Chuck, in answer to your questions:
1. LaptopA is permenantly available
2. They are connected through a wired network
Using that prog, it looks like every PC on the network recons that it is the
master browser.
R
Richard,
The general recommendation is 1 computer with the browser running, for every 6
computers total (with a minimum of 2 computers for 3 or more total). The
browser service is very chatty, and does not need to be running on every
computer in the network.
If every computer has elected itself a master browser, though, it sounds like
you have a bigger problem.
Are you running both Client for Microsoft Networks, and File and Printer Sharing
for Microsoft Networks (Local Area Connection - Properties), on each computer?
Do you have shares setup on each?
Are you running NetBIOS Over TCP/IP (Local Area Connection - Properties - TCP/IP
- Properties - Advanced - WINS) on each computer?
Do any of the computers have a software firewall (ICF / WF, or third party)? If
so, you need to configure them for file sharing. Firewall configurations are a
very common cause of (network) browser, and file sharing, problems.
Next, look at registry key [HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa], value
restrictanonymous.
<
http://www.microsoft.com/windows200...2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/regentry/46688.asp>
<
http://www.jsifaq.com/subf/tip2600/rh2625.htm>
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=246261
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296403
The above articles refer to Windows 2000. Remember WinXP is NT V5.1, and Win2K
is NT V5.0.
Have you used the Registry Editor before? If not, it's a scary tool, but it's
pretty simple once you get used to it. Here are a couple articles that might
help:
<
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...home/using/productdoc/en/tools_regeditors.asp>
<
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/registry>
Just remember to backup the key (create a registry patch) for
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa] before making any changes, if
appropriate.
From the Annoyances article:
You can create a Registry patch by opening the Registry Editor, selecting a
branch, and choosing Export from the File menu. Then, specify a filename, and
press OK. You can then view the Registry patch file by opening it in Notepad
(right-click on it and select Edit). Again, just double-click on a Registry
patch file (or use Import in the Registry Editor's File menu) to apply it to the
registry.
And Richard, munging your email like that is not polite. Even Microsoft does
not deserve that treatment. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep
yourself a bit safer when posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest
of the internet - read this article.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm