Re: Default Browsers

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

After reading about it in PChuck's Network, I downloaded and installed a Support Tools Folder from the Microsoft web site so that I might use Browstat.

I have a feeling that Support Tools are not meant to be used with the Home Edition of Win XP SP2. In fact , its description at the MS web site seems to suggest it's intended only for the Pro Edition.

Browstat wasn't among the list of tools in the folder I downloaded -- I guess that's because at some point during the installation I neglected to click on the right selection to get the complete set of tools.

When I went to the "All Programs" listing to check out the Support Tools folder, I clicked on it and then clicked on third item in the folder: "command window" That resulted in a full black screen that I was able to get out of only by resorting to the <CTRL><ALT><DEL> salute.

I then went directly to Control Panel and uninstalled it. I'm beginning to see signs of system corruption that may be the result of installing many complicated and unfamiliar diagnostic programs recommended by technicians -- especially the ones at Grisom's AVG Firewall. One minor but weird example is that "My Network Places" has now stopped appearing in the first display after clicking on "START." (from overuse, maybe??)

Do you have a URL for a web page that will let me download "Browstat.exe" by itself? I tried the web site of neighbor Stanford, (it was listed in results of a Google search on "Browstat.") but that site doesn't provide a download.


"Chuck" <none@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:bjnnm191l0db8ono44pqs4149qp34kupj5@xxxxxxxxxx
On Fri, 4 Nov 2005 13:13:17 -0800, "Joseph Carrier" <jercarrier@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

"Chuck" <none@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:h6mkm1lgo6ekpn1sg6lh2qa5vr4bktcab1@xxxxxxxxxx

On Thu, 3 Nov 2005 10:10:29 -0800, "Joseph Carrier"
<jercarrier@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

"Chuck" <none@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:hn2jm110m028m4m5160ll0mgal1rv8o208@xxxxxxxxxx

On Wed, 2 Nov 2005 19:49:21 -0800, "Joseph Carrier"
<*email_address_deleted*>
wrote:

I'm still trying to solve a File-Sharing problem and have eliminated the
Firewall as a problem. I thought I read somewhere in this newsgroup
that
having a different default browser on two machines may prevent a
file-sharing network from working properly. Is that the case?

If it is, I have a second question: How does one select a browser to be
the
"default?" I've tried but been unable to make the two machines to have
the
same default browser; one is now set at IE6 and the other is set at
Firefox.
I've been tinkering with both machines and can't seem get it right.

I would like to experiment with setting IE6 as the default browser on
both
machines.  Would some kind reader of this note please post a
step-by-step
procedure for getting this done?

Many thanks,
Joseph Carrier


Joseph,

What you're talking about is a master browser. Having 2 master browsers
in a
workgroup is like having 2 bosses in a company. Some servers report to
one
master browser, and some to another. Depending upon which client you're
on
(viewing Network Neighborhood from), you'll see the various servers that
report
to the master browser that the client uses.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html

Please don't confuse the browser subsystem (which populates Network
Neighborhood) with the program used for surfing the web.  Those are 2
different
functions.

Anyway, if you're having a file sharing problem, provide some detail
about
the
problem.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html

Or try diagnosing the problem.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html


(Sorry -- I pushed the wrong button and this reply did not go to the
Group,
as I had intended so I am now repeating it here.

Thanks. I had thought that was referring to the Internet browsers, and I
guess it did not (I use two: Firefox and IE6.)

Here's my setup and the problem:

Three WinXP SP2 (Home Edition) computers connected (directly) into an ADSL
router. This works. The two laptops are connected wirelessly and the
desktop is connected with an Ethernet cable.

A File Sharing network is set up on all three computers.  This does not
work.  The two laptops see each other but not the desktop.  The desktop
cannot see the two laptops.

I think I've eliminated a Firewall as the problem. The same file-sharing
problem persists with no firewall functioning at all -- even after
uninstalling the AVG Firewall on my desktop and reconfiguring the
file-sharing network on all three machines. (The two laptops use only the
Windows Firewall.)

I'm completely stumped. Everything worked for months until a couple of
weeks ago. The only significant thing I changed in the system before the
Desktop dropped from the view of the two laptops was to install the Google
Earth program, fiddle with to try to get it to connect to the Google
Serve,
failed with that, and then uninstalled the new Google Earth program. I
think something done in that whole process might possibly have messed up
my
previously working file-sharing network.

This may be a clue: I tried "repairing" the "LAN or high speed internet"
connection on my desktop, but that raised the error message that it
couldn't
finish the repair because 'cannot clear the DNS Cache.'  I don't know if
that's significant or what to do about it.

Would appreciate suggestions about what to look for now. 

Joseph,

Provide relevant data here, and we'll diagnose the problem.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html


Thanks for the suggestions.

Unfortunately the URL references in your response tend lose me as I try to
progress from one to the other. By now, I have several file-folders of
printouts from your Blog. I've studied all of them carefully without
getting any closer to understanding my problem -- indeed, I may have become
even more confused.

For example, with respect to your Usenet posting and Blogs on "Browsers," I
still don't understand whether or not my using two internet browsers (IE6
and Firefox,) has any relevance to my file-sharing networking problem.

Let me refer explicitly to one of the many sections of your blog that I've
studied: Chuck's Network Irregularities in Workgroup Visibility:" While
trying to follow your instructions there, I've progressed as follows:

1. I've pretty well eliminated a personal firewall as part of the problem by
working with the software company that provides my firewall (Grisom>) and
the problem persists whether or not I have any Firewall.

2.  I don't know how to go about checking for an "anonymous access block."
Any hints?

3. I've studied the "ipconfig/all" outputs of the three Work Group
computers and the one for my desktop looks very strange indeed -- especially
in contrast the output of the two laptops. But, I really don't know how to
interpret what I see. What do you suggest I do then: post on this Usenet
forum the whole ipconfig/all reports for the desktop and ask "What's wrong
(if anything) with this?"

I haven't yet gotten to the download "browstat" part because I'm almost
certain that I'll run into the same road blocks as I have with the
"ipconfig/all" report:  I won't know how to interpret the report or how to
frame questions about it.

I'm convinced that you're very knowledgeable, but I'm afraid you're way over
the head of even the long-time, typical, computer user.

What is your suggestion for me, given the above? Be polite, now! 

Joseph,

From reading your other thread "How to Clean DSN Cache?", it appears that your
immediate problem is the presence of IPV6 aka Teredo Tunneling on your
computers. Please start by removing that. Instructions are in this article:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/fix-network-problems-but-clean-up.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/fix-network-problems-but-clean-up.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org. 

.

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