New computer has stolen control of network

[J]

Tuesday Eve

Mixed OS network: 2 - XP pro( sp1, sp2), 2 - 98se.

The network has been working fine for years.

My main computer is not using Simple File Sharing.

I added a new XP pro sp2 box, using Simple File sharing.

All works fine.

BUT, when this new computer is powered-OFF the local network is not available, including printers.

AND when the new computer is ON the Computer Browser Service stops on my main computer.

I am more than just annoyed.

Both computers are running NAV 2005.

When the new computer was first connected I had disabled the Windows Firewall Service (among others I do not want running for no
reason). But this stopped the network as well.

Help please.

J

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Tuesday Eve

Mixed OS network: 2 - XP pro( sp1, sp2), 2 - 98se.

The network has been working fine for years.

My main computer is not using Simple File Sharing.

I added a new XP pro sp2 box, using Simple File sharing.

All works fine.

BUT, when this new computer is powered-OFF the local network is not available, including printers.

AND when the new computer is ON the Computer Browser Service stops on my main computer.

I am more than just annoyed.

Both computers are running NAV 2005.

When the new computer was first connected I had disabled the Windows Firewall Service (among others I do not want running for no
reason). But this stopped the network as well.

Help please.

J

What do you mean by "the local network is not available"? What
exactly happens?

Do you mean that browsing in My Network Places and Network
Neighborhood doesn't work? That's a common problem in Windows
networks, especially mixed 9x/XP ones. When a new computer joins the
network, it can force a master browser election, which disrupts
network browsing for a few minutes. To access another computer
directly, even when network browsing doesn't work, type the other
computer's name in the Start | Run box in this format:

\\computer

It might help to permanently disable the Computer Browser service on
one XP computer and leave it enabled on the other one. That can
eliminate master browser elections.

I don't know of any mechanism by which one computer can stop the
Computer Browser service on another 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

 

[J]

Thank you for your response.

What do you mean by "the local network is not available"? What
exactly happens?

Error dialog is displayed:
"Workgroup is not accessible. You might not have permisssion to use this network."

Do you mean that browsing in My Network Places and Network
Neighborhood doesn't work? That's a common problem in Windows
networks, especially mixed 9x/XP ones. When a new computer joins the
network, it can force a master browser election, which disrupts
network browsing for a few minutes. To access another computer
directly, even when network browsing doesn't work, type the other
computer's name in the Start | Run box in this format:

All has been working fine for years.
When the new computer is OFF the error dialog is presented.
When the new computer is on. All is well.

\\computer

It might help to permanently disable the Computer Browser service on
one XP computer and leave it enabled on the other one. That can
eliminate master browser elections.

I did disable the Computer Browser Service on the new computer.

Then the network is not available.

I don't know of any mechanism by which one computer can stop the
Computer Browser service on another computer.

On my main computer the Computer Browser Service stops after a while.
I have found this is not related to the new computer's power status.

So, what could be stopping the service on my main computer?

All of this implies my main computer is no longer the master browser.

What could have made this happen?

And, of course, how do I fix it?

 

[J]

Thursday eve

The problem persists.


Mixed OS network: 2 - XP pro( sp1, sp2), 2 - 98se.

The network has been working fine for years.

My main computer is not using Simple File Sharing.

I added a new XP pro sp2 box, using Simple File sharing.

All works fine.

BUT, when this new computer is powered-OFF the local network is not available for browsing, including printers.

AND Computer Browser Service on my main computer STOPS without notice.

I am more than just annoyed.

Both computers are running NAV 2005.


Help please.

J

 

[RRR_News]

J,
Are the PC's connected by a router, if so is it a 4 port router or an 8 port router?

Depending on what brand of router you have, you may need to leave port 1 empty. So when adding the 4th PC, by a wired connection, you could have caused problems with the network. This may be causing the network, to shut down when the new PC is shut-off. Have you tried disconnecting the new PC from the network, and see if everything is back to normal? Also this may also be causing problems with sharing. In the new PC, under the firewall settings, have you set the it to allow "printer and file sharing"?

So for some 4 port wireless routers, you actually can only have 3 wired PC's attached to it, the rest must be connected using a wireless connection.

--

Add MS to your News Reader: news://msnews.microsoft.com
Rich/rerat

(RRR News) <message rule>

<<Previous Text Snipped to Save Bandwidth When Appropriate>>


Thursday eve

The problem persists.


Mixed OS network: 2 - XP pro( sp1, sp2), 2 - 98se.

The network has been working fine for years.

My main computer is not using Simple File Sharing.

I added a new XP pro sp2 box, using Simple File sharing.

All works fine.

BUT, when this new computer is powered-OFF the local network is not available for browsing, including printers.

AND Computer Browser Service on my main computer STOPS without notice.

I am more than just annoyed.

Both computers are running NAV 2005.


Help please.

J

 

[J]

The Firewall service stops without an entry in the event log.
And then the Computer Service is terminated.

I have the Firewall disabled because I am using ZoneAlarm and Norton Antivirus 2005.

I now think it a coincidence this started happening when the new computer was connected.

It may have started after installing NAV 2005.

I have scanned for bad programs: NAV, Adaware, SpyBot, Microsoft Antispyware,...

Remnants of things were found. Nothing active.

What I do know: all was working before I connected the new XP comp.

What could be terminating the Firewall service without generating an event log entry?

==========================================================
Thursday eve

The problem persists.


Mixed OS network: 2 - XP pro( sp1, sp2), 2 - 98se.

The network has been working fine for years.

My main computer is not using Simple File Sharing.

I added a new XP pro sp2 box, using Simple File sharing.

All works fine.

BUT, when this new computer is powered-OFF the local network is not available for browsing, including printers.

AND Computer Browser Service on my main computer STOPS without notice.

I am more than just annoyed.

Both computers are running NAV 2005.


Help please.

J

 

[J]

Sunday morn

The main computer is set to IsDomainMaster YES
MaintainServerList YES

All other XP computers on the network are set to IsDomainMaster FALSE
MaintainServerList Auto

These entries are in the System event log :

The Computer Browser service was successfully sent a stop control.

The browser has forced an election on network \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{D511E224-6C2C-4579-9B5E-3B17793E52FD} because a master browser
was stopped.

The browser has forced an election on network \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{D511E224-6C2C-4579-9B5E-3B17793E52FD} because a master browser
was stopped.

The Computer Browser service entered the stopped state.


The Computer Browser service terminated with the following error:
This operation returned because the timeout period expired.

What can be doing this?

J

===============================================================

The Firewall service stops without an entry in the event log.
And then the Computer Service is terminated.

I have the Firewall disabled because I am using ZoneAlarm and Norton Antivirus 2005.

But the service is running: set to automatic.


I now think it a coincidence this started happening when the new computer was connected.

It may have started after installing NAV 2005.

I have scanned for bad programs: NAV, Adaware, SpyBot, Microsoft Antispyware,...

Remnants of things were found. Nothing active.

What I do know: all was working before I connected the new XP comp.

What could be terminating the Firewall service without generating an event log entry?

==========================================================
Thursday eve

The problem persists.


Mixed OS network: 2 - XP pro( sp1, sp2), 2 - 98se.

The network has been working fine for years.

My main computer is not using Simple File Sharing.

I added a new XP pro sp2 box, using Simple File sharing.

All works fine.

BUT, when this new computer is powered-OFF the local network is not available for browsing, including printers.

AND Computer Browser Service on my main computer STOPS without notice.

I am more than just annoyed.

Both computers are running NAV 2005.


Help please.

J