primary wins server not available

hi all i just noticed that my w/stns are pointing to a wins server that does not exist after a recent server disaster it didn't get put back on.

There is a wins server on the network so can i assume they used that or is that just sat doing nothing? and i just looked in dhcp and the wins server that is up and running is not listed in there so i added it. i assume now that the machines will update them selves and point to it and that if i add the non existing wins server back in and get them to replicate i will be in good order?

what adverse effect could this have had up to date on my network if any?

You only need a WINS server for older clients (W2k, Win98, NT4). If you don't have any you can safely remove the settings from DHCP/DNS/etc. If you do, and you don't have a WINS server and your site spans multiple subnets then legacy clients will not be able to see or connect to machines on non-local subnets.

You probably wont have noticed anything as a most stuff is done with DNS these days.

ok thats clear now thansk chaps.