Can someone explain this error in Win2k when trying to browse network?

[Xtremist]

When I click: Desktop | My Network Places | Computers Near Me

it hangs for a while and then gives me the following message:

"Workgroup is not accessible. The account is not authorized to log in from this station."

This makes it seem as though I have a "server" setup or something. Granted, I have a Linux box that runs some server services, but nothing Windows would recognize as "it's" server... Just like FTP, HTTP, MySQL, etc... Anyway, the computer downstairs that I'm trying to get file sharing working with doesn't have a problem with the same procedure. Of course, it only lists itself.

Both systems were on workgroup: BVS However I've changed it back to just WORKGROUP just to see if that could've been it for some weird reason... Anyway, advise on what this error might mean would be appreciated, cheers!

 

[Psychoholic]

Sounds like you have a problem with your browse list.

What do you mean both systems were on workgroup and you changed it back to workgroup????

 

[Xtremist]

I mean that both computers had their "Workgroup" setting set to: "BVS". So they were members of the BVS workgroup. After getting the error, I thought that maybe I should change their workgroup setting back to the default "WORKGROUP". The error persisted.

Where can I adjust settings for my browse list?

Oh, and btw, I would've done more research on my own, it's just I'm using the Administrator account and getting the error. And I can't imagine the Admin account would be unauthorized...

 

[Psychoholic]

Type browstat status at the command line. See which computer is maintaining the NETBIOS list of the other computers. I have seen problems with a computer maintaining the browse list and being used as a firewall or having 3rd party software running on it.

 

[Xtremist]

Status for domain WORKGROUP on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{EE13F7AE-7221-4862
-AA16-38E6DD66D234}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: SERVER
Could not connect to registry, error = 5 Unable to determine build of bro
wser master: 5
Unable to determine server information for browser master: 5
1 backup servers retrieved from master SERVER
\\SERVER
Unable to retrieve server list from SERVER: 1240



That's the output I got... So now I guess my questions are:

1) What is the master browser?
2) How can I change it and how do I notify the other node's of the change?

I think that'll fix it? My computers are named: NOTEBOOK and MOMS I believe SERVER was my workstation before I formatted and installed Linux on it... Anyway, getting closer...

 

[Psychoholic]

For simplicity, instead of me listing command line options, reboot both of the Windows computers and see what that does. If that does not correct it remove the Linux box from the network and see if that helps narrow the problem down.

It sounds to me like it's still looking for the list on SERVER.

 

[Xtremist]

Okie... That did do something. Now the notebook has itself as the master browser and I assume if I checked the one downstairs it will too (if it didn't all ready). Now that error is gone, however the "Computers Near Me" lists only itself, not the other computer. If you're tired of helping me, you've done more than enough and I appreciate it a lot, however I still got some troubleshooting todo

 

[Psychoholic]

Sorry, I didn't get back to reply last night. Good to see your partially there. Sometimes it takes a few minutes for the list to update. Hopefully since they've been up overnight they both should show up when browsing the network. If not let me know.

 

[Xtremist]

Nope, no luck :-/ I wish I knew more about Windows networking in general... Like how their networks advertise to other stations that they're available etc... That'd probably give me an idea at least of why they're not showing. My initial thoughts is that if each of them are using themselves as the master browser, that might prevent them from knowing about other nodes... Hmmm...

 

[Psychoholic]

If both of them are acting as the master browser you have a big problem. I don't think that's the case. Can you open up explorer and in the address window type \\"the other netowrk computer", without the quotes?? Does the other computer show up when you do that?? What protocol are you using, TCP/IP, etc.??? If you are using TCP/IP are you using static or dynamic IP addresses???

 

[Xtremist]

If they're both not acting as the master browser, how exactly is the master chosen? Because the notebook says it's the master browser. And I don't really want that to be the case since it's a laptop... Anyway, to your troubleshooting:

I tried \\MOMS on the notebook and it says: Windows cannot find 'MOMS'. Check the spelling and try again, or try searching for the item etc...

Just to make sure I was doing it right I tried \\NOTEBOOK It brought it up without an issue (of course it's itself). I went down to the other system and tried \\NOTEBOOK and got the same message as when I tried accessing MOMS on the laptop. I then tried \\MOMS and it worked of course. So no, they don't show up when I do that. I also made sure the file and print sharing is installed on each system...

I'm running TCP/IP with static, Internet-routable IP's (public IP's).

 

[Psychoholic]

The two computers are connected to each other across a LAN and not a VPN correct??? Can you ping them??? What are you using as the subnet???

 

[Xtremist]

They can ping each other. They are running on a LAN, not VPN. Subnet: 255.255.255.248 Here's a detailed description of the setup:

Gateway of each system is a Cisco 675 DSL router/modem
Subnet is: 255.255.255.248
I have everything plugged into a SMC switch. Each computer (including the 675) is on their own segment so no collision domains and one broadcast domain. Obviously I'm running Fast Ethernet and TCP/IP.

Hope that helps?

 

[Psychoholic]

Have you tried creating a hosts file???

 

[Woodie]

What is the protocol stack? There is a browse-list (and master) for each protocol that has NetB* enabled.

So, laptop has: TCP/IP and something else?
And desktop has: TCP/IP and something else?

Whatever the other protocols are, they need to match. Also, did you disable nbt over TCP/IP on either machine?

--Woodie

 

[Xtremist]

I haven't tried creating a hosts file yet, no.

Woodie,

I'm not exactly sure... If it's just listed in the Properties for the network connection I have the following listed:

Client for MS Networks - Client
File and Printer Sharing for MS Networks - Service
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) - Protocol

There isn't anything else listed... So do I need to install NetBIOS or something? Or NetBEUI (or both?)... I also don't know how to disable nbt for TCP/IP so I can't answer that...

I just checked my advanced TCP/IP settings and it says that the Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled... Maybe I just need to install it now?

Thanks both for all the help...

 

[Woodie]

The settings you gave us: for both machines?

BTW, they look fine. You don't need to install NetBios--it'a already there and working (over TCP/IP). (You didn't disable it, and that's ok for right now.)

--Woodie

 

[Psychoholic]

My only other suggestion would be to try the hosts file. I haven't heard of a problem where the SMC switch would make each computer think it's own it's own segment but it is a possibility I guess. The hosts file would alleviate this.

The only other thing I can offer is try placing this question in the networking forum and see if anyone bites. I haven't been there in a while but there used to be some really knowledgeable networking gurus over there that have pretty much seen it all. Your problem is pretty unique from what I have seen, and other than the hosts file, I'm fresh out of ideas. Sorry.

 

[Xtremist]

Yeah, I probably will do that. I have one question though! I just saw something...

There's a Enable LMHOSTS lookup option in the TCP/IP settings also. This is checked. Maybe if I uncheck it? What kind of resolution would occur in that case? If I should leave it checked, where can I find the file format for LMHOSTS? If you don't know off the top of your head, that's np, should be easy enough to figure out, I just want to know if I should leave this checked or not... Cheers!

After this I'll move it to networking, thanx

 

[Woodie]

The format for LMHOSTS is in the file (comments). Just notepad it.

The checkbox is to tell the machine how to resolve names to TCP/IP addresses. Normal order is:

routing cache (ARP cache??)
LMHOSTS
Broadcast (?--depends on how the node is configured)
DNS


Send this to the networking forum.

--Woodie

 

[Psychoholic]

You should have a example of a hosts file in \WinNT\System32\Drivers\stc. If you don't for some reason let me know and I'll send you one that I've done.