Unable to browse the network.

[Ivan Ferreira]

I think i finally understood.

So, these are my recommendations:

Change the order of network providers
1. On the desktop, right-click My Network Places, and then click Properties.
2. On the Advanced menu, click Advanced Settings.
3. On the Provider Order tab, in the Network Providers list, click Web Client Network.
4. Press DOWN ARROW so that Web Client Network is the last provider in the list, and then click OK.


Alternatively, you can change the network provider order in the registry. The registry entry is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\NetworkProvider\Order\ProviderOrder. The default value of this entry is Microsoft Windows Network,RDPNP,LanmanWorkstation,WebClient.



You can also disable the webdav extension on the IIS server. Verify that the virtual folder configuration is correct.

[Edgar Zapata]

Tahnk you.
I was currently going thru the network providers issue.
I didn't want to edit the registry.

So, I tried your first option but I right clic on My Network Places, all I get is shortcut properties.

WebDav extension in IIS was already disabled.
Not sure how to verify virtual folder configuration.

thank you.
regards.

[Edgar Zapata]

I found that under my network places I only have 2:
Windows Locator
DCE Cell Directory service
thank you.
what next?

[Ivan Ferreira]

Lets continue.

The above was for XP clients.

For the server:

Just to be sure, the webdav extension should be disabled on ISS of the "target server", not the "source server" or client.

Verfity that you have the "WebClient service" disabled on the "source server".

The virtual directory configuration you should check on the "target server", in the shared folder properties or IIS. See attached zip file.

[Edgar Zapata]

WebDav extension was already disabled in IIS on both servers.
WebClient service was already disabled on both servers as well.

thank you.
I'm still searching for a solution to this.
I'll let you know any outcome.

[Ivan Ferreira]

If you search for the shared folder on the active directory, do you find it?

If you browse "my network places", then "web client network", do you see something?, delete any site if added.

What if you stop IIS, can you stop it on the tarjet server?

Did you tried with another windows 2003 server, do you get the same results?

[Edgar Zapata]

Ivan,

I don't get what you mean by "If you search for the shared folder on the active directory, do you find it?"

I did stop IIS on target server.
And after that, XP clients could not browse anything under Web Client Network.
Obviously, the W2k3 server douldn't either.

Before that,
The Windows Server 2003 cannot browse anything under Web Client Network because a message pops up saying:
"Unable to browse the network.
The network is not present or not started.
For mor information, click Help."

Which I have done several times. But nothing comes up.

XP clients were able to browse Web Client Network resources once I started the WWW Publishing Service.
But, not the W2k3.

BTW, We can not try with any other W2k3 server.
We only have 2. target and the one with problems.

thank you.
regards.

[Ivan Ferreira]

You get this error:

"Unable to browse the network.
The network is not present or not started."


Because the web client service is stopped and maybe disabled.

In services, enable the "web client" service and start it, you should be able to browse the network.

When I say can you find if you search in the AD, means that in active directory users and computers, you can create shared folders, and then, these shared folders can be searched.

See:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prde_ffs_stbj.asp

Now, do you rally want to access these shared folders via web client network?

Even with IIS down, you should be able to access the shared folder using standard UNC. If you can't then the shared folder is not shared.

[Antoniov.]

Hi Edgar,
at first glance you have a firewall trouble as explained by follow article
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298804

Here there are some other help, perhaps you know
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;325487
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;323357

Antonio Vigliotti

[Edgar Zapata]

I apreciate your efforts in helping me withi this issue.
However, none of the proposed solutions worked it out.

There is a change in behaviour however. This is more desperating though.

After starting webclient service, I could finally click on Web Client Network without getting the message "Unable to browse..."
There was nothing, no hosts in the Web Client Network.
After a while, target server showed up under Web Client Network.
I could browse the server and found the folder I expected but again the contents were the same as if I used net use + UNC syntax.
I tried with the IP address just in case. Same result.
I'll keep searching...
regards.