Computer Browser Service Defaults in Windows XP
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: | Automatic |
| Display name: | Computer Browser |
| Service name: | Browser |
| Service type: | share |
| Error control: | normal |
| 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 XP it is starting automatically along with the operating system. Then the Computer Browser service is running as LocalSystem in a shared process of svchost.exe. Other services and drivers are allowed to run in the same process. If the Computer Browser fails to start, the technical information about the error is added to the Event Log. Windows XP startup should proceed, but a message box should be displayed informing the user that the Browser service has failed to start.
Dependencies
Computer Browser depends on the following system components:
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.
2. Copy the commands below, paste them into the command window and press ENTER:
sc config Browser start= auto
sc start Browser
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 XP installation media.