Servers do not refresh NetBIOS name registrations with WINS

A server may not refresh NetBIOS name registrations with the server's configured WINS server. Eventually, the name registration tombstones, and then the name registrations are removed from the database of the WINS server.

This behavior occurs if you install the WINS service on a server because WINS refreshes only the server names locally and not with the configured WINS server in Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) properties. When you reboot the server, the server's NetBIOS names are initially registered with the configured WINS server, but the server only refreshes names locally thereafter.

To resolve this behavior, either uninstall or disable the WINS service. To disable the WINS service, use the method for your operating system.

In Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Services.
3. Click Windows Internet Name Service, and then click Stop.
4. Click Yes at the prompt.
5. Click Startup, and then click Disabled in the "Startup Type" section.
6. Click OK, and then click Close.

In Microsoft Windows 2000

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.
2. Right-click Windows Internet Name Service, and then click Properties.
3. In Startup type box, click Disabled.
4. Click Stop in the "Service status" section.
5. Click OK, and then close the Services dialog box.

In Microsoft Windows Server 2003

1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.
2. Right-click Windows Internet Name Service, and then click Properties.
3. In Startup type box, click Disabled.
4. Click Stop in the "Service status" section.
5. Click OK, and then close the Services dialog box.

This behavior is by design.

For additional information about this problem, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: