Can't browse but typing other computer's name works

[stevenyc]

I work in a company with two domains, one for each location. Our servers are all NT but our workstations are a mix of 98, 2K and XP. Recently we've developed an intermittent problem browsing our own domain. Workstations of all different types with users of all different rights are getting this message when they try to browse:

Unable to browse network. Network is unavailable.

The message is more of an annoyance then anything, because all you have to do is type in the name of the machine you want to browse to in the address bar and you go right in.

The message itself comes and goes. Sometimes you can browse, sometimes you can't. But even if you can't browse, you can always get to the computer you want by entering its name.

What makes it even stranger is that browsing the other domain is never a problem. This only affects our domain.

 

[Waidesworld]

Check your browser settings in Services>Browser for each machine. Are there event viewer logs stating problems witht he network? In the older machines are your hosts file settings (/system32/host) set up correctly?

Please address my pet hate, "a cable is loose, you lose your keys

 

[bcastner]

. If using LMHOSTS, it sounds as if there are errant entries. If using WINS, it sounds as if you are using errant entries.

. XP is co-equal to your NT servers as Broser Masters. In your setting it is best to either use a registry change on Win2k/XP machines to make them not participate in Browser elections, or much quicker: Start, Run, services.msc
Stop the Computer Browser service and set its startup to disabled. For the registry change, see member Bob Linn, MS MVP, site at:

http://www.chicagotech.net/m/?id=875350

See the section on Browser issues.