WINXP Pro computers disappear from Network Places

[fr3akd1]

I have a network of five computers, all windows xp pro, no servers or
domains, and all in same workgroup. Static IP (manually configured, not
DHCP). When I restart my pc I can see all of them in Network Places, then
after about 20 minutes, 3 of them (including mine) disappear. I can ping
them, and still access mapped drives but can not see them in network places.

I have checked ipconfig, ran cdiag, and browstat. XP firewall is disabled, I
have KIS 7.0 and tried with and without it disabled with same results. The
network has run fine for about 2 years, then about 2 weeks ago the PC's start
disappearing.

I have checked the browser service, even stopped them and restarted, checked
power management, file and print sharing enabled, and for IP address
conflicts.

All computers have unique ip's, same subnet, dns, workgroup name, and
default gateway.

If you need more info let me know. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[fr3akd1]

I checked on the browser issue. Disabled all browser services except on one
machine, shut everything down and turned Master Browser on first. This
worked fine for about an hour, then 1 by 1 the same three pc's disappeared.
Even the one that is set as the Master Browser. Disabled all firewalls and
suspected firewall software.

 

[John Wunderlich]

I checked on the browser issue. Disabled all browser services
except on one machine, shut everything down and turned Master
Browser on first. This worked fine for about an hour, then 1 by 1
the same three pc's disappeared. Even the one that is set as the
Master Browser. Disabled all firewalls and suspected firewall
software.

Strange. You might try a:
browstat forceannounce <interface> <workgroup>
command. This should cause all the computers on the network to
announce themselves to the browse master and cause them to re-appear in
the list.

You might also try using a different computer as the browse master.

Good Luck.
John