Why does Server service not always start ?

[DavidRossitter]

Hi

I have an HP xw6200 and the system is tempremental as to whether it connects to my home network. I have identified the Server service is for some reason not always starting when I book the machine up. If I go into the service and force it to start then all is well. If i set the service to start on boot it still doesnt always do it.

Anyone any suggestions as it is a pain having to keep going into the Services area ?

Many thanks

[Variable]

Right click on the service and click Recovery tab. Set the first and second failure to Restart service. If the machine starts slow or has a lot of applications starting at boot, and this service has Dependency services that need to start first that are slow starting, the service may time out starting. Each service has a window of time in which to start and then it stops trying, some services require other services to be started before they start. These are called Dependencies. Setting the services to restart on first and second failure should fix the issue if the problem is just one of time.

[DavidRossitter]

Thanks for the advice - that sounds very plausable.

I have set this up now and will give it a go. It didnt list any dependencies but equally all 3 recovery attempts were set to "do nothing".

Thanks David

[DavidRossitter]

Hi
I am afraid this didnt work. Today when I restarted from standby the service was disabled for some reason. And even though I have forced a restart I cant connec to mshome at all. i can access internet etc just no my local network.

What would you advise next ? btw I have just done a system recovery so I know the machine is in fairly good order

Thanks

[Variable]

The service is set to disabled after a reboot? You normally have it set to Automatic right? Look in the event logs and see why the service is being disabled. Maybe something along the lines of ipsec having an issue. If something is changing a service from automatic to disabled there will be a log of it in the event logs, most likely System log. There may also be a corresponding error in Application just prior or just after the event

[DavidRossitter]

Hi

yes that seems to be the case.

In fact it has just happened.... i rebooted to find I could see my PC on the network and lanmanserver was disabled even though I had set it to auto.

I had a look in the logs but nothing immediately obvious. I have now cleared these down to make it easier and will look as soon as I notice the problem next time

Thanks for your ongoing help !

David

[DavidRossitter]

Sorry in my last post I meant I couldnt see the PC !

[Variable]

If you end up not seeing anything in the logs it is a good bet the culprit is third party software. Maybe a security app that is closing down file and print sharing...

[DavidRossitter]

Hi

When I rebooted this am - it wasnt working again. The Server service was running but i then noticed that the Browser service was disabled - restarted this and all was well.

Look at error log - nothing obvious untowards.

You mention 3rd party software - now I have only just restored and reloaded my software so the machine is fairly clear. What kind of software did you have in mind and how might I go about tracking this down.... ??

Many thanks

David

[DavidRossitter]

Hi

Now I am more familiar with the error log process I have been watching for strange things and have started to observe error saying other machines on my network are also claiming to be the master browser and saying that one will be stopped.

Now today I lost connectivity from this machine - yet both browser and server services seemed to be running. The event error log is:

"The master browser has received a server announcement from the computer {name of another PC on the network} that believes that it is the master browser for the domain on transport NetBT_Tcpip {string}. The master browser is stopping or an election is being forced"

I am not familiar with the concept of a master browser and how one sets up / manages PCs to avoid such errors. It may not be related to my network loss but it looks related.

Does this point me to a solution to my original problem ?

Many thanks

David

[mjc]

Would the name of the 'other computer' on the network happen to be the daughter's machine?

[DavidRossitter]

Hi

Well it was my daughters machine where I have posted the other thread.... but also another daughters machine has created this error today as well....

What are you think and what do you suggest i do next ?

Thanks

[Variable]

You have some other thread with problems? Services don't just go from set to Automatic to Disabled without a log of it unless some third party app is doing it. These would be "security" programs. These may kill it and not echo any event to the System or application logs. If your having trouble with file sharing the first place to look is your security software. Master browser elections are normal when you have several home based LAN machines with the same operating system.

[mjc]

And since it looks like the one daughter's machine is infected with something, your source of the problems could be that machine.