Switching off one PC makes remainder inaccessible

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Bill Haines - 31 Jul 2006 10:32 GMT

I have a 3 computer network within a workgroup. Recently I tried to
switch one machine off to save energy. When I do this, the remaining 2
computers become inaccessible to each other via
"My Network Places" > "Entire Network" > "Microsoft Windows Network" >
<"Work Group Name">, though desktop shortcuts to folders on remote
machines remain functional.

How can I keep my remaining network places accessible when I switch
one of the workgroup PCs off?
TIA
--
Bill Haines

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Richard G. Harper - 31 Jul 2006 10:46 GMT

I suspect this is a master browser issue - in a workgroup setting, since
there are no domain controllers to keep a list of available workstations on
the network one computer will become the master browser and maintain a list
of workstations. When a computer is started up or shut down an election
will be forced to select a new master browser:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/188001
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q102878/
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/2000/server/reskit/en-u
s/cnet/cnfi_brs_oynw.asp

If you wait fifteen minutes the network should settle out and browsing
should work again.

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>I have a 3 computer network within a workgroup. Recently I tried to
> switch one machine off to save energy. When I do this, the remaining 2
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> --
> Bill Haines

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Bill Haines - 31 Jul 2006 21:26 GMT

>I suspect this is a master browser issue - in a workgroup setting, since
>there are no domain controllers to keep a list of available workstations on
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>If you wait fifteen minutes the network should settle out and browsing
>should work again.

Thanks for the help.
It may well be a master browser issue as you suggest but after 15
minutes and even many hours, access to other machines via My Network
Places is painfully sluggish and ultimately unsuccessful. Perhaps
there is something preventing the selection of a new master browser on
one of the remaining machines.
--
Bill Haines

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Richard G. Harper - 31 Jul 2006 22:49 GMT

That could well be so. Have you checked the event logs on the two PCs that
remain on to see if there are any error messages that illuminate the
problem?

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>>I suspect this is a master browser issue - in a workgroup setting, since
>>there are no domain controllers to keep a list of available workstations
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> --
> Bill Haines

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Steve Winograd [MVP] - 31 Jul 2006 17:29 GMT

>I have a 3 computer network within a workgroup. Recently I tried to
>switch one machine off to save energy. When I do this, the remaining 2
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>one of the workgroup PCs off?
>TIA

Waiting 15 minutes or so after shutting off the first computer might
solve the problem. However, Network browsing through My Network
Places is so unreliable in Windows XP that I recommend not using it at
all.

To access another computer directly, without using My Network Places,
you can use a desktop shortcut, or you can type the other computer's
name in the Start | Run box in this format:

\\computer

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Bill Haines - 31 Jul 2006 21:36 GMT

>>I have a 3 computer network within a workgroup. Recently I tried to
>>switch one machine off to save energy. When I do this, the remaining 2
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>Places is so unreliable in Windows XP that I recommend not using it at
>all.

I understand what you're saying here but it's sad to lose access via
the GUI route, especially when the cause seems to be so clearly
associated with simply switching off of one of the network computers.

>To access another computer directly, without using My Network Places,
>you can use a desktop shortcut, or you can type the other computer's
>name in the Start | Run box in this format:
>
> \\computer

Thanks, I'll use this method, though reluctantly, as I feel that such
an important part of the Win XP interface should be reliable, or at
least fixable when it fails.
--
Bill Haines

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Steve Winograd [MVP] - 01 Aug 2006 00:47 GMT

>>>I have a 3 computer network within a workgroup. Recently I tried to
>>>switch one machine off to save energy. When I do this, the remaining 2
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>an important part of the Win XP interface should be reliable, or at
>least fixable when it fails.

I know what you're saying, too, Bill.

A look at the messages in this newsgroups shows how much trouble
people have with network browsing in My Network Places. In my
opinion, it isn't worth the time and trouble to try to troubleshoot
it, and there's no way that we users can fix a broken design.

You can create your own version of My Network Places: create a desktop
folder and populate it with shortcuts to desired computers and shared
folders. Those shortcuts should work even when network browsing
fails.

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