Hi, our network consists of a mixture of Win98, Win2000, and Mac machines. We're all on the same subnet and we have several different workgroup names and one domain that has a PDC (running Windows 2000 Sever). All of our other servers are in the WORKGROUP workgroup (several Win2K Severs, and one NT4 server). The Win2K servers are all up to date. Up until yesterday, we have had no problems browsing any of the workgroups. However, now, we are unable to browse WORKGROUP (if the computer is in WORKGROUP) and if the computer is on any other workgroup, we can see WORKGROUP, but cannot get into it. Running browstat status gives us this: Status for domain WORKGROUP on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{02BBE026-3143-46D1 -AA5C-7725305BECDD} Browsing is active on domain. Master browser name is: ?¢¼?¢¼???¢¼???¢¼???¢¼ Could not connect to registry, error = 53 Unable to determine build of br owser master: 53 Unable to determine server information for browser master: 123 1 backup servers retrieved from master ?¢¼?¢¼???¢¼???¢¼???¢¼ \\AVHS-58W4UXW0D8 Unable to retrieve server list from ?¢¼?¢¼???¢¼???¢¼???¢¼: 2351 Does anyone have any idea why we're getting the weird ?? and spade characters for the master browser computer? Any solutions to this? Thank you for any help.

Are you sure nothing was touched hmmmm Status for domain WORKGROUP on transport \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{02BBE026-3143-46D1 -AA5C-7725305BECDD} Browsing is active on domain. Master browser name is: ?¢¼?¢¼???¢¼???¢¼???¢¼ Could not connect to registry, error = 53 Unable to determine build of br This right here is your main problem. apparently its nots see nothing by doing #WQ$@%#$% If this happens to only one computer then reinstall it. If its happening with them all. Its at the base computer. Logical process of narrowing.

The browsing doesn't work on ANY computer. If any computer is in WORKGROUP, it won't see any computers in WORKGROUP. If any computer is in any other workgroup, it can see its workgroup's computers just fine, and see any other workgroup and computers, except for WORKGROUP's computers. We know for a fact that it has to be a problem with the Master Browser computer, but we have no idea which computer was (or is supposed to be) the Master Browser. Today, we found the Backup browser and found that it had an ip address conflict with another device (we use a DHCP server). I don't know if that is of any importance, but I thought I'd mention it. Anyway, we restarted that backup browser and now there is another backup browser, but the Master browser is still gibberish ?s and spade characters (this board converted the spades into "c1/4" characters.

Theirs your answer your gonna need to diganose which computer is the master browser. This can be extensive. and their should be article documentation on this on the web. This is starting to get out of my expertise. Because i'm not a full certified network administrator. The main thing is you need to know what is your master browser or your base computer. You should have known this before you step into a major workgroup situation.