xp pro cant see other computers

[Guest]

i set up a network with 5 computers i can ping any of them, but i cannot see
them in my network places under view workgroup computers. sometimes all 5
computers appear there but most of the time only 1 or 2 computers are there.
is there a setting that i have off that is allowing this. i am trying to
share a printer but i cannot access the computer it is on. any help would be
greatly appreciated.

 

[Chuck]

i set up a network with 5 computers i can ping any of them, but i cannot see
them in my network places under view workgroup computers. sometimes all 5
computers appear there but most of the time only 1 or 2 computers are there.
is there a setting that i have off that is allowing this. i am trying to
share a printer but i cannot access the computer it is on. any help would be
greatly appreciated.

Brian,

Check for a browser conflict between the computers. I"m not talking about
Internet Explorer here. The browser is the program that allows any computer to
see any other computer on the LAN. On a 5 computer LAN, you should have only 2
computers running the browser service - and both must be either Windows 95/98/ME
OR Windows NT/2K/XP - DO NOT mix the two. The browsers for WinXP (WinNT/2K/XP)
and Win98 (Win95/98/ME) don't work well together on the same LAN.

Make sure the browser service is running on only 2 computers, preferably 2 that
are online consistently. Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Services.
Verify that the Computer Browser, and the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper, services both
show with Status = Started. Disable the browser service on all other computers.

After checking / disabling / enabling as above, power all computers off to reset
the browser settings on each. Once ALL computers have been powered off, power
them back on.

The Microsoft Browstat program will show us what browsers (I'm not talking about
Internet Explorer here) you have in your domain / workgroup, at any time.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305

You can download Browstat from either:
<http://www.dynawell.com/reskit/microsoft/win2000/browstat.zip>
<http://rescomp.stanford.edu/staff/manual/rcc/tools/browstat.zip>

Browstat is very small (40K), and needs no install. Just unzip the downloaded
file, copy browstat.exe to any folder in the Path, and run it from a command
window, by "browstat status". Make sure all computers list the same master
browser.
For more information about the browser subsystem (very intricate), see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188001
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=231312
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx>
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/win95/w95brows.mspx>

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Guest]

Chuck and others-

I have a very similar problem and this response might be the right track for
me but I need a bit more guidance. My XP Home desktop and XP Pro laptop
can't see each other, in the same Workgroup, connections to the router and
Internet are fine whether wired or wireless. No firewalls other than the
router itself.

I have those 2 services running on both PCs already, and stopping and
restarting let the laptop see the desktop for a second but it still can't
access it. Now I'm trying the Browstat thing and I'm just unfamiliar enough
with the command line window that I can't run it right. Even though this is
embarrassing, I'll post my attempt here.

I really want to get the sharing working! This is driving me insane.
Thanks Chuck or anyone for your help!

Nathan
ndmerrill ( AT) adelphia (DOT ) net


Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Merrills>browstat status
'browstat' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Documents and Settings\Merrills>cd c:\temp

C:\Temp>browstat status
'browstat' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Temp>dir
Volume in drive C is NWN
Volume Serial Number is 6497-6CD1

Directory of C:\Temp

03/09/2005 11:55 PM <DIR> .
03/09/2005 11:55 PM <DIR> ..
03/09/2005 11:58 PM <DIR> browstat.exe
01/12/2005 12:32 AM <DIR> Canon
0 File(s) 0 bytes
4 Dir(s) 40,947,351,552 bytes free

C:\Temp>browstat
'browstat' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Temp>browstat.exe
'browstat.exe' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Temp>run browstat
'run' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

 

[Chuck]

Chuck and others-

I have a very similar problem and this response might be the right track for
me but I need a bit more guidance. My XP Home desktop and XP Pro laptop
can't see each other, in the same Workgroup, connections to the router and
Internet are fine whether wired or wireless. No firewalls other than the
router itself.

I have those 2 services running on both PCs already, and stopping and
restarting let the laptop see the desktop for a second but it still can't
access it. Now I'm trying the Browstat thing and I'm just unfamiliar enough
with the command line window that I can't run it right. Even though this is
embarrassing, I'll post my attempt here.

I really want to get the sharing working! This is driving me insane.
Thanks Chuck or anyone for your help!

Nathan
ndmerrill ( AT) adelphia (DOT ) net

Nathan,

Your problem, while it involves the browstat utility, shows a need for more
extensive instruction than the existing thread. Please start a new thread with
descriptive subject, which will benefit you, the OP, and the helpers here.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.