I have a strange network problem:- 3 PC's in a workgroup network..... All three PC's connected to each other with no problems, one of the PC's had problems and needed to re-installed OS, since I did this this PC can connect to the other PC's but the other PC's can't connect to it. Network setup details:- PC1 - IP: 10.0.0.14 SUBNET: 255.0.0.0 GATEWAY: 10.0.0.2 PC2 - IP: 10.0.0.5 SUBNET: 255.0.0.0 GATEWAY: 10.0.0.2 PC3 - IP: 10.0.0.3 SUBNET: 255.0.0.0 GATEWAY: 10.0.0.2 The PC's are connected to a router...IP 10.0.0.2 I have disconnected all firewalls and this is not the problem. I have checked the router config and this is not the problem. All three computers are showing up in the workgroup so there is conectivity and the only error I can find is in event view:- The master browser has received a server announcement from the computer HOME that believes that it is the master browser for the domain on transport NetBT_Tcpip_{3464F378-1A72-42B3-AF4F. The master browser is stopping or an election is being forced. Microsoft say this problem should fix itself but this error keeps coming up and I think this is the problem. Finally:- two of the PC's are 2000 Pro and one is XP Pro, all PC's have latest SP and updates. I have completely run out of ideas on how to fix this, anyone got any ideas?

Please be a little more specific. You say both "other PC's can't connect to it" and "All three computers are showing up in the workgroup so there is conectivity." What do you try that makes you say, "other PC's can't connect to it"? On the problem computer do you have at least one shared folder? I doubt that the problem is with the Master Browser negotiations, but have you tried turning off the Browser service on two machines? That way, there are no questions about who is the master. Terry

What do you try that makes you say, "other PC's can't connect to it"? (Can't ping IP or host name, can't map via any of the three possible ways, can't connect via workgroup, can't connect via MMC,). Yes, folders shared. Good call on stopping the browser service!! Stopped browser service, this forced an election but still can't connect. Any other ideas?

The only idea I have is that I am more confused than your network! If you can't ping all six combinations of pinger and pingee, I don't understand how all 3 computers can be found in the workgroup (I assume that's when you click on "show workgroup computers"). You had a successful workgroup. You reinstalled the OS on one machine; you now have, as far as you know, the same network, same computer names, same workgroup name, etc. as before. Correct? Can you think of anything different except for one reinstalled OS? I think you need to work on the most basic connectivity first. You said that you cannot ping the problem PC. Are you using cables or wireless? Is the router assigning IP addresses, or have you set them in each computer? Have you double-checked the IP of the problem PC? Can that PC get a response when pinging the router? When pinging the other PCs? Terry

Perhaps I am not being clear enough for you, only the problem PC, PC1 in this case can't be accessed from the other two PC's, (PC2 & PC3). Everything else is okay. There is nothing new installed on any of the PC's. I am using CAT5 caballing. The router is assigning IP addresses. Yes, IP is okay on problem PC. Yes, the problem PC can ping the router & the other PC's. As I say, this is a strange problem and it's not something simple.

You've probably already checked these on the problem computer, but just in case ... Properties for your LAN connection show: Client for Microsoft Networks File and Printer Sharing QoS Packet Scheduler Microsoft TCP/IP version 6 Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) The Services panel shows likely networking suspects are Started; especially "IPv6 Helper Service" and "Workstation." In Advanced TCP/IP Settings for NetBIOS setting you have "default," or at least "Enable NetBIOS." That's probably about the end of my ideas. Sorry. Terry

Thanks for all your input Terry.... I have found a problem in the event viewer of the problem PC (PC1), It says "There is a duplicate computer name on the network, relating to home (computer name)". I have renamed the computer name to (Main) and the name was no longer found in the workgroup but I could connect to the problem machine via mapping drives. I then got another message saying "there is a duplicate name on the network (Main), and now the mapping no longer works. The computer is now showing in the workgroup but can't connect.