Can't see workgroup
I have 5 PC's in a workgroup, 2 with Windows 7 and 3 with xp. Several days after adding a Windows 7 computer all of the xp machines were unable to see any of the computers in the workgroup. Could ping them but not see them when selecting "View Workgroup". If I dropped runtime virus protection on Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) I could see all computers. If I launched runtime virus protection, I was then unable to see networked computers in workgroup. Help.
September 22nd, 2010 4:19am

That doesn't make a lot of sense to me but...on the new Windows 7 computer is the Computer Browser service started? If not, try starting it. If so, you might actually try stopping it (and set it to Manual startup) then reboot all of the machines. It could be that the new machine is taking over the default browser role and somehow MSE is interferring on that machine. <SWAG>-B- http://www.officeforlawyers.com | http://www.onenote-tips.com Author: The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Outlook
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October 8th, 2010 2:46pm

Almost always this behavior is due to as little as one computer on the subnet that has a firewall that is unfriendly to NetBT. In a normal subnet, one machine is elected "browse master" and maintains the list of computers on the subnet which is then distributed to other computers when they ask. This works fine until you connect a firewalled computer to the subnet. The firewalled computer tries to locate other machines on the subnet but its own firewall blocks the return broadcasts. The computer then concludes that it is the only computer on the subnet and declares itself "browse master" and sends out messages broadcasting this. After the "real" browse master receives a few of these broadcasts, it concludes that someone else is browse master and gives up that functionality. So now the firewalled computer thinks it is browse master but the firewall blocks all attempts to contact it.When the old "real" browse master gives up its position, it records an entry in the system log. Using the Event Viewer (Start -> Run -> "eventvwr"), look in the System Logs of all your computers for an entry from source "MRxSmb", event ID 8003, which will read "The master browser has received a server announcement from the computer XXXX that believes that it is the master browser for the domain on transport <YYYYY>. The master browser is stopping or an election is being forced."If you see a message like the above in the log, look to computer XXXX to have a firewall.The following article alludes to this problem:"Internet firewalls can prevent browsing and file sharing" < http://support.microsoft.com/kb/298804 >HTH, JW
October 8th, 2010 4:02pm

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