Why must the Network Setup Wizard be run in order for network to work?

[Guest]

I had a situation where I needed to network 2 computers. I installed Client for Microsoft Networks and File and Printer Sharing on both. Both computers where in their default state of workgroup named Workgroup.

When I went into My Network Places, Entire Network, Microsoft Windows Network, Workgroup I could not see the other computer of my own even though I had shared a drive on both. I was befuddled.

Early this morning I decided to run the Network Setup Wizard on this computer. I followed the wizard, it wanted to change the workgroup to Mshome. I let it. Suddenly I could see my PC in Microsoft Windows Network, Mshome! I ran the wizard on other computer and it appeared on the network!

Probably, the Last time I networked a couple of computers was when I was running Win2K. I don't recall that having a Network Setup Wizard and I think I just followed the simple steps I outlined at the beginning of this post and it worked.

So my questions are...

Why MUST Network Setup Wizard be run?

What does it do that I didn't do?

I didn't think to take a regshot so I'm wondering is there a registry entry that the wizard adds?

Was it just that the default workgroup Workgroup needed to be renamed to Mshome?

Thanks!

Edited April 18, 2011 by -X-

[GrofLuigi]

Did you wait long enough? Changes related to Microsoft Network (browser service etc.) take same time to propagate. I'd suspect something is wrong only after at least 15 minutes of idling.

Or maybe it was enough to change workgroup name back and forth on one/both computers.

GL

[Tripredacus]

It isn't required to be run. I'm sure there was just something else involved that happened you aren't aware of. I have set up networks with XP clients before and I've never used that Wizard before.

[allen2]

A reboot is need after installing MSclient and file and printer sharing. Perhaps it was that.

[Guest]

I rebooted. Also it sat idle for half the day.

[Ponch]

Was there no (MS-XP)firewall involved ?

[Guest]

No. I disable that.

[submix8c]

Hmmm -

This which will lead to this indicates a possibility of Simple File Sharing being a culprit. As I remember (maybe not so good), if SFS is installed/enabled, the Network Setup Wizard has to run, thereby sharing the "Shared Folder" (a "pointer" seen in the Network) across the network. Without it, you can manually share using the Share File/Folder functions but you won't automatically (I think, anyway) get the All-Users/Shared Folder (have to do manually). Being aware that without SFS, Private Folders have to be manually done via the ACL(?) of the folder. (IOW, adding a password to the signed-on UserID won't provide "Make My Folders Private" option.)

Ehhh, could be totally off my rocker - been a month or so since I fiddled with some of this. I'm sure someone smarter than me will smack my hand for passing out bad info.

BTW, Network Setup Wizard default fills in MSHome but it can be changed to whatever you want as a workgoup ("WORKGROUP"). One of the side un-benefits of it ignoring the already-set value (duh!).

Side note - SFS is the "standard" for 9x systems.