The list of servers for this workgroup is not available

[videobruce]

Using XP w/sp2,
Simple file sharing & all drives set for sharing,
Same workgroup,
Same username,
Different computer names,
DSL modem router,
No firewall,
Internet ok, but can't ping either.

When I click 'View workgroup computers', I get that message; "The list of servers for this workgroup is not available".

Ok, where is the "list" suppose to be found?

Situation;
Renamed the 'Administrator' account to my username using 'user accounts 2' that is hidden in XP and was available w/ 2k which I have done with 2k with no issues (before someone blasts me about doing this).
Apparently doing so afterI set up sharing is causing the problem, but I'm not sure. I tried renaming it back to Administrator, removing all the sharing, changed the workgroup name and then changed all back again, but no difference.

Any ideas here?

[Favu]

I hate to say it but have you tried reinstalling? Or comparing the differences between one of the working systems and this one?

[videobruce]

have you tried reinstalling?

I was trying to avoid that.

[cloasters]

Genuflecting in front of your machine for seven hours, where's the fun in that? Come to think of it, this installation of XP is at least two and a half years old. Amazing! Shouldn't have said that, the great crash is probably right around the corner.

[videobruce]

Genuflecting

That doesn't seem to be a computer related term.

[Favu]

Well spotted.

[videobruce]

Actually I have and it didn't solve the problem.

[Gizmo]

The Computer Browser service maintains the list of servers in a workgroup or domain.

For a domain, the domain controller and backup DCs are responsible for maintaining the Master Browse List. They will elect other servers, and then workstations which run the browse service, to maintain copies as well, based on the number of machines on the network and what network segments they are on (each network segment will typically get at least one Browse Master).

For workgroups, the situation gets a bit more complicated, because there is no Domain Controller. Basically, when a machine running the Computer Browser Service starts up, it forces an election on the network. Servers win over Workstations, Newer OS versions win over older OS versions, and machines with longer uptimes win over machines with shorter ones.

So, when you get that message, it means that there is no machine on the network which is a member of that workgroup and is running the Computer Browser Service, which is a Browse Master, and can be contacted by the machine you are running from.