Hi Chuck
Sorry about this - the anomaly persists! I disabled ZoneAlarm.
I set up a shared folder on each laptop and it showed successfully on each
laptop, along with the built-in SharedDocs on the laptop.
I deleted one of the shared folders that I had set up.
I stopped then disabled the Computer Browser on one laptop and rebooted
both. I checked Start>My Network Places on each laptop and the shared
folder that I had deleted was still listed! Obviously, it generated an
error when I tried to access it on either laptop.
However, if I go to Start>My Network Places>View workgroup computers then
click the computer from which the folder has been deleted, it's gone! This
works on either laptop.
Why doesn't it disappear from My Network Places?
I've tried this so many times - I've even tried disabling both the Computer
Browser and the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper on the same laptop before rebooting
both. I don't know if it's relevant but the shared folder that I deleted
was on the laptop that had the Computer Browser (+/- TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper)
running.
Finally, I downloaded and ran Browstat. It generated an error on one
laptop:
"Status for domain MSHOME on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{XXXXXXXXdetails
deleted by me - same as belowXXXXXXXX}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: ONE
Could not open key in registry, error = 5 Unable to determine build
of browser master: 5
\\\\ONE . Version:05.01 Flags: 51203 NT POTENTIAL MASTER
1 backup servers retrieved from master ONE
\\ONE
There are 2 servers in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{XXXXXXXXdetails deleted by me - same as above and
belowXXXXXXXX}
There are 1 domains in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{XXXXXXXXdetails deleted by me - same as aboveXXXXXXXX}"
and on the other:
"Status for domain MSHOME on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{XXXXXXXXdeleted
by me but different from the other laptopXXXXXXXX}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: ONE
Master browser is running build 2600
1 backup servers retrieved from master ONE
\\ONE
There are 2 servers in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{XXXXXXXXdeleted by meXXXXXXXX}
There are 1 domains in domain MSHOME on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{XXXXXXXXdeleted by meXXXXXXXX}"
These messages don't mean anything to me but the error message concerns me!
Why, oh why, the inconsistency?
Tosca,
The "error = 5" is an access denied. You have to have administrative authority
to access the registry on One, apparently the account you're using does not have
it.
On any XP Pro computer, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel -
Folder Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled. You need SFS
disabled, if you're going to use browstat without errors.
On XP Pro with SFS disabled, check the Local Security Policies (Control Panel -
Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security Options, look at
"Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's set to "Classic -
local users authenticate as themselves".
Finally, setup and use a common non-Guest account on both computers, with an
identical, non-blank password.
Remember, the browser does not react instantaneously to changes on the LAN. As
indicated in the long reference article, you may see latency of up to 52 minutes
between a change being made, and reflected in the browser. That's why all my
instructions include powering everything off after making changes.
