Network window is totally empty!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sam
  • Start date Start date
S

Sam

I don't know what happened, but I just noticed that when I click on
"Network" that it shows nothing at all. It used to show 4-5 other
computers in my home network. We're all in the same Workgroup and I just
checked to verify that nothing has changed. Stopping Windows Firewall
makes no difference.

I can access all the other computers in our network by manually typing
in their addresses. I've even created shortcuts to their locations, but
I shouldn't have to do this. Everything else on the network works
great... no problems accessing the Internet at all. I have Vista 32
Business.

So why is my local network hiding? Thanks.

Sam
 
I don't know what happened, but I just noticed that when I click on
"Network" that it shows nothing at all. It used to show 4-5 other
computers in my home network. We're all in the same Workgroup and I just
checked to verify that nothing has changed. Stopping Windows Firewall
makes no difference.

I can access all the other computers in our network by manually typing
in their addresses. I've even created shortcuts to their locations, but
I shouldn't have to do this. Everything else on the network works
great... no problems accessing the Internet at all. I have Vista 32
Business.

So why is my local network hiding? Thanks.

Sam
Click to expand...

Probably a NetBT setting or personal firewall problem. Have you maybe changed
antivirus protection?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html

Take a look at logs from "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all", from each
computer, and diagnose the problem. 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

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [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.
 
Probably a NetBT setting or personal firewall problem. Have you maybe changed
antivirus protection?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html

Take a look at logs from "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all", from each
computer, and diagnose the problem. 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
Click to expand...

Everything looks OK on the other computers. And, they can see me just
fine. NetBIOS is enabled on them.

One thing odd on my machine is that the Service "Computer Browser"
starts and just stops immediately after. There are no dependency errors
and no related errors in my Event Log. Could this be the problem?

Sam
 
Everything looks OK on the other computers. And, they can see me just
fine. NetBIOS is enabled on them.

One thing odd on my machine is that the Service "Computer Browser"
starts and just stops immediately after. There are no dependency errors
and no related errors in my Event Log. Could this be the problem?
Click to expand...

Could be a problem, or at least a very useful symptom. Run CPSServ on your
computer, and a couple others.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/04/cpsserv-comprehensive-psservice-source.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/04/cpsserv-comprehensive-psservice-source.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [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.
 
Could be a problem, or at least a very useful symptom. Run CPSServ on your
computer, and a couple others.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/04/cpsserv-comprehensive-psservice-source.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/04/cpsserv-comprehensive-psservice-source.html
Click to expand...

I've tried everything (including CPSServ)... no luck. I'm not a network
expert by any means... normally I just plug in the computers into a
switch which is connected to a router and everything seems to work.
We're all wired with as no more than 5-6 computers set up as
peer-to-peer.

I thought I'd include the reports, just in case that can shed some light
on what's going on. I don't know enough to properly interpret them.
C:\>browstat status

Status for domain NEWCASTLE on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{274FB336-87B7-4124-A98E-704DFE80CEA3}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: TEE1
Could not connect to registry, error = 5 Unable to determine
build of browser master: 5
Unable to determine server information for browser master: 5
1 backup servers retrieved from master TEE1
\\TEE1
There are 3 servers in domain NEWCASTLE on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{274FB336-87B7-4124-A98E-704DFE80CEA3}
Unable to retrieve server list from TEE1: 2127
Click to expand...

Here's CPPServ. I don't understand what it means, so maybe someone can
explain it.
Find Computer Browser ("browser")

Checking \\SAM1...
Found browser on:

\\SAM1

Checking \\SAM2...Unable to open Service Control Manager database on \\\SAM2:

Checking \\TEE2...

Find DHCP Client ("dhcp")

Checking \\SAM1...
Found dhcp on:

\\SAM1

Checking \\SAM2...Unable to open Service Control Manager database on \\\SAM2:

Checking \\TEE2...
\\TEE2


Find TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper ("lmhosts")

Checking \\SAM1...
Found lmhosts on:

\\SAM1

Checking \\SAM2...Unable to open Service Control Manager database on \\\SAM2:

Checking \\TEE2...
\\TEE2


Find Remote Registry ("remoteregistry")

Checking \\SAM1...
Checking \\SAM2...Unable to open Service Control Manager database on \\\SAM2:

Checking \\TEE2...
Found remoteregistry on:

\\TEE2

Find Server ("server")

Checking \\SAM1...
Found server on:

\\SAM1

Checking \\SAM2...Unable to open Service Control Manager database on \\\SAM2:

Checking \\TEE2...
\\TEE2


Find WF / ICS ("sharedaccess")

Checking \\SAM1...
Checking \\SAM2...Unable to open Service Control Manager database on \\\SAM2:

Checking \\TEE2...
Found sharedaccess on:

\\TEE2


Find Workstation ("workstation")

Checking \\SAM1...
Found workstation on:

\\SAM1

Checking \\SAM2...Unable to open Service Control Manager database on \\\SAM2:

Checking \\TEE2...
\\TEE2
Click to expand...

There also should have been a \\TEE1, where apparently the master
browser is located. It's there and accessible... I've even mapped it as
drive Z with no problem at all.

Sam
 
I've tried everything (including CPSServ)... no luck. I'm not a network
expert by any means... normally I just plug in the computers into a
switch which is connected to a router and everything seems to work.
We're all wired with as no more than 5-6 computers set up as
peer-to-peer.

I thought I'd include the reports, just in case that can shed some light
on what's going on. I don't know enough to properly interpret them.


Here's CPPServ. I don't understand what it means, so maybe someone can
explain it.


There also should have been a \\TEE1, where apparently the master
browser is located. It's there and accessible... I've even mapped it as
drive Z with no problem at all.

Sam
Click to expand...

That's a good start, Sam. Is that from Sam1, Sam2, or Tee2? Could you do the
same from the other 2 computers please?

When you map Drive Z, are you mapping it as \\Tee1\Sharename?

When you ran browstat (above), did you run it while logged in (wherever) using
an account that has administrative network access to Tee1?says that you (whoever you are logged in as) doesn't have access to Tee1.

Chuck [Blog*Star 2006 - 2007]
Real Blogger Status: http://bloggerstatusforreal.blogspot.com/
Real Blogger Status Beta: http://bloggerstatusforrealbeta.blogspot.com/

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [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.
 
I've tried everything (including CPSServ)... no luck. I'm not a network
expert by any means... normally I just plug in the computers into a
switch which is connected to a router and everything seems to work.
We're all wired with as no more than 5-6 computers set up as
peer-to-peer.

I thought I'd include the reports, just in case that can shed some light
on what's going on. I don't know enough to properly interpret them.


Here's CPPServ. I don't understand what it means, so maybe someone can
explain it.


There also should have been a \\TEE1, where apparently the master
browser is located. It's there and accessible... I've even mapped it as
drive Z with no problem at all.

Sam
Click to expand...

That's a good start, Sam. Is that from Sam1, Sam2, or Tee2? Could you do the
same from the other 2 computers please?

When you map Drive Z, are you mapping it as \\Tee1\Sharename?

When you ran browstat (above), did you run it while logged in (wherever) using
an account that has administrative network access to Tee1?says that you (whoever you are logged in as) doesn't have access to Tee1.

Chuck [Blog*Star 2006 - 2007]
Real Blogger Status: http://bloggerstatusforreal.blogspot.com/
Real Blogger Status Beta: http://bloggerstatusforrealbeta.blogspot.com/
Click to expand...

I was doing the above from Sam1. Drive Z is mapped exactly as you
described it. (\\tee1\C:\) I have admin privileges on Tee1 (that's my
wife's main machine, used for web design) as well as my own machine.
I'll try the same commands on another machine or two and let you know
what happens.

All the machines on our system are running XP-Pro sp2, except me... I'm
using Vista Business. We don't have remote registry privileges set... is
that why I get that error message?

What's frustrating to me is, that in XP you could add "network places"
by specifically referencing a network address. I can find no similar
function that'll let me do that in Vista.

Sam
 
I've tried everything (including CPSServ)... no luck. I'm not a network
expert by any means... normally I just plug in the computers into a
switch which is connected to a router and everything seems to work.
We're all wired with as no more than 5-6 computers set up as
peer-to-peer.

I thought I'd include the reports, just in case that can shed some light
on what's going on. I don't know enough to properly interpret them.

C:\>browstat status

Status for domain NEWCASTLE on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{274FB336-87B7-4124-A98E-704DFE80CEA3}
Browsing is active on domain.
Master browser name is: TEE1
Could not connect to registry, error = 5 Unable to determine
build of browser master: 5
Unable to determine server information for browser master: 5
1 backup servers retrieved from master TEE1
\\TEE1
There are 3 servers in domain NEWCASTLE on transport
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{274FB336-87B7-4124-A98E-704DFE80CEA3}
Unable to retrieve server list from TEE1: 2127

Here's CPPServ. I don't understand what it means, so maybe someone can
explain it.

Find Computer Browser ("browser")

Checking \\SAM1...
Found browser on:

\\SAM1

Checking \\SAM2...Unable to open Service Control Manager database on \\\SAM2:

Checking \\TEE2...

Find DHCP Client ("dhcp")

Checking \\SAM1...
Found dhcp on:

\\SAM1

Checking \\SAM2...Unable to open Service Control Manager database on \\\SAM2:

Checking \\TEE2...
\\TEE2


Find TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper ("lmhosts")

Checking \\SAM1...
Found lmhosts on:

\\SAM1

Checking \\SAM2...Unable to open Service Control Manager database on \\\SAM2:

Checking \\TEE2...
\\TEE2


Find Remote Registry ("remoteregistry")

Checking \\SAM1...
Checking \\SAM2...Unable to open Service Control Manager database on \\\SAM2:

Checking \\TEE2...
Found remoteregistry on:

\\TEE2

Find Server ("server")

Checking \\SAM1...
Found server on:

\\SAM1

Checking \\SAM2...Unable to open Service Control Manager database on \\\SAM2:

Checking \\TEE2...
\\TEE2


Find WF / ICS ("sharedaccess")

Checking \\SAM1...
Checking \\SAM2...Unable to open Service Control Manager database on \\\SAM2:

Checking \\TEE2...
Found sharedaccess on:

\\TEE2


Find Workstation ("workstation")

Checking \\SAM1...
Found workstation on:

\\SAM1

Checking \\SAM2...Unable to open Service Control Manager database on \\\SAM2:

Checking \\TEE2...
\\TEE2

There also should have been a \\TEE1, where apparently the master
browser is located. It's there and accessible... I've even mapped it as
drive Z with no problem at all.

Sam
Click to expand...

That's a good start, Sam. Is that from Sam1, Sam2, or Tee2? Could you do the
same from the other 2 computers please?

When you map Drive Z, are you mapping it as \\Tee1\Sharename?

When you ran browstat (above), did you run it while logged in (wherever) using
an account that has administrative network access to Tee1?
Could not connect to registry, error = 5
Click to expand...
says that you (whoever you are logged in as) doesn't have access to Tee1.

Chuck [Blog*Star 2006 - 2007]
Real Blogger Status: http://bloggerstatusforreal.blogspot.com/
Real Blogger Status Beta: http://bloggerstatusforrealbeta.blogspot.com/
Click to expand...

I was doing the above from Sam1. Drive Z is mapped exactly as you
described it. (\\tee1\C:\) I have admin privileges on Tee1 (that's my
wife's main machine, used for web design) as well as my own machine.
I'll try the same commands on another machine or two and let you know
what happens.

All the machines on our system are running XP-Pro sp2, except me... I'm
using Vista Business. We don't have remote registry privileges set... is
that why I get that error message?

What's frustrating to me is, that in XP you could add "network places"
by specifically referencing a network address. I can find no similar
function that'll let me do that in Vista.

Sam
Click to expand...

Good thoughts, Sam.

To start, under Vista, there is no default whole drive sharing. The "C$" share
doesn't exist, unless you enable it (not recommended).
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2007/06/windows-vista-and-administrative-shares.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2007/06/windows-vista-and-administrative-shares.html

One of the reasons why "C$" disn't exist is that you don't normally have
administrative network access. And that, I'd bet, will prevent remote registry
access. I gotta research that. Maybe granularity = remote registry access for
non-admin accounts.

I haven't tried manually adding network addresses either. More work to do
later. I'll look forward to seeing what you find out about your network too.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/12/windows-xp-and-vista-on-lan-together.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/12/windows-xp-and-vista-on-lan-together.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [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.
 
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