Hello Experts, We have a Windows domain (Win SBS 2003 server) with several XP Pro workstations. We are introducing Windows 7 Pro (32-bit) workstations. We can integrate the Window 7 workstations into the domain without problem. When a domain user logs in on the Windows 7 workstation the server login script maps the drives (shaes on the server) and sets up the printers (server resources) exactly as we see with the Windows XP workstations. So far so good. The problem is that domain users cannot browse for other computers (Win XP, Win 7 and Win SBS 2003) in the local network/domain using the Windows Explorer -> Network panel. Domain users see only the domain printer(s). No computers show up at all. On the XP Workstations Note that each domain user has Administrator rights on the local machine. However, domain users adn access ALL other computers in the local network/domain if they know the computer name. If a domain user types the name of the computer in the address bar of the Windows explorer then the Windows Explorer will display the shares of the target computer. By way of example,we have a computer called Computer-7 which has some shares on it and if the domain user types \\Computer-7 in the Windows Explore it will display the shares on Computer-7 . Same is true for the server and any other workstation. On the other hand, if a user logs on to the Windows 7 workstation with a local account (eg: NOT a domain account) that user CAN browse ALL other computers in the local network/domain using the Windows Explorer -> Network panel. Similarly, if I log on to the Windows SBS 2003 server as Administrator I can browse ALL other computers in the local network/domain using the Windows Explorer -> My Network Places -> Microsoft Windows Network -> OurDomainName. There must be some setting (perhaps a policy setting?) that will allow domain users on the Windows 7 workstations to use the windows Explorer to browse the network for other computers. Please note that on the Windows 7 box "Network Discovery" and "File and Printer Sharing" are BOTH turned ON in "Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Network and Sharing Center\Advanced sharing settings". The Windows 7 computer has a Description (eg: it's not blank) and it does not change the behaviour if IpV6 is enabled or disabled. I would appreciate any advice or pointers.

No such policy is available. You should be able to browse the computer if you have correct credentials. For example, after you access the computer that is out of domain, then refresh the Network explorer, that computer will be listed. Arthur Xie - MSFT

I have a similar problem. I set up 2 new computers and joined them to an SBS 2003 domain. Opening Windows Explorer on both systems, then the Network panel, 1 of the systems displays all the systems on the domain. The other system doesn't. The systems are virtually identical. Typing the UNC of a system will display the shares for that system and add it to the list of computers under the Network item. On closing and reopening Explorer, the previously accessed system is no longer there. I, too, am looking for some help.

Hi! I too have a similar problem. The Windows 7 Ultimate systems cannot browse the Windows 2003 domain via Windows explorer unless you type a UNC path. The firewall is off and the firewall service disabled The Windows 7 Ultimate systems mapped drive resources are viewable but the Windows 2003 Server Standard cannot be browsed to via windows explorer example 1. log onto the domain with valid user credentials 2. open Windows Explorer 3. click on Network the servers and all the other systems on the domain should be listed but they are not. Only the Windows 7 systems are visible. The Windows 2003 Server Standard servers are not visible. 4. type the unc path \\server-name in the address bar the server is now visible 5. close Windows Explorer and reopen the server is no longer listed only the windows 7 systems are visible under Network We have several applications that must be able to browse the network for resources to function and this issue is preventing them from functioning.

lhg-vic wrote: Hi! I too have a similar problem. The Windows 7 Ultimate systems cannot browse the Windows 2003 domain via Windows explorer unless you type a UNC path. The firewall is off and the firewall service disabled The Windows 7 Ultimate systems mapped drive resources are viewable but the Windows 2003 Server Standard cannot be browsed to via windows explorer example 1. log onto the domain with valid user credentials 2. open Windows Explorer 3. click on Network the servers and all the other systems on the domain should be listed but they are not. Only the Windows 7 systems are visible. The Windows 2003 Server Standard servers are not visible. 4. type the unc path \\server-name <file://\\server-name> in the address bar the server is now visible 5. close Windows Explorer and reopen the server is no longer listed only the windows 7 systems are visible under Network We have several applications that must be able to browse the network for resources to function and this issue is preventing them from functioning. Are you joined to the Win2003 domain? And are you running the LLDP I/O driver? Wolfgang

Do Microsoft forum monitors ever offer solutions to these issues? We have similar problems. We're running Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition, so I don't think it's limited to SBS.

cmmx wrote: Do Microsoft forum monitors ever offer solutions to these issues?  We have similar problems.  We're running Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition, so I don't think it's limited to SBS. That question I can't answer, but let's dig deeper into the issue: What TCP/IP settings do you have in place, especially do you have enabled NETBIOS over TCP/IP and/or do you have a valid WINS server configured on your WIN7 PC ? Do you have a lmhosts file and a hosts file in .../system32/drivers/etc and what entries do they show? Is the computer browser service running on your Win7 box? What are your settings for "Networks Discovery" for Domain Networks and for other networks? Wolfgang

I also have this problem. I am a sysadmin on a Server 2008R2 domain of 40 servers/200PCs, multiple subnets etc. I have just got a 64bit Windows7 Business Edition, and I can't browse any PCs on the domain. I can map or connect to anything I want to, but no browsing. I see there are responses asking whether we have tcp/ip set up etc, which in an Active Directory domain of course we have. All netowrking and routing between 2008 and 2003 servers and XP pcs works fine. Network browsing on these other systems works fine, and I have to RDP to one of them to perform the basic functions that Windows 7 won't do. This is a Windows 7 issue, and looks like the usual thing where usefull and essential features like browsing the network have been dropped or blocked, so if any of you have any ideas on what has to be done to coax this basic feature into life I'm all ears. thanks John

I also have this problem. I am a sysadmin on a Server 2008R2 domain of 40 servers/200PCs, multiple subnets etc. I have just got a 64bit Windows7 Business Edition, and I can't browse any PCs on the domain. I can map or connect to anything I want to, but no browsing. I see there are responses asking whether we have tcp/ip set up etc, which in an Active Directory domain of course we have. All netowrking and routing between 2008 and 2003 servers and XP pcs works fine. Network browsing on these other systems works fine, and I have to RDP to one of them to perform the basic functions that Windows 7 won't do. This is a Windows 7 issue, and looks like the usual thing where usefull and essential features like browsing the network have been dropped or blocked, so if any of you have any ideas on what has to be done to coax this basic feature into life I'm all ears. thanks John Hi, I am with John. We have all Server 2008 R2 etc. Over 350 computers all XP SP3. Everything works great, all computers can browse see the network printers etc. We add a test Windows 7 box and add it to the domain like normal, and it does not see any of the network printers. It did eventually find the other computers on the network, but still no printers. The settings are Stock Windows 7 install except for joining it to the Domain. Any ideas? Thanks, BruceMCP, SBS Specialist, A+, N+

jabell-OZ wrote: I also have this problem. I am a sysadmin on a Server 2008R2 domain of 40 servers/200PCs, multiple subnets etc.  I have just got a 64bit Windows7 Business Edition, and I can't browse any PCs on the domain. I can map or connect to anything I want to, but no browsing.  I see there are responses asking whether we have tcp/ip set up etc, which in an Active Directory domain of course we have.  All netowrking and routing between 2008 and 2003 servers and XP pcs works fine.   Network browsing on these other systems works fine, and I have to RDP to one of them to perform the basic functions that Windows 7 won't do. This is a Windows 7 issue, and looks like the usual thing where usefull and essential features like browsing the network have been dropped or blocked, so if any of you have any ideas on what has to be done to coax this basic feature into life I'm all ears. thanks John There is a setting called "Network Discovery" in Network properties/advanced sharing properties (this may be called different, because I have no English Win7 PC up at the moment), which is set to off on the Domain network as default. This setting has to be set to on for browsing to work. I don't have a Win2008 domain - only a win2003 domain, so don't know if there are any specials in browsing W2008 domains to look after, too. Wolfgang

Hallo all.. I had a similar problem with a SBS 2003 domain, 2 windows 7 workstations and the rest windows XP. All worked fine until some time this week. User on one Win7 system complained she cannot browse the network. Looked at the problem and noticed that Netbios is used to browse machines. I opened the network adapter settings and looked at the advanced settings of the IP v4 protocol. It was set to use Netbios settings from the DNS/Domain server. I changed this setting to just be ON and rebooted the system. Problem resolved. Not sure of any other side effects of making this change. Hope this helps someone out there.

I had the same problem after replacing my mainboard on a Windows 7 machine running on a Windows 2003 domain using a static IP address. The NetBIOS settings are on the WINS tab of the advance TCP/IP settings dialog for IP v4. The notation in the NetBIOS settings section at the Default radio button option states "Use NetBIOS setting from the DHCP server. If static IP address is used or the DHCP server does not provide NetBIOS setting, enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP." I enabled this setting and okayed the dialog. Domain browsing immediately began working without a reboot.

To anyone having this issue, i recently joined multipe win7 x64 to a SBS2003. Issues exist within the firewall settings for outbound rules. Even though it puts in allowed rules, you have to select all outbound/inbound file and print share rules and enable for allowed. This will solve access problems for all sharing via browsing or UNC path direction on machines, regardless of xp, win7 or sbs server access.

I found the simplest solution was to disable the firewall service. I am inside of routers with hardware firewalls, being on the domain the firewall was turned off but the service was running and no computers visible on the domain, I disabled the service and issue resolved.