Windows 2008 SP1 environment. Network contains windows 2008 domains, window 2003 storage server, xps, vistas, and 2000's. 7 different locations across the country - all have same subnet mask.When i look at network neighborhood i don't seem to get the same list of pc's twice. Done research and found this error messages on the 2003 storage server ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#1 - The master browser has received a server announcement from the computer SPATTON-PC that believes that it is the master browser for the domain on transport NetBT_Tcpip_{71D9C666-B0DB-424. The master browser is stopping or an election is being forced.#2 -The master browser has received a server announcement from the computer ITL-921C4DEA0ED that believes that it is the master browser for the domain on transport NetBT_Tcpip_{71D9C666-B0D. The master browser is stopping or an election is being forced.#3 - The master browser has received a server announcement from the computer STRUTHERS-13 that believes that it is the master browser for the domain on transport NetBT_Tcpip_{71D9C666-B0DB-4. The master browser is stopping or an election is being forced.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------As can be seen from the list (there are others, but to keep this short), there is an election occurring every hour. Is a master computer browser needed? How do i stop this hour by hour election? Had noticed the computer browser service on the windows 2008's are disabled - should all pc's be disabled? Microsoft articles i read says the election process is a normal thing and not to worry. I didn't have this issue a few days ago, took on some security updates and this is where is sit. Any info or ideas would be greatly appreciated.Thanks in advance.

If you want to use My Network Places you need to have at least one master browser in each site or network segment. Microsoft also recommends one machine running the computer browser service for each 32 machines if you have more than that running in a particular site/segment. If the computer browser service is disabled on the 2008 servers, the 2003 server is probably the segment master browser. Servers take precedence over workstations. Browser elections can occur for a number of reasons. The most common is when the current master browser shuts down or goes offline. If a workstation cannot find a master browser it will force an election. The computer browser service is a bit of a black art rather than a science! There are really no hard and fast rules but lots of opinions.Bill

Usually the Domain Controlers acts as the master browsers and If you have Windows 2008 as your doman controller then the master browser service is disabled by default . Please enable the service and give a try and also do not forget to disable the firewall service on the server if in case you have any problem.Thanks Syedhttp://technetfaqs.wordpress.com

Ok, i enabled the computer browser onone of the Windows 2008 (domain controller). Now the election processstarts every 15 minutes or less. Is this a problem? Should all the pc's have the computer browser disabled? If so, can it be done thru group policy,how? If allpc's are disabled, would i still be able to see a list of pc's in the network neighborhood?Thanksany ideas?

Ok, so i set a policy to disable the computer browser on all pc's. Will this stop the continuous events in the eventviewer? Have i caused an issue by doing this?

Hi, there,Hi have a policy like yours, shutdown master browser on workstations, i have no problemwith this.I think you did the right thing.Cheers

Hi Pipas, I'm waiting for the policy to take effect - probably not until tomorrow. Guess we shall see. Thanks for the encouraging words - it helps.