master browser questions

[peter]

I think I'm having problem with master browser in an office with multiple
versions of OS running and no domain controller.

The specific symtom is everytime I reboot one of my PC, I'm no longer
allowed to browse the workgroup I was in before rebooting.

All I want to do is to share files between two specific PCs that I have
control over. If I know the network paths of these PCs (both running
windowsXP), do I need the master browser? Should I disable master browser on
the two PCs I have control over, to reduce master browser election?

Also, I read that each PC with file and print sharing sends an update to the
master browser every 12 minutes. Is there a way to force an instant
network-wide refresh so that I can be sure the master browser is current --
after some PCs are rebooted?

 

[Chuck]

I think I'm having problem with master browser in an office with multiple
versions of OS running and no domain controller.

The specific symtom is everytime I reboot one of my PC, I'm no longer
allowed to browse the workgroup I was in before rebooting.

All I want to do is to share files between two specific PCs that I have
control over. If I know the network paths of these PCs (both running
windowsXP), do I need the master browser? Should I disable master browser on
the two PCs I have control over, to reduce master browser election?

Also, I read that each PC with file and print sharing sends an update to the
master browser every 12 minutes. Is there a way to force an instant
network-wide refresh so that I can be sure the master browser is current --
after some PCs are rebooted?

Peter,

By multiple versions of OS do you mean Windows 9x (95 / 98 / ME) and Windows NT
(NT / 2000 / XP)? If so, then you need to read:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/windows-9x-9598me-and-browser.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/windows-9x-9598me-and-browser.html

The best possibility here is to pick 2 or 3 computers that are online the most
(and preferably a newer OS like Windows 2000 or XP), and designate them the
browser computers. And as you are thinking, disable the others.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html

The only way to refresh the browsers manually is to reboot all computers
simultaneously.

You don't really need the browser, no, if you know the specific computers that
you want to access.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/windows-networking.html#Browsing>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/windows-networking.html#Browsing