Workgroup Problem

Hey there,

Using XP Pro SP2 and all updates installed. For some reason when I go into My Network Places I cannot see WORKGROUP listed there. What i do see is MY MSN WEB SITES - or something like that - but no workgroup.

When I click on "view workgroup..." i get an error telling me that its not available and I dont have access.

- This workstation can only see the router and no other workstations.
- All workstations are on a workgroup called WORKGROUP and there is no domain controller
- I can connect this machine using \\machine_name from other workstations and the same to other machines from this workstation this is the only way to get machines to see one another.

What the heck is going on? I sat for this for two hours last night. I found things on google that tells me to look for ICS configs on one of the workstations, disable uPnP on devices, change netbui and NETBIOS settings and disable/enable files and printer sharing.

I dont know what else to do....

please.....HELP!

Thank you kindly..

Verify/Set the following:

Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP
The TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service is running
The Computer Browser service is running

Good Luck

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Originally Posted by bradlesliect

Using XP Pro SP2 and all updates installed.

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No, you don't. SP3 has been out for quite a while.

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- This workstation can only see the router and no other workstations.

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UPnP is turned on..

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What the heck is going on? I sat for this for two hours last night. I found things on google that tells me to look for ICS configs on one of the workstations, disable uPnP on devices, change netbui and NETBIOS settings and disable/enable files and printer sharing.

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Remove NetBEUI, you really don't need it. The only protocol should be TCP/IP.
Make sure the Computer Browser service is turned on.

Give this a shot. Go to Start -> Run. Type "cmd" without the quotes. In the command prompt that opens, type "cd c:\windows\system32". Then type "regsvr32 /u *.dll" without the quotes. Let me know if that works for ya.

Isn't that a tad mischievous?

Shush you.

I don't think you should give advice like that but anyways.. you may want to check the firewall settings in XP too :-)

regsvr32 /u *.dll wont work. too many dlls for regsvr to handle. don't know what the limit is but there are too many in %systemroot%/system32

/me snickers

EDIT: Must spread reputation around more before giving it to Keezel again - or some such stupid message.

Right click my computer, go to properties, look at the name of your computer on the network and make sure this is enabled. Also, having printer and file sharing under network prefs should enable netbios.

I've spoken to someone else and he suggested running the network wizard again. It also appears that all the machines are doing this now...someone is messing with the network and my head...

Brad, it is obvious to me that the lunatics have taken over the asylum.

There is nothing that you can do, or we can recommend, until senior management empower you to take full control.

Sorry mate, but I speak as I find :bawling:

Hi All,

I am still battling with this issue. It used to be so easy to setup a windows network

- Install Client for MS networks
- Enable file and printer sharing
- Install TCP/IP -> configure it for static addresses cos that is what the network uses
- join PC to a basic workgroup called Workgroup

...and that's it! It should work. I've done it 100's and 1000's of times...but why wont it work here?

ICS is not enables and neither is uPnP on any device. I dont know hey....what the heck is going on here....removed the freakin thing off the workgroup and re-added it...and problem still there.... computer browsing and tcp/ip netbios service is running...restarted a few times...i give up... where is the answer? what am i missing!!! This is very VERY frustrating.

How many computers are we talking about on this network???

MLF

Hi,

We have six(6) stations all running windows XP Pro SP2. I dont know if SP3 will fix this problem? You think I should try installing and see? I mean I run a windows network at home with the exact same config as what they have there and mine work. I have 3 stations of which one has vista as an OS and all the freaking stuff work.... ;(

Hi Brad,

Have you tried it one machine at a time? or the three machine setup that you have?

Do you have any shares on these machines???

Is every user part of a group on these machine???

The windows firewall blocks connections by default...have you looked in there???

Remember the browser service will take up to half an hour to show all machines..and they have to be logged in.

Must be a nightmare to backup/....or is the data centralized??

MLF

If you suspect foul play, check to see if the default gateway specified in the workstation IP configurations is actually the IP of the router (as opposed to a workstation that might be acting as a proxy/firewall).

Sure sounds like a nightmare. I hope you are charging on a time and materials basis. Afterwards, you might try pitching a cost/benefit analysis of a more controlled environment to your client.

csr

One of the latest viri/malware thingies kills the browser, workstation and server services.

Set all recovery options on these services to restart on fail. If they are indeed failing, then clean.