How to remove a non-existent computer from "My Networking Places"

How do you remove computer shortcuts from My Network Places when the computer
is no longer part of the domain. Is there a way to immediately remove the
computer, or do I have to wait for windows to remove it?

If there is no way to remove the computer myself and I have to wait for
windows to remove it, then how long before windows removes the non-existent
computer? Is there a way to decrease the time it takes windows to remove the
computer? I understand this might involve editing the registry, because
maybe a registry key controls how long before a computer is removed.

I read this Microsoft KB article about the net crawler:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;256248, and it says
that shares and printers are removed after 7 days, but it does not say
anything about computers or work group shorts cuts in My Network Places.

Any insight into this?

-Mark

You just have to wait. But make sure there are any entries left behind in
the WINS Server of DNS Server.

--
Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com
-----------------------------------------------------
Understanding the ISA 2004 Access Rule Processing
http://www.isaserver.org/articles/IS...cessRules.html

Microsoft Internet Security & Acceleration Server: Guidance
http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/t...dance/2004.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/t...dance/2000.asp

Microsoft Internet Security & Acceleration Server: Partners
http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/partners/default.asp

Deployment Guidelines for ISA Server 2004 Enterprise Edition
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...isaserver.mspx
-----------------------------------------------------


"Mark M." <Mark M.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6ABB3B61-5B48-4960-8C3B-(E-Mail Removed)...
> How do you remove computer shortcuts from My Network Places when the
computer
> is no longer part of the domain. Is there a way to immediately remove the
> computer, or do I have to wait for windows to remove it?
>
> If there is no way to remove the computer myself and I have to wait for
> windows to remove it, then how long before windows removes the
non-existent
> computer? Is there a way to decrease the time it takes windows to remove
the
> computer? I understand this might involve editing the registry, because
> maybe a registry key controls how long before a computer is removed.
>
> I read this Microsoft KB article about the net crawler:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;256248, and it
says
> that shares and printers are removed after 7 days, but it does not say
> anything about computers or work group shorts cuts in My Network Places.
>
> Any insight into this?
>
> -Mark
>

Do you know how long it takes? If I do a complete renaming scheme it is
going to be messy until they drop off. I centainly don't want them lingering
around for months. I have been reading a lot about this, but it seems like
there is no definitive answer, mostly just "wait until they are gone" kind of
thing.

What tool do you use to check the entries of the WINS server, the BrowStat?

-Mark


"Phillip Windell" wrote:

> You just have to wait. But make sure there are any entries left behind in
> the WINS Server of DNS Server.
>
> --
> Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
> www.wandtv.com
> -----------------------------------------------------
> Understanding the ISA 2004 Access Rule Processing
> http://www.isaserver.org/articles/IS...cessRules.html
>
> Microsoft Internet Security & Acceleration Server: Guidance
> http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/t...dance/2004.asp
> http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/t...dance/2000.asp
>
> Microsoft Internet Security & Acceleration Server: Partners
> http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/partners/default.asp
>
> Deployment Guidelines for ISA Server 2004 Enterprise Edition
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...isaserver.mspx
> -----------------------------------------------------
>
>
> "Mark M." <Mark M.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6ABB3B61-5B48-4960-8C3B-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > How do you remove computer shortcuts from My Network Places when the
> computer
> > is no longer part of the domain. Is there a way to immediately remove the
> > computer, or do I have to wait for windows to remove it?
> >
> > If there is no way to remove the computer myself and I have to wait for
> > windows to remove it, then how long before windows removes the
> non-existent
> > computer? Is there a way to decrease the time it takes windows to remove
> the
> > computer? I understand this might involve editing the registry, because
> > maybe a registry key controls how long before a computer is removed.
> >
> > I read this Microsoft KB article about the net crawler:
> > http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;256248, and it
> says
> > that shares and printers are removed after 7 days, but it does not say
> > anything about computers or work group shorts cuts in My Network Places.
> >
> > Any insight into this?
> >
> > -Mark
> >
>
>
>

Hi Mark,

"Mark M." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:
> Do you know how long it takes? If I do a complete renaming scheme it is
> going to be messy until they drop off. I centainly don't want them
> lingering
> around for months. I have been reading a lot about this, but it seems
> like
> there is no definitive answer, mostly just "wait until they are gone" kind
> of
> thing.

My Network Places uses the browse list which in theory should only take
1 full browse cyclewhich is about 51 minutes.

>
> What tool do you use to check the entries of the WINS server, the
> BrowStat?
>
A good tool is nblookup.exe:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/830578/en-us

Yes, I read about the how it is supposed to take 51 minutes because of the 3,
12 minute periods, and 1, 15 minute period. I just wish it worked like it
supposed to. Because I have seen old computers on there for longer than a
month. Is there a way to actually look at and edit the browser list, that
resides on the Master Browser?

Thanks you for your and Philip's answers,
-Mark



"Michael Giorgio - MS MVP" wrote:

> Hi Mark,
>
> "Mark M." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:
> > Do you know how long it takes? If I do a complete renaming scheme it is
> > going to be messy until they drop off. I centainly don't want them
> > lingering
> > around for months. I have been reading a lot about this, but it seems
> > like
> > there is no definitive answer, mostly just "wait until they are gone" kind
> > of
> > thing.
>
> My Network Places uses the browse list which in theory should only take
> 1 full browse cyclewhich is about 51 minutes.
>
> >
> > What tool do you use to check the entries of the WINS server, the
> > BrowStat?
> >
> A good tool is nblookup.exe:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/830578/en-us
>
>
>

"Mark M." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:8BBCA38D-08B4-4FC8-944B-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Yes, I read about the how it is supposed to take 51 minutes because of the
3,
> 12 minute periods, and 1, 15 minute period. I just wish it worked like it
> supposed to. Because I have seen old computers on there for longer
than a
> month. Is there a way to actually look at and edit the browser list, that
> resides on the Master Browser?

No there is no way to do that, nor anyway to even "see" it that I know of.

But if you have leftover entries for those machines in the WINS Server
database then they will never go away,...don't "tombstone" them, just delete
them outright, on every WINS Server (if more than one). Check the DNS
Server(s) too.

--
Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com
-----------------------------------------------------
Understanding the ISA 2004 Access Rule Processing
http://www.isaserver.org/articles/IS...cessRules.html

Microsoft Internet Security & Acceleration Server: Guidance
http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/t...dance/2004.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/t...dance/2000.asp

Microsoft Internet Security & Acceleration Server: Partners
http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/partners/default.asp

Deployment Guidelines for ISA Server 2004 Enterprise Edition
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...isaserver.mspx
-----------------------------------------------------

"Phillip Windell" <@.> wrote in message news:
>
> "Mark M." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:
>> Yes, I read about the how it is supposed to take 51 minutes because of
>> the
> 3,
>> 12 minute periods, and 1, 15 minute period. I just wish it worked like
>> it
>> supposed to. Because I have seen old computers on there for longer
> than a
>> month. Is there a way to actually look at and edit the browser list,
>> that
>> resides on the Master Browser?
>
> No there is no way to do that, nor anyway to even "see" it that I know of.
>
> But if you have leftover entries for those machines in the WINS Server
> database then they will never go away,...don't "tombstone" them, just
> delete
> them outright, on every WINS Server (if more than one). Check the DNS
> Server(s) too.
>
Not see it? Net view doesn't show you the list?

Actually you are seeing the list. You could also log on to
your master browser and run net view to see the list. But
you cannot edit the list. All workgroup / domain names will
show up in browse list if they are present in WINS.

"Mark M." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:
> Yes, I read about the how it is supposed to take 51 minutes because of the
> 3,
> 12 minute periods, and 1, 15 minute period. I just wish it worked like it
> supposed to. Because I have seen old computers on there for longer
> than a
> month. Is there a way to actually look at and edit the browser list, that
> resides on the Master Browser?

I asked this mainly to make sure that the old computers would go away and was
wondering if there was a backup plan in case they "hung around". What I am
doing is renaming a lot of computers in the domain to make them more logical
and I was worried about the old names not disappearing. I tested changing a
few names and they seemed to have disappeared after a few hours and a reboot
of the server, so I am more confident now that I will have no issues.

Thanks for all your help with this, I am very confident now the name
changing process will go smoothly.

I have a question just out of curiosity though, so does the master browser
create the browse list from the WINS server entries or does the Master
Browser creates its own? Also, what if the domain doesn't have a WINS
server, is the browse list created from the DNS entries? I am guessing
neither of those assumptions are correct because you can have a browser list
on a workgroup without either a WINS server or DNS server. I just want to
make sure I fully understand this browser list stuff.

-Mark

P.S. - I have read all about the Browser Service, but I am just trying to
get my head around how it is related to WINS, DNS, Netbios...ect.




"Michael Giorgio - MS MVP" wrote:

> Actually you are seeing the list. You could also log on to
> your master browser and run net view to see the list. But
> you cannot edit the list. All workgroup / domain names will
> show up in browse list if they are present in WINS.
>
> "Mark M." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:
> > Yes, I read about the how it is supposed to take 51 minutes because of the
> > 3,
> > 12 minute periods, and 1, 15 minute period. I just wish it worked like it
> > supposed to. Because I have seen old computers on there for longer
> > than a
> > month. Is there a way to actually look at and edit the browser list, that
> > resides on the Master Browser?
>
>
>

No the browser service doesn't use DNS. It is an NT legacy application
and it uses Netbios names, not DNS.

On a single "wire" or LAN segment, the browse list is built by the
segment master browser using LAN broadcasts. WINS only really gets involved
in a routed network.

In a routed network, browsing just doesn't work without WINS. There is a
browse list for each segment and that's it. WINS allows the browser service
to work across routers, because the browse masters can communicate directly
rather than broadcasting (using WINS to resolve the names to IP addresses).
The domain master browser has the job of contacting the segment master
browsers and building a network-wide browse list.

The "old" entries in WINS which show up in browse lists are usually
domain or workgroup names with the Netbios special character set to things
like 1b, 1d or 1e . In other works they are browse master entries rather
than workstation names.

Mark M. wrote:
> I asked this mainly to make sure that the old computers would go away
> and was wondering if there was a backup plan in case they "hung
> around". What I am doing is renaming a lot of computers in the
> domain to make them more logical and I was worried about the old
> names not disappearing. I tested changing a few names and they
> seemed to have disappeared after a few hours and a reboot of the
> server, so I am more confident now that I will have no issues.
>
> Thanks for all your help with this, I am very confident now the name
> changing process will go smoothly.
>
> I have a question just out of curiosity though, so does the master
> browser create the browse list from the WINS server entries or does
> the Master Browser creates its own? Also, what if the domain doesn't
> have a WINS server, is the browse list created from the DNS entries?
> I am guessing neither of those assumptions are correct because you
> can have a browser list on a workgroup without either a WINS server
> or DNS server. I just want to make sure I fully understand this
> browser list stuff.
>
> -Mark
>
> P.S. - I have read all about the Browser Service, but I am just
> trying to get my head around how it is related to WINS, DNS,
> Netbios...ect.
>
>
>
>
> "Michael Giorgio - MS MVP" wrote:
>
>> Actually you are seeing the list. You could also log on to
>> your master browser and run net view to see the list. But
>> you cannot edit the list. All workgroup / domain names will
>> show up in browse list if they are present in WINS.
>>
>> "Mark M." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:
>>> Yes, I read about the how it is supposed to take 51 minutes because
>>> of the 3,
>>> 12 minute periods, and 1, 15 minute period. I just wish it worked
>>> like it supposed to. Because I have seen old computers on there
>>> for longer than a
>>> month. Is there a way to actually look at and edit the browser
>>> list, that resides on the Master Browser?