Can’t see other Computer on Network

Question

My laptop running Windows 10 is connected to a router via secure wifi.  Our desktop is connected to the same router via ethernet (on 2 separate private networks) and was just upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7. The desktop is able to transfer files to the laptop through the public folders because the laptop computer is visible in its network structure.  The laptop can no longer find the desktop in its network structure although it was visible before the desktop was upgraded to Windows 10.  All network sharing settings have been set to permissible states for all network options on both computers and all firewalls have been neutralized. (Desktop has Norton Security Suite as well as Windows firewalls.) All Windows 10 updates are current on both computers.  Normal troubleshooting techniques do not address the laptop's inability to find the desktop because they are on separate networks. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the laptop to recognize the recently upgraded desktop?

Original Title :Network Connection Issue

Answer 1

Hello Cathy,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

I understand that you are not able to see the other computer on network. We appreciate your efforts in troubleshooting the issue and providing us the detailed information about the issue. 

I suggest you follow the below given steps and check if that resolves the issue

Method 1:

• Turn on network discovery and file and printer sharing, and turn off password protected sharing.
  1. Select the Start  button, then select Settings  > Network & Internet, and on the right side, select Sharing options.
  2. Under Private, select Turn on Network discoveryand Turn on file and printer sharing.
  3. Under All Networks, select Turn off password protected sharing.
• Make sharing services start automatically.
  1. Press the Windows logo key  + R.
  2. In the Run dialog box, type services.msc, and then select OK.
  3. Right-click each of the following services, select Properties, if they're not running, select Start, and next to Startup type, select Automatic:
     • Function Discovery Provider Host
     • Function Discovery Resource Publication
     • SSDP Discovery
     • UPnP Device Host

Method 2: Enable SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support & SMB Direct are installed.

1. Press Windows key + R. This will open Run. Alternatively, you can go to Start and search for Run.
2. In Run dialog box, type optionalfeatures and hit enter.
3. Look for SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support  and SMB Direct entry on the list. Make sure you mark the check box next to it. Click OK in order to save the changes.
4. Restart the computer.

Additional Information:

Homegroup removed! How to get network sharing work with Windows 10 v1803.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files/homegroup-removed-how-to-get-network-sharing-work/01277332-2916-4a68-853a-116696b20743

Hope it helps.

Regards,

Zaki

Answer 2

Hello,

Please try these suggestions:

First of all, change your network category type as Private.

Open administrative Windows PowerShell, type/paste following and press Enter:

Get-NetConnectionProfile

If your network is Public, the NetworkCategory should mention it. Note down the Index number mentioned against InterfaceIndex. Substitute the Index number in below mentioned command and press Enter:

Set-NetConnectionProfile -InterfaceIndex <index number> -NetworkCategory Private

Execute Get-NetConnectionProfilecommand again to confirm if the network category is now Private.

Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Centre > Advanced sharing settings. Click the options Turn on network discovery and Turn on file and printer sharing.

Under All networks > Public folder sharing, select Turn on network sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in Public folders.

Open Services snap-in and make sure the services are running:

• Function Discovery Provider Host
• Function Discovery Resource Publication
• SSDP Discovery
• UPnP Device Host

Open file explorer and type \localhost to address bar to see what shares are made in this computer.

You can also create a test folder, make share for folder in C:\Users automatic and check sharing settings with it.

Simply create a Test folder. Right click on this test folder and select Properties. On the security tab, click Advanced sharing. Click Share this folder, then click Permissions. In the Permissions window, select the Users to which you want to share the folder. You can access the shared folder from other machine as \PCNAME\Test.

Now when click Network on File Explorer all your PC's should be visible in Computer and Network sections.

Now your PC's should visible, but if not then try to reset all network settings:

Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status, scroll down to find "Network reset, on next window click "Reset  Now" button.

It will takes about 5 min to perform this reset and then PC reboot automatic.

When you sing in first time you get notification something like "Do you want your PC to be access by other computers", click Yes for that.

In case if you get error "\PCNAME path not found" you can solve this by adding your PC's and IP-addresses to hosts file.

Add all PC's IP-addresses and Names to hosts file locate at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts. Simply launch Notepad as administrator, and open hosts file with it. 

You can check your IP-address and PC's name by opening command prompt (CMD)

• For IP-address type command: ipconfig you get line like this: IPv4 Address ………. 192.168.100.101
• For PC name type command: hostname

Write down IP-address and Name of each PC and add those to that hosts file. The hosts file then should look like this:

# localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.

# 127.0.0.1            localhost

# ::1                       localhost

192.168.100.101  PC1   # Ethernet

192.168.100.102  PC2   # Ethernet

192.168.100.202  PC2   # Wi-Fi

Once you perform above steps, you should be able to locate other machines on your system.

---

References:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-networking/connect-pcs-and-users-for-sharing-windows-10-to/fb92e439-5dbc-4367-9857-1ef360e9ffdf

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files/homegroup-removed-how-to-get-network-sharing-work/01277332-2916-4a68-853a-116696b20743

Hope this helps!