JSI Tip 3865. Windows 2000 can't access 'Computers Near Me' in their workgroup - server list is unavailable?

When Windows 2000 computers are configured as members of a workgroup in a peer-to-peer network, pressing Computers Near Me in My Network Places generates:

Unable to access Computers Near Me. Workgroup is not accessible. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available.

When you try to navigate through Entire Network / Microsoft Network /, you receive the same error.

The above behavior is likely the result of not having any computer designated as the master browser, or when NetBIOS over TCP/IP is not enabled.

To enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on all workgroup computers:

1. Right-click My Network Places and press Properties.

2. Right-click the appropriate connection and press Properties.

3. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and press Properties.

4. Press Advanced and select the WINS tab.

5. If you have a static IP address, select Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP. If you have a DHCP-assigned IP address, select Use NetBIOS setting from the DHCP server.

6.Press OK in all open dialogs to close and save the new settings.

7. You may have to restart all the computers in the workgroup to force a browser election.