Why doesn't 'My Network Places' work?

[Looney]

The shared folders and computers on the network aren't available there... and when i click on 'View Workgroup Computers', nothing shows up either, not even my own computer (tells me the lists of servers are not currently available).

But if i type in \\ipaddress at the RUN window, i can access the shared computers and folders just fine.

I've rebooted numerous times, and it's still not working.

 

[OdiN]

Really need a lot more info than that. I'd probably have to sit down at the thing...

 

[Looney]

What more info do you need? The shared folders/files works, IF i access it manually. I thought the fact that i can't even see my own computer in the network would be indicative of something.

 

[nweaver]

it's broken, like pretty much every other network browser type program. They just don't work well, and are unreliable. Access everything direct is the best option anyway.

 

[Looney]

Nobody know what's wrong or how i can fix this? It's just a pain because i have DHCP set, and the IP changes when the router gets restarted.

 

[bluestrobe]

Sorry but there is no fix. There are about 50 posts just like you?re including mine awhile back and about 10 recent ones. Accessing each computer via computer name directly is the easiest way, regardless of IP address changes.

 

[ivwshane]

I never had these issues when I had my network setup with a domain controller.

What's on the network to tell other computers what shares are available? How often does that program send out that report? I don't know but I'm sure that if there was something that controlled that on each computer you could find a fix for it.

If you really want to find an answer you might try posting this on microsofts own community forums.

 

[spidey07]

you didn't have these issues with a domain controller because the domain controller always "won" over all the other computers on who maintains the browse list (list of computers/services)

when you have all computers running the same os then they have to fight it out over who maintains this list and that process can take hours. It can literally never be accurately decided if machines are rebooted in an effort to troubleshoot the problem.

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: spidey07
you didn't have these issues with a domain controller because the domain controller always "won" over all the other computers on who maintains the browse list (list of computers/services)

when you have all computers running the same os then they have to fight it out over who maintains this list and that process can take hours. It can literally never be accurately decided if machines are rebooted in an effort to troubleshoot the problem.

Ssshhh...I'm the master browser now!

 

[spidey07]

I'm NT 6.0. I win. your browse list is meaningless.

unfortunately the clients are still listening to your bogus information. then they are posting about why they can't "see" other computers.


-edit-
decent page.

do google search on "troubleshoot MS master browser browse list" for lots of info.

more goodies...
http://labmice.techtarget.com/networking/browsersrvc.htm

 

[Gooberlx2]

I never understood the whole point of having the computers "fight it out". It's not like my computer has to fight with other computers on a p2p app, for example, and they can network/see each other fine.

This is all why I use Hamachi now.

 

[spidey07]

goober, this technique came about with windows for workgroups and has been around for a long time.

Even today modern protocols use an election mechanism to decide master/owner relationships. It's just not nearly as fubarred as MS.

 

[ivwshane]

Ah yes the master browser, I forgot about that.

It looks like it updates every 12 minutes which can seem like forever if you just connected to a network (ie just booted the computer).

 

[vbNetGuy]

Also as a note, depending on the version of the operating systems used, NetBIOS (or NetBEOS cannot remember the exact protocall) broadcasts it's computer name. If for some reason that brodcast is not reaching the other computer it would not show. A router may be limiting this

Also in Windows XP and Windows 2003 I am pretty sure this broadcasting can be turned off on the comptuers as well so they don't appear on the master browser list.