This thread is getting very long and I've made so many mistakes in the past
two weeks that my desktop system seemed of the verge of crashing. So, I
decided to restore my system to a date in mid October when everything --
were working well together -- even the file and printer sharing network and
the Grisom AVG Firewall.
After finishing the restore, I discovered that the changes I made yesterday,
following the procedures in PChuck's "Clean Up The Protocol Stack First,"
had survived the restore process, but then, so did my problem.
I'm going to try to find a technician locally who will do a hands-on job of
examining and perhaps even solving my problem. The only further thing I now
dare try by myself is try reconfiguring the file-sharing configuration
using the Configuration Wizard and experiment with giving different answers
to the Wizard questions about my connections to the internet. I now don't
even remember how I had answered them originally when I got the file-sharing
to work beautifully.
Thanks for your help. I've learned a lot, though obviously not enough to
solve the problem or avoid destabilizing my computer system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Chuck" <none@example.net> wrote in message
news:06jpm1pe6nqro9vsrpkcuf7vf1dkfdabnv@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 4 Nov 2005 22:53:19 -0800, "Joseph Carrier"
> <jercarrier@earthlink.net>
> wrote:
>
>>"Chuck" <none@example.net> wrote in message
>>news:bjnnm191l0db8ono44pqs4149qp34kupj5@4ax.com. ..
>>> On Fri, 4 Nov 2005 13:13:17 -0800, "Joseph Carrier"
>>> <jercarrier@earthlink.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>"Chuck" <none@example.net> wrote in message
>>>>news:h6mkm1lgo6ekpn1sg6lh2qa5vr4bktcab1@4ax.co m...
>>>>> On Thu, 3 Nov 2005 10:10:29 -0800, "Joseph Carrier"
>>>>> <jercarrier@earthlink.net>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>"Chuck" <none@example.net> wrote in message
>>>>>>news:hn2jm110m028m4m5160ll0mgal1rv8o208@4ax. com...
>>>>>>> On Wed, 2 Nov 2005 19:49:21 -0800, "Joseph Carrier"
>>>>>>> <*email_address_deleted*>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I'm still trying to solve a File-Sharing problem and have eliminated
>>>>>>>>the
>>>>>>>>Firewall as a problem. I thought I read somewhere in this newsgroup
>>>>>>>>that
>>>>>>>>having a different default browser on two machines may prevent a
>>>>>>>>file-sharing network from working properly. Is that the case?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>If it is, I have a second question: How does one select a browser to
>>>>>>>>be
>>>>>>>>the
>>>>>>>>"default?" I've tried but been unable to make the two machines to
>>>>>>>>have
>>>>>>>>the
>>>>>>>>same default browser; one is now set at IE6 and the other is set at
>>>>>>>>Firefox.
>>>>>>>>I've been tinkering with both machines and can't seem get it right.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I would like to experiment with setting IE6 as the default browser
>>>>>>>>on
>>>>>>>>both
>>>>>>>>machines. Would some kind reader of this note please post a
>>>>>>>>step-by-step
>>>>>>>>procedure for getting this done?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Many thanks,
>>>>>>>>Joseph Carrier
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Joseph,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What you're talking about is a master browser. Having 2 master
>>>>>>> browsers
>>>>>>> in a
>>>>>>> workgroup is like having 2 bosses in a company. Some servers report
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> one
>>>>>>> master browser, and some to another. Depending upon which client
>>>>>>> you're
>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>> (viewing Network Neighborhood from), you'll see the various servers
>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>> report
>>>>>>> to the master browser that the client uses.
>>>>>>> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>
>>>>>>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...lways-see.html
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Please don't confuse the browser subsystem (which populates Network
>>>>>>> Neighborhood) with the program used for surfing the web. Those are
>>>>>>> 2
>>>>>>> different
>>>>>>> functions.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Anyway, if you're having a file sharing problem, provide some detail
>>>>>>> about
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> problem.
>>>>>>> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
>>>>>>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...#AskingForHelp
>>>>>>> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html>
>>>>>>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...-tutorial.html
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Or try diagnosing the problem.
>>>>>>> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
>>>>>>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/1...isibility.html
>>>>>
>>>>>>(Sorry -- I pushed the wrong button and this reply did not go to the
>>>>>>Group,
>>>>>>as I had intended so I am now repeating it here.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Thanks. I had thought that was referring to the Internet browsers,
>>>>>>and
>>>>>>I
>>>>>>guess it did not (I use two: Firefox and IE6.)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Here's my setup and the problem:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Three WinXP SP2 (Home Edition) computers connected (directly) into an
>>>>>>ADSL
>>>>>>router. This works. The two laptops are connected wirelessly and the
>>>>>>desktop is connected with an Ethernet cable.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>A File Sharing network is set up on all three computers. This does
>>>>>>not
>>>>>>work. The two laptops see each other but not the desktop. The
>>>>>>desktop
>>>>>>cannot see the two laptops.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I think I've eliminated a Firewall as the problem. The same
>>>>>>file-sharing
>>>>>>problem persists with no firewall functioning at all -- even after
>>>>>>uninstalling the AVG Firewall on my desktop and reconfiguring the
>>>>>>file-sharing network on all three machines. (The two laptops use only
>>>>>>the
>>>>>>Windows Firewall.)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I'm completely stumped. Everything worked for months until a couple
>>>>>>of
>>>>>>weeks ago. The only significant thing I changed in the system before
>>>>>>the
>>>>>>Desktop dropped from the view of the two laptops was to install the
>>>>>>Google
>>>>>>Earth program, fiddle with to try to get it to connect to the Google
>>>>>>Serve,
>>>>>>failed with that, and then uninstalled the new Google Earth program.
>>>>>>I
>>>>>>think something done in that whole process might possibly have messed
>>>>>>up
>>>>>>my
>>>>>>previously working file-sharing network.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>This may be a clue: I tried "repairing" the "LAN or high speed
>>>>>>internet"
>>>>>>connection on my desktop, but that raised the error message that it
>>>>>>couldn't
>>>>>>finish the repair because 'cannot clear the DNS Cache.' I don't know
>>>>>>if
>>>>>>that's significant or what to do about it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Would appreciate suggestions about what to look for now.
>>>>>
>>>>> Joseph,
>>>>>
>>>>> Provide relevant data here, and we'll diagnose the problem.
>>>>> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
>>>>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/1...isibility.html
>>>
>>>>Thanks for the suggestions.
>>>>
>>>>Unfortunately the URL references in your response tend lose me as I try
>>>>to
>>>>progress from one to the other. By now, I have several file-folders of
>>>>printouts from your Blog. I've studied all of them carefully without
>>>>getting any closer to understanding my problem -- indeed, I may have
>>>>become
>>>>even more confused.
>>>>
>>>>For example, with respect to your Usenet posting and Blogs on
>>>>"Browsers,"
>>>>I
>>>>still don't understand whether or not my using two internet browsers
>>>>(IE6
>>>>and Firefox,) has any relevance to my file-sharing networking problem.
>>>>
>>>>Let me refer explicitly to one of the many sections of your blog that
>>>>I've
>>>>studied: Chuck's Network Irregularities in Workgroup Visibility:"
>>>>While
>>>>trying to follow your instructions there, I've progressed as follows:
>>>>
>>>>1. I've pretty well eliminated a personal firewall as part of the
>>>>problem
>>>>by
>>>>working with the software company that provides my firewall (Grisom>)
>>>>and
>>>>the problem persists whether or not I have any Firewall.
>>>>
>>>>2. I don't know how to go about checking for an "anonymous access
>>>>block."
>>>>Any hints?
>>>>
>>>>3. I've studied the "ipconfig/all" outputs of the three Work Group
>>>>computers and the one for my desktop looks very strange indeed --
>>>>especially
>>>>in contrast the output of the two laptops. But, I really don't know
>>>>how
>>>>to
>>>>interpret what I see. What do you suggest I do then: post on this
>>>>Usenet
>>>>forum the whole ipconfig/all reports for the desktop and ask "What's
>>>>wrong
>>>>(if anything) with this?"
>>>>
>>>>I haven't yet gotten to the download "browstat" part because I'm almost
>>>>certain that I'll run into the same road blocks as I have with the
>>>>"ipconfig/all" report: I won't know how to interpret the report or how
>>>>to
>>>>frame questions about it.
>>>>
>>>>I'm convinced that you're very knowledgeable, but I'm afraid you're way
>>>>over
>>>>the head of even the long-time, typical, computer user.
>>>>
>>>>What is your suggestion for me, given the above? Be polite, now!
>>>
>>> Joseph,
>>>
>>> From reading your other thread "How to Clean DSN Cache?", it appears
>>> that
>>> your
>>> immediate problem is the presence of IPV6 aka Teredo Tunneling on your
>>> computers. Please start by removing that. Instructions are in this
>>> article:
>>> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/fix-network-problems-but-clean-up.html>
>>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...-clean-up.html
>
>>After reading about it in PChuck's Network, I downloaded and installed a
>>Support Tools Folder from the Microsoft web site so that I might use
>>Browstat.
>>
>>I have a feeling that Support Tools are not meant to be used with the
>>Home
>>Edition of Win XP SP2. In fact , its description at the MS web site seems
>>to suggest it's intended only for the Pro Edition.
>>
>>Browstat wasn't among the list of tools in the folder I downloaded -- I
>>guess that's because at some point during the installation I neglected to
>>click on the right selection to get the complete set of tools.
>>
>>When I went to the "All Programs" listing to check out the Support Tools
>>folder, I clicked on it and then clicked on third item in the folder:
>>"command window" That resulted in a full black screen that I was able to
>>get out of only by resorting to the <CTRL><ALT><DEL> salute.
>>
>>I then went directly to Control Panel and uninstalled it. I'm beginning
>>to
>>see signs of system corruption that may be the result of installing many
>>complicated and unfamiliar diagnostic programs recommended by
>>technicians --
>>especially the ones at Grisom's AVG Firewall. One minor but weird example
>>is that "My Network Places" has now stopped appearing in the first display
>>after clicking on "START." (from overuse, maybe??)
>>
>>Do you have a URL for a web page that will let me download "Browstat.exe"
>>by
>>itself? I tried the web site of neighbor Stanford, (it was listed in
>>results of a Google search on "Browstat.") but that site doesn't provide
>>a
>>download.
>
> Joseph,
>
> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/browstat-utility-from-microsoft.html>
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...microsoft.html
> For more information, read the Microsoft article Troubleshooting the
> Microsoft
> Computer Browser Service. There you will find a link to the Microsoft
> Support
> Tools package, which includes Browstat.
>
> If you want just Browstat, it's available on the web from various
> independent
> sources, Dynawell, or from Stanford, for instance.
> # http://www.dynawell.com/reskit/micro...0/browstat.zip
> # http://rescomp.stanford.edu/staff/ma...s/browstat.zip
>
> I just checked both Dynawell and Stanford, and both download fine. They
> do
> download fairly quickly, so you may need to check wherever you download,
> because
> even with my slooow DSL, it's a small file, and downloads without any
> progress
> bar.
>
> --
> 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.