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Windows Forum / Windows XP / Networking and Web / July 2006

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Problems with "My Network Places"

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Andrew Virnuls - 26 Jul 2006 23:12 GMT
Hello!

I'm having problems with My Network Places and have been searching the web
for several days to find a solution, but haven't had any joy.

When I double-click My Network Places (in Windows XP Professional x64), the
list of shortcuts appears as usual, but when I double-click any, or click
the right-mouse button and choose Open, nothing happens.

Also, when I try to add a new network place (an internet FTP one) it tells
me that the folder I entered does not appear to be valid - even if it's the
same as a shortcut that's already in the list, and definitely does exist
because I can access it using a freeware FTP program.

I've looked in the Knowledge Base and it's not the web folders problem that
gives the same message, and I've tried stopping the web client service and
that doesn't do anything either.

It all worked happily until a couple of weeks ago when I installed IE7 Beta
3, although someone in another newsgroup thinks that's a coincidence.  With
IE7 installed I got an error in explorer.exe, module ieframe.dll when I
opened My Network Places.  I removed IE7 and now there's no error but
nothing happens.

Any ideas?

Andrew
Reply to this Message
Chuck - 27 Jul 2006 01:29 GMT
>Hello!
>
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
>Andrew

Andrew,

How many computers do you have?  Is this a problem on one, or others too?  Try
some diagnostic work - provide "browstat status", "ipconfig /all", "net config
server", and "net config workstation", from each computer.  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

Signature

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.

Reply to this Message
Andrew Virnuls - 27 Jul 2006 14:10 GMT
> On Wed, 26 Jul 2006 23:12:11 +0100, "Andrew Virnuls"
> <forename@surname.co.uk>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> config
> server", and "net config workstation", from each computer...

Thanks for responding.

I have two computers connected with a Belkin ADSL router - an AMD64 desktop
running Windows XP x64, which is connected with a cable, and an old laptop
running Windows 2000, which is connected wirelessly.  Both are in the same
workgroup.  The x64 desktop is the one with the problem, the laptop seems
OK.  I built the desktop just over a year ago and it's been running
correctly since then (until a couple of weeks ago).

Having just checked the laptop, I've also noticed that the laptop can access
shares on the desktop, but the desktop tells me that the laptop is not
accessible (although it appears in the workgroup in Entire Network).  This
used to work correctly, too!

I've included the requested information from the desktop PC.

Andrew

- ipconfig from the desktop:

Windows IP Configuration

  Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : AMD64
  Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
  Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
  IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
  WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
  DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : Number19

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

  Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : Number19
  Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Marvell Yukon 88E8053 PCI-E Gigabit
Ethernet Controller
  Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-D8-6D-EA-09
  DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
  Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
  IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.2
  Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
  Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
  DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
  DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
  Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 27 July 2006 13:28:00
  Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 27 July 2006 13:27:59

(it used to have the tunnelling thing in it too, but I removed IPv6 as
directed by your web-site)

- netconfig from the desktop:

Server Name                           \\AMD64
Server Comment                        Desktop PC

Software version                      Microsoft Windows XP
Server is active on
NetbiosSmb (000000000000)
NetBT_Tcpip_{8F9125A2-12D5-46BA-9B70-926C3833898E} (0011d86dea09)

Server hidden                         No
Maximum Logged On Users               10
Maximum open files per session        16384

Idle session time (min)               15
The command completed successfully.

Computer name                        \\AMD64
Full Computer name                   AMD64
User name                            av

Workstation active on
NetbiosSmb (000000000000)
NetBT_Tcpip_{8F9125A2-12D5-46BA-9B70-926C3833898E} (0011D86DEA09)

Software version                     Microsoft Windows XP

Workstation domain                   VIRNULS
Logon domain                         AMD64

COM Open Timeout (sec)               0
COM Send Count (byte)                16
COM Send Timeout (msec)              250
The command completed successfully.

- browstat information from the desktop:

Status for domain VIRNULS on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{8F9125A2-12D5-46BA-9B70-926C3833898E}
   Browsing is active on domain.
   Master browser name is: AMD64
       Master browser is running build 3790
   1 backup servers retrieved from master AMD64
       \\AMD64
   There are 2 servers in domain VIRNULS on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{8F9125A2-12D5-46BA-9B70-926C3833898E}
   There are 1 domains in domain VIRNULS on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{8F9125A2-12D5-46BA-9B70-926C3833898E}

(this seems to give erratic results - sometimes it says only 1 server, and
sometime it says that browsing is not active)

- browstat information from the Windows 2000 laptop:

Status for domain VIRNULS on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{A91C6987-2F70-4D96-A9E7-0D74081B56B4}
   Browsing is active on domain.
   Master browser name is: LAPTOP
       Master browser is running build 2195
   1 backup servers retrieved from master LAPTOP
       \\LAPTOP
   There are 1 servers in domain VIRNULS on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{A91C6987-2F70-4D96-A9E7-0D74081B56B4}
   There are 1 domains in domain VIRNULS on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{A91C6987-2F70-4D96-A9E7-0D74081B56B4}
Reply to this Message
Chuck - 28 Jul 2006 06:08 GMT
>> On Wed, 26 Jul 2006 23:12:11 +0100, "Andrew Virnuls"
>> <forename@surname.co.uk>
[quoted text clipped - 122 lines]
>    There are 1 domains in domain VIRNULS on transport
>\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{A91C6987-2F70-4D96-A9E7-0D74081B56B4}

Andrew,

OK, with just 2 computers, you should stop and disable the browser service on
the laptop.  And make sure that NetBT is explicitly Enabled on both.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/04/netbios-over-tcpip.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/04/netbios-over-tcpip.html

Then watch "browstat status" on both computers simultaneously.  If any more
questions or problems, post diagnostics from BOTH computers.

Signature

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.

Reply to this Message
shiki - 28 Jul 2006 18:25 GMT
> >> On Wed, 26 Jul 2006 23:12:11 +0100, "Andrew Virnuls"
> >> <forename@surname.co.uk>
[quoted text clipped - 134 lines]
> Then watch "browstat status" on both computers simultaneously.  If any more
> questions or problems, post diagnostics from BOTH computers.
Reply to this Message
Andrew Virnuls - 29 Jul 2006 12:53 GMT
> On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 14:10:04 +0100, "Andrew Virnuls"
> <forename@surname.co.uk>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> more
> questions or problems, post diagnostics from BOTH computers.

Thanks!

I already had NetBIOS enabled on both machines, but the browser thing seems
to have helped.  I can now share both ways between my laptop and my desktop,
even using My Network Places.

The browstat output is now as follows:

Desktop:

Status for domain VIRNULS on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{8F9125A2-12D5-46BA-9B70-926C3833898E}
   Browsing is active on domain.
   Master browser name is: AMD64
       Master browser is running build 3790
   1 backup servers retrieved from master AMD64
       \\AMD64
   There are 2 servers in domain VIRNULS on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{8F9125A2-12D5-46BA-9B70-926C3833898E}
   There are 1 domains in domain VIRNULS on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{8F9125A2-12D5-46BA-9B70-926C3833898E}

Laptop:

Status for domain VIRNULS on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{A91C6987-2F70-4D96-A9E7-0D74081B56B4}
   Browsing is active on domain.
   Master browser name is: AMD64
       Master browser is running build 3790
   1 backup servers retrieved from master AMD64
       \\AMD64
   There are 2 servers in domain VIRNULS on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{A91C6987-2F70-4D96-A9E7-0D74081B56B4}
   There are 1 domains in domain VIRNULS on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{A91C6987-2F70-4D96-A9E7-0D74081B56B4}

My original problem still persists, though, which is that none of my
internet FTP shortcuts in My Network Places on the desktop does anything
when you either double-click or right-click and choose Open.  When I try to
enter a new, valid FTP address it tells me that the folder is invalid.
Connectivity is OK, though, because AceFTP Freeware works perfectly.  My
Network Places on the laptop is fine.

Why did this work happily for a year, though?  Was it just luck, or has some
update changed the setting?

Andrew
Reply to this Message
Chuck - 29 Jul 2006 14:51 GMT
>> On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 14:10:04 +0100, "Andrew Virnuls"
>> <forename@surname.co.uk>
[quoted text clipped - 59 lines]
>
>Andrew

Andrew,

If you have 2 computers, and both of them have the browser running, one of them
will be the master.  If you separate the two (and laptops are subject to this
scenario), the one that is NOT the master may elect itself the master.  With 2
master browsers in a workgroup, neither will be able to see the other.  Read
about it:
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html

As to why it changed, specifically, you haven't told us enough about the
computers, nor your use.  You didn't even mention that fact that one of the
computers is a laptop, as far as I can tell.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html

Now the browser is Windows Networking.  While FTP connected hosts do display in
My Network Places, MNP does not participate in the browser.

Is it possible that you changed a firewall setting?  Or added a firewall, even
inadvertently?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html

Signature

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.

Reply to this Message
Andrew Virnuls - 31 Jul 2006 19:00 GMT
> On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 12:53:58 +0100, "Andrew Virnuls"
> <forename@surname.co.uk>
[quoted text clipped - 55 lines]
> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html

Hello!

Thanks for all your help - I've now sorted out the original problem, too.
As it just stopped working, I suspected some sort of Windows quick, so I
just reinstalled it as an upgrade.  Everything now looks the same, except My
Network Places works properly!

There might have been some Firewall weirdness going on.  The Windows
Firewall was turned off, and the firewall in the router must have been OK
because the other PC could FTP through it without any problems.  However, on
the PC that had the problem (and the firewall turned off), when I tried to
FTP from the command line, I got a message from the Windows Firewall!

Still, it's all working now, so thanks again for your help.  I'll also have
to look into this browser issue at work, where we've got up to 20 laptops
coming and going and connected on a peer-to-peer network.  It's been OK for
over two years, though!

Andrew
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