Computer Does Not Wake on LAN If Server Service Is Not Running

A computer with Wake On LAN (WOL) capabilities does not wake up for a NetBIOS over TCP/IP broadcast (NBT BCASTS) if the Server service (or the File and Printer Sharing component) is not running.

Because the computer is not providing file sharing services, it is unnecessary for it to wake up for file sharing-related requests. The affected functions are NET VIEW, NET USE, and NBTSTAT.

Remote name registration queries to a computer without VSERVER installed do not wake the computer. Although NBTSTAT is not necessarily fully server service-related, the registration of the wake up pattern is. Therefore, NBTSTAT is also cut off. NBTSTAT might be able to succeed if ARP is used to gain the computer's hardware address or by using the "proposed" directed packet wake.

This behavior is by design.