ASP.NET, SQL Server, WPF, C#, VB.NET

I've been experiencing a problem with a W2K-SP4 machine, dual PIIIs', 2GB  
  
RAM, Matrox G450, SCSI-160M (2-72GB HDDs). Machine is in a peer-to-peer network  
  
(Gigabite and wireless) with a WinME machine (Ethernet) and XP-MEC laptop  
  
(wireless). I am the only user on all three and have Administrator privledges  
  
on all. All share a Cable Modem Internet Connection, behind a hardware  
  
firewall.  
  
In my Event Log, I get the following error:  
  
"The value for the parameter DirectHostBinding to the browser service was  
  
illegal." (Browser)  
  
The only references to DirectHostBinding settings, that I can find on Web, or  
  
MS Knowledgebase, only cover settings through NT4, (plus various early Windows  
  
versions). The "Bindings" settings in the Control Panel > Networking section,  
  
are totally different between NT4 & W2K. I cannot find any "Bindings" settings  
  
at all, and no reference is made to W2K anywhere.  
  
My questions:  
  
What SHOULD the DirectHostBinding parameter value be (Browser)? Where are the  
  
Bindings settings in W2K. On MS Knowledgebase, strong suggestions against  
  
changing the Registry keys are made. However, I cannot find the proper location  
  
to change this/these function(s).  
  
I've run several Registry utilities, and none has found any errors. I don't  
  
mind working on the Registry, but would really like a place to start. Any  
  
thoughts, solutions, ideas?  
  
TIA,  
  
Hunt  
  
PS, if this is not the right/appropriate NG, I apologize. Please direct me. I  
  
have posted to ms.public.win2000.general, but have not recieved any answer.

In microsoft.public.win2000.registry Hunt wrote:  
  
Did you locate that string in your Current Control Set anywhere?  
  
Or anywhere in HKLM at all?  
  
AFAIK "DirectHostBinding " does not apply to and is "illegal" in NT  
  
5.x Windows.  
  
I did see mention of this associated with W2K SP4 + SP4 Rollup 1  
  
somewhere in a Google result.  Possibly related?  Did you install  
  
the Rollup 1 (version 1 or 2)?  
  
When did this problem start?  What was done just prior to the  
  
onset?  
  
No registry utility can possible know about all illegal entries.  
  
Aside from the impossibility of it, the database would be truly  
  
huge.  :)  
  
First, I will disclaim any certain knowledge of this problem.  I  
  
believe I'd first try to locate "DirectHostBinding" in the CCS area  
  
of the registry.  
  
I might suspect enough to research the wireless connection setup.  
  
Especially if it included separate setup software that might have  
  
"messed up" during installation/setup.  This assumes that you have  
  
a "binding error" of some sort connected with network adapters and  
  
related.  Again, when did the problem start and after you did what?  
  
I might also consider deleting all the Network Connection entries,  
  
reboot and re-creating them. (long shot until more is known)  
  
I would also like to assume that there is no malware of any kind on  
  
the system.  That of course must be eliminated first should any  
  
exist.  
  
If you set the Computer Browser Service to Disabled what is the  
  
result?  
  
All just some guesses and FWIW...  
  
This group is okay, but a networking group may be better suited (if  
  
my guesses are even close).

In microsoft.public.win2000.registry Hunt wrote:  
  
Actually I intended to mean rebuilding the "Local Area Connection"  
  
connectoid in "Network and Dial-up connections" and not re-  
  
installation of the TCP/IP suite.  
  
Just ideas... ;)  
  
But you did not say if you located the string  
  
DirectHostBinding  
  
in the registry.  If present, it should not be, in my best  
  
understanding for NT5.x

In article <Xns96D752A7DF9ECz9zzaQ2btw@msnews.microsoft.com>, notvalid@nul.  
  
invalid says...  
  
Thank you for the thoughts.  
  
SP-4 was installed when released by MS, and IIRC was not part of a Rollup  
  
update. From a physical standpoint, I have not experienced any problems, that  
  
I could detect, other than a occasional hang with Windows Explorer (not IE).  
  
This machine has a Gigabite NIC only, no wireless. There is wireless on the  
  
network, but neither this, nor my WinME machine are directly on it.  
  
The "problem" came to my attention, when I did a review of my Event Log. It  
  
has been going on for quite some time, and, AFSIK, without causing anything,  
  
that I can associate with the error message.  
  
The only references that I can track down on any MS Forum is noted as being  
  
specifically for SP-1 & SP-2 "ONLY" [Caps mine]. Their suggestion is similar  
  
to yours, to delete TCP/IP, and do a re-install. I have not done this yet, but  
  
will keep it as a backup plan. Suggestion was to "bookmark" Network  
  
Connections with NetBUI, or similar. I already have NetBUI installed for a few  
  
programs, that require it, so I should be able to do a "re-install" of TCP/IP,  
  
hoping that the proper parameters will automatically be set.  
  
I did find references to manually setting the Parameter Values, but was for  
  
NT4 only, and the dialog screens do not come up in Win2K.  
  
I X-Posted to one W2K "networking" NG's, and may re-post, but with different  
  
phrasing to my question, as I'm not sure that I was clear enough, plus I have  
  
also found a bit new concerning the situation, just nothing that applies  
  
directly to W2K-SP4.  
  
Again, thank you for your thoughts and direction,  
  
Hunt

In article <Xns96D7EDBEB746z9zzaQ2btw@msnews.microsoft.com>, notvalid@nul.  
  
invalid says...  
  
[SNIP]  
  
Again, thanks Mark,  
  
Yes, DirectHostBinding's registry (W2k/NT5) lists "False" as the Paremeter  
  
Value. I've hesitated to just change it to "True," or to delete the string  
  
altogher, though. I'll report what it is, when I try the fix, recommended for  
  
SP-1 & SP-2 ONLY, on my SP-4 OS.  
  
Appreciated,  
  
Hunt

In microsoft.public.win2000.registry Hunt wrote:  
  
Clearly you want an Export and a Full Registry Backup in advance.  
  
Please show us the FQ reg Path.  
  
I would then delete the valuename (FWIW).