Server name does not show up under Workgroup

I've been having a little bit of difficulty reestablishing a wireless network that used to work. Right now, I've been trying to fix one problem at a time, and I've been focusing on the server. My question is, I was wondering what it means when the server is able to ping it's own address as well as it's own computer name, but the computer name does not appear under My Network Places>Entire Network>Microsoft Windows Network> "workgroup name "

Appreciate any help you can offer!

 

Because you posted question here. I suppose your server is Windows 2003 or Windows 2000.

Could you provide more information(configuration) about your server? For example, is it a domain controller?

If it is a domain controller, you can not find its name in "WORKGROUP ", you need to find what is the domain name.

If it is not a domain controller, it might not belong to "WORKGROUP" for your case. Please check what workgroup it belongs to.

 

reply

Sorry, that was a little confusing. I have a workgroup, not a domain. Setup is as follows.

Three computers; right now I'm just messing with two of them. Subnets match on all of them. Currently 192.168.0.1 for the Local Area Connection on Computer #1 (a tower that is attached to a wireless router via cable to the internal Ethernet card). Automatic for the WAN Network Driver, the Net Adapter, and the fax modem (no DSL, I'm using dial-up) on Computer #1. 192.168.0.3 for Computer #2 (I've tried this address on both the Local Area Connection when cabled to the wireless router, and on a PCMCIA wireless card). 192.168.0.5 for the router (I reset the router's default of 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.0.5 so that the subnet would be zero since the Windows Wizards seem to like to use this. I also disabled DCHP on the router).

Subnet Mask for all is either 255.255.255.0, or chosen automatically. Gateway for all is either 192.168.0.5, or chosen automatically. DNS is left blank where I chose a static address, or chosen automatically.

Both computers are able to ping the other computers address, but not the other computers name. They both are able to ping their own computer names. And they are both able to ping the router.

Computer #2 displays it's own computer name under My Network Places, but not Computer #1s name. Computer #1 does not display it's own or the other's computer name under My Network Places.

I've checked the workgroup name for both computers to make sure that they match. I only have Windows Firewall installed and it is turned off for all Network Connections.

I guess the main thing that is confusing me is why I can see the computer name for computer #2 listed in My Network Places on computer #2, but I can't see the computer name for computer #1 listed in My Network Places on computer #1. For some reason, this just seems to be significant. I'm also a little confused why NetBIOS over TCP/IP keeps coming up as disabled on Local Area Network for computer #1, even though I have it checked to be enabled in the properties.

IPConfig/all on Computer #1 is as follows. Appreciate any help you can offer!

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ipconfig/all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : emachine
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-13-20-0B-2B-37
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.5
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

PPP adapter {3F7CC122-9407-4EF6-A3D3-5601156B8ACC}:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-53-45-00-00-00
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 172.150.142.84
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 172.150.142.84
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 205.188.146.145
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

 

From your ipconfig/all list

It says NETBIOS over ip is disabled.

Could you please double check it ? Becuase I did a little test on my machine.

If enable NETBIOS over ip, I will not see

"NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled"

in the output of ipconfig/all

And if I disable NETBIOS over ip, I still can ping my computer's name, but can't see it under my network place. it seems the same as your describled above.

 

follow up

Just wanted to leave a follow up, on what I've done. I ran through a grocery list of things to do including changing out the cables, scanning for adware, fixing default gateways and DNS addresses, repairing adapters, and reinstalling Winsock. So it's hard to say what helped and what didn't, but in the end run the main problem appears to have been the TCP/IP. NetBIOS over TCP/IP continued to show up as disabled in ipconfig/all, although I had it checked as enabled in the properties. So I reinstalled TCP/IP. But everytime I'd reinstall it, everything would work fine (pinging both computers by name, everything listed in Net View, names appearing under the workgroup, and NetBIOS over TCP/IP status disappeared in Ipconfig/all). But everytime I'd reboot, Windows would say that it was not able to start normally, giving me the option to go into safe mode. I'd refix the LAN address and reenable NetBIOS over TCP/IP. Then when I'd reboot, Windows would restart, but NetBIOS over TCP/IP would again appear as disabled in Ipconfig/all, while enabled in properties. So apparently, I'm assuming that something in my startup menu was messing with it. I ran msconfig, disabled everything in startup, reinstalled TCP/IP and rebooted and everything seems to be running fine. My only problem now, is that the wireless laptop (computer #2) gives me a "system error 5" when I try to do a net view of the tower (computer #1, attached to the wireless router). Computer #1, however, is able to do a net view of both itself and computer #2. So, I'm going to look that up. Hopefully it's an easy fix! Have not tried connecting to the internet yet, either, so I'm crossing my fingers.

Anyhow, thank you very much for your help!! If you are aware of a quick fix for "system error 5" in net view, I'd appreciate any help.

- Scott

 

System error 5 - Access is denied

This is a permission issue. If the net view command fails with a "System error 5 has occurred. Access is denied." message, 1) make sure you are logged on using an account that has permission to view the shares on the remote computer.
2) Need to cache credential: logon the same username and password on both computers or use net net use \\computername /user:username command.
3) Make sure the Netlogon service is running.

I copied above message from here:
http://www.chicagotech.net/systemerrors.htm#System error 5 - Access is denied

If any Mod feel this link is not proper here, please tell me and I will delete it.

 

System Error 6118

Thanks for your reply. I was able to fix "System Error 5" with the following advice from a great site at http://winhlp.com/wxnet.htm

Go to the computer which you cannot access, start a registry editor and change the following registry value.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\SYSTEM
\CurrentControlSet
\Control
\Lsa
Value name: RestrictAnonymous
Value type: DWORD

If the value is 1 or even 2, change it to 0, reboot and retest. If the problem is solved, leave the value at zero. If not, you can change it back if you like.

Things were working great for a day or two, then I began to receive "System Error 6118 ", while using the net view command. All firewalls are turned off. Just wondering if you have any advice for this error.

Thanx!

 

Also copied from the link above

System error 6118 has occurred. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available
SYMPTOMS: 1) After enabling ICS/ICF, you can't see any computes on My Network places. If you try, you may get "workgroup is not accessible ". 2) If you use the net view command, you may receive "System error 6118 has occurred. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available." message.
Resolutions:
1) This behavior can occur if you enable the ICF that will closes the ports for file sharing by default. To open these ports, right-click the network connection that is firewall protected> Properties>Advanced>Settings>Service Tab>Add, Enter 127.0.0.1) for the required Internet Protocol (IP) number. Enter UDP ports from 135 through 139, and TCP ports from 135 through 139 one by one (the external and internal port numbers should be identical).
2) This may occur if the workgroup name and the domain name are the different.
3) No master browser. Starting Computer Browser Service on one of w2k/xp computers should fix the problem

 

computer browser

Yah, it was a computer browser issue. Along the way here, I've had command prompt, system restore, regedit, and now the computer browser disabled and have had to manually turn them back on. I'm assuming it was a virus. Unfortunately, I guess I'll have to just wait and see what else was turned off! Anyhow, thanx again.