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.
Computer Browser service maintains a listing of computers and resources located on the network. This service is not required on a standalone system. In fact, even if you want to browse the network (workgroup or domain) or have mapped network shares as local hard drives, you can still do so. On a large network, one computer is designated the "master" browser and another one is the "backup" browser. All others just announce they are available every 12 minutes to "take over" duties if one of the other computers fail. No lag time is discernable if this service remains disabled on all but one computer. Honestly, I do not even believe one needs to be running. You could, "just in case," but it sure does not need to be running on all computers, all of the time. By default, though, the service is not started and will fire up if and when needed.
None at this time.
Default Vista Home Basic: Automatic (Started) **
Default Vista Home Premium: Automatic (Started) **
Default Vista Business: Automatic (Started) **
Default Vista Ultimate: Automatic (Started) **
Safe Setting: Automatic
Service Name (registry): Browser
Display Name: Computer Browser
C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
Account: Local System Account
What service Computer Browser needs to function properly:
What other service require Computer Browser to function properly:
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Windows Service Configurations!
Includes explanations of each service and advice on which services you can safely disable.