DOCUMENT:Q210327 10-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :Manually Populating Network Neighborhood with Static Entries PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:WINDOWS:95; winnt:4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows 98 - Microsoft Windows 95 - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= Browse lists often do not consistently contain all computers in a Windows NT network. This is caused by a variety of factors that range from individual computer configurations to inadequate name resolution. This article describes the browsing functions within Network Neighborhood. You may have computers running Windows NT Server or Windows NT Workstation that require constant enumeration in Network Neighborhood. It is possible to obtain this functionality statically. NOTE: The remainder of this article assumes that basic network connectivity is already established throughout the network, especially for the target computers. MORE INFORMATION ================ Use the following steps to ensure that computers are consistently listed and available in Network Neighborhood. This operation requires that the target computers are running and connected to the network. Because this method of creating a static Network Neighborhood involves creating .lnk files on your hard disk, you can populate other computers in the network by simply copying these files as shortcuts. The .lnk files need to be stored in the %SystemRoot%\Profiles\%Username%\NetHood folder. NOTE: The NetHood folder is located in the %SystemRoot% folder in Windows 95 and Windows 98. This folder is hidden by default in Windows NT. Performing these steps does not affect the ability of a workstation to work with or connect to other workstations or servers in the network, and it does not affect administration of the computers in question. 1. Configure network connectivity. At a minimum, the computer you use to create the static Network Neighborhood entry must be able to use NetBIOS name resolution with the target computer. This involves the installation and configuration of protocols such as NetBEUI, IPX/SPX, and TCP/IP on the computer involved in nonrouted environments. Proper name resolution is needed in routed environments. This scenario includes Windows Internet Name Service (WINS), Domain Name System, and the Lmhosts files. 2. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Computer. 3. In the Named box, type "ComputerName" (without the quotation marks) (where ComputerName refers to the name of the computer you are statically adding to Network Neighborhood), and then click Find Now. 4. After the computer is found, drag the computer icon into Network Neighborhood. Click Yes, when you are prompted to create a shortcut. 5. After you put the icon into Network Neighborhood, you can rename it. To populate many computers on the LAN/WAN, the .lnk files created during this process can be copied to the NetHood folder of any user profile. After you log off and then log back on, the static entries in Network Neighborhood are permanently listed. REFERENCES ========== For more information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q152562 How to Use Windows 95 to Connect Computers on a Network Q102908 How to Troubleshoot TCP/IP Connectivity with Windows NT Q128233 Comparison of Windows NT Network Protocols Q185786 Recommended Practices for WINS Q150800 Domain Browsing with TCP/IP and LMHOSTS Files Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWin95search kbWin98search kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin98 Version : WINDOWS:95; winnt:4.0 Issue type : kbinfo ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.