"Robert L [MVP - Networking]" wrote:

> Sounds like computer browser issues. Any errors in the event viewer?
>
> Computer Browser How do I know I have a browser problem How to disable Master Browser in XP, 9X, W2k How to fix browsing problem in a mixed OS workgroup ...
>       www.chicagotech.net/browser.htm 
>
>
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
>   "BKTMX" <BK***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:A05DE565-1D69-433B-BF08-C24F13876340@microsoft.com...
>   We have six computers on our workgroup (peer to peer). All are running
>   Windows XP Professional. I have started to upgrade these to SP2. We now have
>   a problem with the computers which have been upgraded to SP2. The SP2
>   computers only stay visible for a short time (about 1 hour) in “Network
>   Places”. After they disappear, they can easily be mapped to, or found using
>   “search for files or folders / computers or people” and searching for the
>   computer by name. The missing shares can also be made to reappear
>   (temporarily) by  using “administrative services / computer browser service”
>   and clicking “restart” on each missing computer, even though this option
>   always shows as already being started. No error messages appear and no
>   messages related to this appear in the event logs. All energy saving settings
>   have been disabled. It does not matter if the windows firewall has been
>   enabled or disabled. This problem only affects the computers which are now
>   running SP2. Computers with SP1 behave normally on the network. I am assuming
>   that something in SP2 is interfering with the proper functioning of the
>   computer browser service. Anyone have any ideas how to make this right?
>
>

>    We have six computers on our workgroup (peer to peer). All are running
>Windows XP Professional. I have started to upgrade these to SP2. We now have
>a problem with the computers which have been upgraded to SP2. The SP2
>computers only stay visible for a short time (about 1 hour) in “Network
>Places”. After they disappear, they can easily be mapped to, or found using
>“search for files or folders / computers or people” and searching for the
>computer by name. The missing shares can also be made to reappear
>(temporarily) by  using “administrative services / computer browser service”
>and clicking “restart” on each missing computer, even though this option
>always shows as already being started. No error messages appear and no
>messages related to this appear in the event logs. All energy saving settings
>have been disabled. It does not matter if the windows firewall has been
>enabled or disabled. This problem only affects the computers which are now
>running SP2. Computers with SP1 behave normally on the network. I am assuming
>that something in SP2 is interfering with the proper functioning of the
>computer browser service. Anyone have any ideas how to make this right?

"Chuck" wrote:

> On Mon, 9 Oct 2006 10:59:01 -0700, BKTMX <BK***@discussions.microsoft.com>
> wrote:
>
> >    We have six computers on our workgroup (peer to peer). All are running
> >Windows XP Professional. I have started to upgrade these to SP2. We now have
> >a problem with the computers which have been upgraded to SP2. The SP2
> >computers only stay visible for a short time (about 1 hour) in “Network
> >Places”. After they disappear, they can easily be mapped to, or found using
> >“search for files or folders / computers or people” and searching for the
> >computer by name. The missing shares can also be made to reappear
> >(temporarily) by  using “administrative services / computer browser service”
> >and clicking “restart” on each missing computer, even though this option
> >always shows as already being started. No error messages appear and no
> >messages related to this appear in the event logs. All energy saving settings
> >have been disabled. It does not matter if the windows firewall has been
> >enabled or disabled. This problem only affects the computers which are now
> >running SP2. Computers with SP1 behave normally on the network. I am assuming
> >that something in SP2 is interfering with the proper functioning of the
> >computer browser service. Anyone have any ideas how to make this right?
>
> I'd look at "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all", from each computer, to
> diagnose the problem.  Read this article, and linked articles, and follow
> instructions precisely (download browstat!):
> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
> Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
> My        email         is          AT         DOT
>    actual       address    pchuck       mvps        org.
>

>"Chuck" wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 9 Oct 2006 10:59:01 -0700, BKTMX <BK***@discussions.microsoft.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >    We have six computers on our workgroup (peer to peer). All are running
>> >Windows XP Professional. I have started to upgrade these to SP2. We now have
>> >a problem with the computers which have been upgraded to SP2. The SP2
>> >computers only stay visible for a short time (about 1 hour) in “Network
>> >Places”. After they disappear, they can easily be mapped to, or found using
>> >“search for files or folders / computers or people” and searching for the
>> >computer by name. The missing shares can also be made to reappear
>> >(temporarily) by  using “administrative services / computer browser service”
>> >and clicking “restart” on each missing computer, even though this option
>> >always shows as already being started. No error messages appear and no
>> >messages related to this appear in the event logs. All energy saving settings
>> >have been disabled. It does not matter if the windows firewall has been
>> >enabled or disabled. This problem only affects the computers which are now
>> >running SP2. Computers with SP1 behave normally on the network. I am assuming
>> >that something in SP2 is interfering with the proper functioning of the
>> >computer browser service. Anyone have any ideas how to make this right?
>>
>> I'd look at "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all", from each computer, to
>> diagnose the problem.  Read this article, and linked articles, and follow
>> instructions precisely (download browstat!):
>> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

>I've checked out all the hardware for faults. I've even had a motherboard
>replaced in one of the computers (couldn't replace just the nettwork card).
>Everything is good there. Following is the ipconfig /all and browstat status
>from one of the problem computers:
>
>Windows IP Configuration
>
>
>
>        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : d415qn41
>
>        Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
>
>        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Mixed
>
>        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
>
>        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
>
>        DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : mshome.net
>
>
>
>Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
>
>
>
>        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : mshome.net
>
>        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 570x Gigabit Integrated
>Controller
>
>        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0F-1F-10-1D-26
>
>        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
>
>        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
>
>        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.61
>
>        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
>
>        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
>
>        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
>
>        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 85.255.115.51
>
>                                            85.255.112.187
>
>        Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, October 09, 2006 4:43:04
>PM
>
>        Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, October 16, 2006 4:43:04
>PM
>
>browstat status:
>
>Status for domain TORMAXX on transport
>\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{8560D603-9A30-4E89-ADC7-E553C6117D34}
>    Browsing is active on domain.
>    Master browser name is: D7995J41
>Could not connect to registry, error = 53        Unable to determine build
>of browser master: 53
>    \\\\D7995J41      .  Version:05.01  Flags: 71207 NT POTENTIAL BACKUP
>MASTER
>    1 backup servers retrieved from master D7995J41
>        \\D7995J41
>    There are 4 servers in domain TORMAXX on transport
>\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{8560D603-9A30-4E89-ADC7-E553C6117D34}
>    There are 1 domains in domain TORMAXX on transport
>\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{8560D603-9A30-4E89-ADC7-E553C6117D34}
>
>Chuck, Ive got your website bookmarked! It's been very educational - great
>stuff.