE7699-8A37-4023-8BA4-871A3B2B5F76}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: TW
Could not open key in registry, error = 5 Unable to determine build
of browser master: 5
\\\\TW . Version:05.01 Flags: 51203 NT POTENTIAL MASTER
1 backup servers retrieved from master TW
\\TW
There are 4 servers in domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{63AE7699-8A37-4023-8BA4-871A3B2B5F76}
There are 1 domains in domain WORKGROUP on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{63AE7699-8A37-4023-8BA4-871A3B2B5F76}

Does that help Chuck? There is obviously a problem here.
As a matter of interest I've just connected another laptop running W2K to my
network. It could access TW no problem but couldn't access Wendy although it
could see it. Do I assume the problem is therfore with Wendy? (She'll be
dismayed to know it is )
Thanks for your help
Tony

Tony,

That's a good start. Both TW and Wendy now have elected TW as the master
browser. When you use My Network Places / Network Neighborhood, you have to
start there.

Now, if you have multiple computers able to see another computer in MNP / NN,
but can't view it, and you have eliminated the browser from the problem, then
you have to look at file share permissioning (authentication / authorisation).
Please start by reading my File Sharing tutorial. Learn the differences between
XP Home, XP Pro with Simple File Sharing, XP Pro with Advanced File Sharing /
Guest authentication, and XP Pro with AFS / non-Guest authentication.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html

If that doesn't solve all problems, then let's look at the network in total. So
far, we've discussed but 2 computers. What else do you have on the network?

 

[Tony Williams]

Chuck I've ticked Simple file sharing on TW (XP Pro), and tried setting up
two user with same name and password but still nothing

At the moment there is nothing else on the network TW and Wendy are
connected through a 4 port/ wireless Linksys ADSL Router, is that where the
4 domains come from?
I see so many posts about this problem there must be a solution somewhere
but it is frustrating.
Anyway any other ideas?
Thanks for sticking with me I'm in the UK and it's getting late in the day
now, the brain's slowing down
Tony

 

[Chuck]

Chuck I've ticked Simple file sharing on TW (XP Pro), and tried setting up
two user with same name and password but still nothing

At the moment there is nothing else on the network TW and Wendy are
connected through a 4 port/ wireless Linksys ADSL Router, is that where the
4 domains come from?
I see so many posts about this problem there must be a solution somewhere
but it is frustrating.
Anyway any other ideas?
Thanks for sticking with me I'm in the UK and it's getting late in the day
now, the brain's slowing down
Tony

Tony,

I see browstat, from both TW and Wendy:

There are 4 servers in domain WORKGROUP
There are 1 domains in domain WORKGROUP

The "4 servers" means 4 computers running File and Printer Sharing.

Now, if you've "ticked" (does that mean "checked" or "unchecked"?) SFS, then you
have to have a properly setup account for authentication / authorisation. Start
by checking the Guest account on both computers. Read my article please.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html#Help>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html#Help

If that doesn't help, then you have a firewall problem.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html

 

[Tony Williams]

Chuck I unchecked SFS on TW
I've read the notes on File sharing and tried setting up an account with
admin privelegse on both machines and then logged on as these users. Still
no luck.
neither machine has any other firewall apart from the XP firewall which has
FPS checked in both cases. They are both running Grisofts AVG Antivirus
which I don't think has any firewall elements and as they're both running it
why should it work for Wendy to access TW and not the other way round.

There seems to be a problem with Wendy. As I said I tried connecting another
laptop with W2k and that worked fine with TW but didn't access Wendy and TW
was able to access the other laptop. So I would seem to think that Wendy is
the problem but I suspect I'm exhausting solutions here. TW works fine with
other machines it's only Wendy that has the problem. Is this an XP Home
pecurliarity?

It's 18.35 here now and my head hurts, I've been at this for two days? If
you could post any further suggestions I will try tomorrow and come back to
you tomorrow (or Monday)

I wonder how all the other people that post this error manage to solve the
problem???

Thanks Chuck
Tony

 

[Chuck]

Chuck I unchecked SFS on TW
I've read the notes on File sharing and tried setting up an account with
admin privelegse on both machines and then logged on as these users. Still
no luck.
neither machine has any other firewall apart from the XP firewall which has
FPS checked in both cases. They are both running Grisofts AVG Antivirus
which I don't think has any firewall elements and as they're both running it
why should it work for Wendy to access TW and not the other way round.

There seems to be a problem with Wendy. As I said I tried connecting another
laptop with W2k and that worked fine with TW but didn't access Wendy and TW
was able to access the other laptop. So I would seem to think that Wendy is
the problem but I suspect I'm exhausting solutions here. TW works fine with
other machines it's only Wendy that has the problem. Is this an XP Home
pecurliarity?

It's 18.35 here now and my head hurts, I've been at this for two days? If
you could post any further suggestions I will try tomorrow and come back to
you tomorrow (or Monday)

I wonder how all the other people that post this error manage to solve the
problem???

Thanks Chuck
Tony

Tony,

The fun thing about "this error message" is that it has so many possible causes.
From a physical network problem (where a computer entry, previously cached in
Network Neighborhood, could be inaccessible right now), to the server being
configured to block your access. What's frustrating is when folks see all the
individual problems, and think that they all have a single cause. Consider how
unique each computer is please.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/computer-uniqueness.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/computer-uniqueness.html

Please read my article on problem resolution.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html

Now AVG, I believe, has an antiworm component. Many antivirus / antiworm
products are known to cause problems. Many helpers here simply recommend (no
they demand) outright to un install all personal firewalls (and follow
instructions from the vendor too - no un install wizards) before they will even
try to help.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html

And further note that my blog, and its many words of wisdom, may or may not be
accessible during the coming time. Blogspot has been having intermittent
problems, which may continue for some time. This is affecting thousands of
people, some trying to access my blogs, others any of hundreds of other blogs of
other people.
<http://bloggerstatusforreal.blogspot.com/>
http://bloggerstatusforreal.blogspot.com/

 

[Tony Williams]

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the problem? Well I looked at your explanations or Error 5 and
RestrictAnonymous and although I didn't know what RestrictAnonymous was I
searched the Microsoft Knowledge Base and found an article on Access Denied
on NT Server which recommended setting the RestrictAnonymous to 0, So I
thought I'd check what it was on Wendy and found it to be 1 so I changed it
to 0 and hey presto access!!!

Chuck thanks a lot for all you wise words us amateurs would get nowhere
without guys like you who are prepared to hang in there with us. I'm in the
UK so I can't buy you a "pint" but you deserve it.
Thanks again
Tony

 

[Chuck]

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the problem? Well I looked at your explanations or Error 5 and
RestrictAnonymous and although I didn't know what RestrictAnonymous was I
searched the Microsoft Knowledge Base and found an article on Access Denied
on NT Server which recommended setting the RestrictAnonymous to 0, So I
thought I'd check what it was on Wendy and found it to be 1 so I changed it
to 0 and hey presto access!!!

Chuck thanks a lot for all you wise words us amateurs would get nowhere
without guys like you who are prepared to hang in there with us. I'm in the
UK so I can't buy you a "pint" but you deserve it.
Thanks again
Tony

Son of a gun, restrictanonymous again.

Thanks for the feedback, Tony.