Computer Browser Service Defaults in Windows 7

Maintains an updated list of computers on the network and supplies this list to computers designated as browsers. If this service is stopped, this list will not be updated or maintained. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.

Default Settings

Startup type:	Manual
Display name:	Computer Browser
Service name:	Browser
Service type:	share
Error control:	normal
Group:	NetworkProvider
Object:	LocalSystem
Path:	%SystemRoot%\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
File:	%SystemRoot%\System32\browser.dll
Registry key:	HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser

Default Behavior

Computer Browser is a Win32 service. In Windows 7 it won't be started if the user doesn't start it. When the Computer Browser service is started, it is running as LocalSystem in a shared process of svchost.exe. Other system components, such as drivers and services, may run in the same process. If Computer Browser fails to start, Windows 7 attempts to write the failure details into Event Log. Then Windows 7 startup should proceed and the user should be notified that the Browser service is not running because of the error.

Dependencies

Computer Browser is unable to start, if at least one of the following services is stopped or disabled:

Restore Default Startup Configuration of Computer Browser

Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Computer Browser depends are configured by default and function properly. See the list of dependencies above.

1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.

2. Copy the command below, paste it into the command window and press ENTER:

sc config Browser start= demand

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The Browser service is using the browser.dll file that is located in the C:\Windows\System32 directory. If the file is removed or corrupted, read this article to restore its original version from Windows 7 installation media.