My Network Places - Network Tasks

For some strange reason, when I access this on my main computer, (XP Pro SP1), the menu under Network Tasks only has the following entries.

Add a network place
View network connections
Set a home or small office network



When I access My Network Places on my laptop, (XP Pro SP2), the Network Tasks menu has the following entries.

Add a network place
View network connections
Set a home or small office network
Set up wireless network for a home or small office
View workgroup computers
Show icons for networked UPnP devices.

Ignoring the other items, I am sure that the line View workshop computers should show up on my main computer. I am aware that this line is not visible if the computer is part of a domain, but the computer is definitely part of a workgroup, and, of course, the workgroup name is the same on the laptop.


If I proceed via Windows Explorer, (or, for convenience at times, via PowerDesk Pro 5), I can see the other computer via My Network Places \ Microsoft Windows Network so there is no issue of access that I am aware of. I can, and have, set up a short cut to the other computer in My Network Places so the issue is not too significant.


I just wonder if there is indeed a reasonable explanation for this strange error, which seems at variance with all of the information that I have been able to find.

 

Problem solved!

I had inadvertently (read carelessly) altered a setting via TweakUI

The option is in the Tweak Explorer / Settings list. Show 'View workgroup computers' in Net Places.



Guess I must be the only one to do this and not realise the effect later. All returned to normal now. Hope this may be of interest to someone out there!