Error message when accessing the WINS database: "Cannot find the WINS server"

After you install the Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) component, when you attempt to access the WINS database on the local WINS server, you may receive the following error message:

This issue occurs because the WINS manager is dependant on the Remote Registry Service. If this service is not running, the WINS component is not initialized. Actually, the WINS service starts and runs but cannot access from the management console on the situation. When the service cannot access to the registry, the remote registry service cannot obtain the object name that the WINS service is managing. Therefore, the WINS snap-in generates the error that is described in the "Symptoms" section.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

To resolve this issue, start the Computer Management console, click Services, and then set the Remote Registry Service to Automatic.

Note You also have to make sure that the following conditions are true:

• File and Printer Sharing is enabled.
• The remote procedure call (RPC) service is set to Automatic, and the RPC service starts.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For more information about how to solve this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: