Problem Setting Up a LAN - Part 2

Question

Ten Thousand Times Thank-you to CandyLuo for solving my first question! Now it appears that all five computers can see all the others! (As least if they're turned on and not asleep)

A few problems remain, though:

The weirdest thing is that one of them, almost certainly CYBERPOWERPC (its true name), is apparently recognized, but not by its real name. Instead, all the other computers see it as DESKTOP-VIF8U6B. And none of them can connect to it; they merely see it. It can't even connect to itself, even though on Properties it does at least still know its own name, CYBERPOWERPC.

Although most of them can see the file structure of whichever other computer it double-clicks on, sometimes an error message appears instead saying "You do not have permission to access <computername>". This is the message that ALWAYS happens when one tries to access DELL-LAPTOP from any of them, even though DELL-LAPTOP can see the folders on two of the others. (No one, including DELL-LAPTOP can get access to DESKTOP-VIF8U6B, however.)

Doubtless due to the many weird things the DELL tech support people were trying, three of them no longer know the network name. CYBERPOWERPC and PEYTONS-SYX say Network 7 when you click on the little network icon at the lower right corner of the screen; PEYTONS-SYX2 thinks the network name is Network8. However all five of them are on the same network, ATTmX5gbUI, which is the router name. Nonetheless ALL FIVE OF THEM GO TO THE INTERNET WITH NO PROBLEM via that router.

Except that is, for the latest addition to the network, a Surface Pro Go that I bought today. It connects to ATTmX5gbUI and goes to the internet with no problem. But it is not recognized by any of the others. Apparently it recognizes them (or many of them) since it synchronized itself with them to the point that its desktop is chock full of so many icons that I can't find the Network icon to see what names it will display.

Any further suggestions?

I don't really need this many computers networked, by the way. The two remaining Win7 computers, PEYTONS-SYX and PEYTONS-SX2, are only there because they were once on a Home Group with CYBERPOWERPC back when it was Win7, and I thought some of the problems may have to do with not knowing the Homegroup password. One one of them (CYBERPOWERPC, I think), I withdrew from membership in that Homegroup, mistakenly no doubt, since Windows sternly warned me not to do so.

Peyton Todd

Answer 1

Hi,

Many thanks for posting in Q&A platform.

Based on provided information, my understanding is your goal is make 2 Windows 7 computers, PEYTONS-SYX and PEYTONS-SX2 visible in Network, and make they can access the shared folders on these devices with each other. Please correct me if there is any misunderstanding.

Before we go further, I would like to confirm the following information with you for better understanding our issue:

1. Whether these 4 machines can communicate with each other successfully?
2. If PEYTONS-SYX and PEYTONS-SX2 are windows 10 devices?
3. I would like to know whether these 4 machines are domain-joined devices or Workgroup devices.

Best Regards,
Sunny

Answer 2

Making them visible was my original problem, but that's been solved now, by setting the two instances of Function Discovery to load automatically. The problems that remain are to get them to be able write to each other. To answer your questions one by one:

1. A few pairs of them can communicate successfully (in the sense that computer A can access the folders on computer B). But just as many cannot do so.
   2. No, PEYTONS-SYX and PEYTONS-SX2 are not Windows 10. They are Windows 7. CYBERPOWERPC used to be Win 7 but it has recently been upgraded to Win 10.
2. I don't know what 'domain-joined' means. CYBERPOWERPC, PEYTONS-SYX, and PEYTONS-SX2 used to be in a Homegroup, but I think that no longer works after Win 10 was installed on CYBERPOWERPC. But the remnants of the Homegroup may be part of the problem. I suggest we get rid of the Homegroup but I don't know how.

The way they're all set up is they are all connected individually to the same router.

There are now 6 computers connected to the same router. Five are connected over ethernet cables and the newest one - a Surface Pro Go that I just bought - is connected via Wi-fi.

Best regards,
Peyton

Answer 3

Hi Peyton,

Many thanks for your feedback.

My understanding is that now all these 6 computers are in Window 10 operation system.

However, please kindly note that if there is a Windows 7 device, please enable SMBv1 from Windows 10 side first.

In Control Panel, select Programs and Features.
Under Control Panel Home, select Turn Windows features on or off to open the Windows Features box.
In the Windows Features box, scroll down the list, check box for SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support and select OK.
After Windows applies the change, on the confirmation page, select Restart now.

Meanwhile, if these computers are in Workgroup environment, please make sure that network discovery and file and printer sharing are turned on for these computers.

And then, if we need access the specific computer, we need insert the correct credential of the specific computer.

Now we can access the resource in the specific computer.

Hope this can help you.

Best Regards,
Sunny

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Answer 4

Actually there are still two Win7 computers among the six, so just four Win10. But lets ignore the new Surface Pro Go for now since I don't even have it fully configured yet. So that leaves just three Win10 PCs to deal with for now.

On the most important of them, DELL-DESKTOP, I was able to find SMB 1.0, un-check it, and re-boot. However, when I rebooted I got three successive error messages, complaining that WDBackupService, LogTransportService, and LogTransport2 could not be loaded.

I was unable to find any SMB 1.0 on the other two Win10 PCs. I suppose that amounts to the same thing as un-checking it if it had been there,

Incidentally, all three Win10 PCs had different dialogs for Windows Features. On one of them, for example, all I could find was one entitled Optional Features, which appears to be the same thing.

On the bright side, it's hard to be sure since there are so many permutations, but there does appear to be an overall improvement in the ability of the two Win7 PCs, PEYTONS-SYX and PEYTONS-SYX2, to be able to access each other and the Win10 PCs, and be accessed by them.

Except that only DELLTOWER can even see CYBERPOWERPC at all, though it still sees it as VIF8U6B.

The remaining shortcomings of PEYTONS-SYX, PEYTONS-SYX2, and CYBERPOWERPC may have to do with the fact that they used to be all on a Homegroup. Can I just get rid of this Homegroup? How?

Thanks for your continued help.