Extra Workgroup wont go away

[Joe D'Amico]

Home Network Topology
2 PCs
Both Windows XP Home
Using Windows Networking
DSL Modem/Router plugged into the down link port of a
Lynksys 5 port hub
1 additional laptop attached to the hub using VPN to work
All wired connections

I recently had a problem where the PCs couldn't see across the workgroup. I
ended up renaming the workgroup from
XXWORKGROUP
to
XXHOME

This seems to have solved my problem but the old workgroup XXWORKGROUP still
shows up in the network neighborhood on both machines but is inaccessible.
The new XXHOME works fine. I have scanned both machines for the XXWORKGROUP
name as both file name and file contains but can not find any file other
than a .log where it is referenced and it is not referenced in the registry
either. Is there anyway to get rid of this extra entry?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Home Network Topology
2 PCs
Both Windows XP Home
Using Windows Networking
DSL Modem/Router plugged into the down link port of a
Lynksys 5 port hub
1 additional laptop attached to the hub using VPN to work
All wired connections

I recently had a problem where the PCs couldn't see across the workgroup. I
ended up renaming the workgroup from
XXWORKGROUP
to
XXHOME

This seems to have solved my problem but the old workgroup XXWORKGROUP still
shows up in the network neighborhood on both machines but is inaccessible.
The new XXHOME works fine. I have scanned both machines for the XXWORKGROUP
name as both file name and file contains but can not find any file other
than a .log where it is referenced and it is not referenced in the registry
either. Is there anyway to get rid of this extra entry?

Thanks for any help.

There's no explicit way to delete an empty workgroup. It will
automatically go away after a while.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Joe D'Amico]

I tried that and nothing happens. It still stays there and the delete does
nothing.

 

[Joe D'Amico]

First, I think I may have confused one of my replies. If I did I apologize
as it may be here twice.

Second, how long do you think it will hang around? It has been there for
about 2 weeks so far. Will it cause any problems? It seems to slow down
when I click on view workgroup computers, otherwise it seems innocuous.

Thank you.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

First, I think I may have confused one of my replies. If I did I apologize
as it may be here twice.

Second, how long do you think it will hang around? It has been there for
about 2 weeks so far. Will it cause any problems? It seems to slow down
when I click on view workgroup computers, otherwise it seems innocuous.

Thank you.

Two weeks! I didn't think that it would take that long.

Turn off all of the networked computers at the same time. After
they're all off, start turning them back on. That will eliminate all
traces of the old workgroup that were still in memory on any computer.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Joe D'Amico]

The plot thickens........

It just so happens that I had to shut down all machines and router today.
When I rebooted my machines could not access the workgroup again. Some
experimenting shows me the following:
1) My XP machines are all on XXHOME
2) My router released the XXWORKGROUP
3) My work laptop (I forgot to mention) is W2KPro and logs on to work
through a VPN connection but has my XXHOME workgroup in the network
identification area.
4) If my laptop boots first it seems to grab and holds the XXHOME workgroup
and denies access to my other 2 XP machines. If I boot all other machines
first THEN my W2KPro laptop, everything is fine.

So it seems I understand my problem, have found a work around to correct it,
but am still somewhat perplexed on why the W2KPro machine will grab and hold
the workgroup if it is the first machine booted. It is not terribly
important since I know how to get around it but most curious.

Thank you for your help

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

The plot thickens........

It just so happens that I had to shut down all machines and router today.
When I rebooted my machines could not access the workgroup again. Some
experimenting shows me the following:
1) My XP machines are all on XXHOME
2) My router released the XXWORKGROUP
3) My work laptop (I forgot to mention) is W2KPro and logs on to work
through a VPN connection but has my XXHOME workgroup in the network
identification area.
4) If my laptop boots first it seems to grab and holds the XXHOME workgroup
and denies access to my other 2 XP machines. If I boot all other machines
first THEN my W2KPro laptop, everything is fine.

So it seems I understand my problem, have found a work around to correct it,
but am still somewhat perplexed on why the W2KPro machine will grab and hold
the workgroup if it is the first machine booted. It is not terribly
important since I know how to get around it but most curious.

Thank you for your help

You're welcome, Joe. Network browsing (Network Neighborhood, My
Network Places) in Windows workgroups often doesn't function well. In
particular, it can 15 minutes or more after a computer starts up
before other computers can see it by browsing the network. During
that time, you can access another computer by typing its name in the
Start | Run box in this format:

\\computer
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com