How to make different computers see network the same way.

I have 4 computers on my home network using a Netgear R7000 router. It does not have a HomeGroup.

1 Windows 10 pro, cable
2 Windows 10 Pro, wireless latop
3 windows 10 Home, wireless laptop
4 Windows 98, cable

My goal: I would like to have #1, #2 & #3 see each other and to be able to map #4 to drives/folders on #1, #2 & #3.

Describing each computer in [Networks] of File Explorer:
#1 can't see any other computers, including itself.
#2 Sees all other computers, including itself and Readyshare of then R7000 router.
#3 Sees itself only.
#4 Used to map to drives on #1, #2 & #3, but now it wants a password. the login passwords don't work.

Question-1 I especially can't understand why #1 doesn't see the same as #2. How can I make that happen?

Question-2 On #4, When I try to map to drives on #1, #2 & #3 it asks for a password. Where do I set that up?

Question-3 Should I establish a HomeGroup?

Thanks Bree. My system seems to be working pefectly now.

I enabled SMB1 on the three Windows 10 computers. I also changed settings to match another recent thread, Suddenly sharing not working Solved - Windows 10 Forums because my experience has been that the computers have been seeing differently at different times.

Each of my three Win10 computers can see the other two now. The Win98 still demands a password in order to map to the Win10s, but I have accomplish my purpose by mapping each Win10 to folders on the Win98 -- accessing Win98 from the Win10s.

All seems to be working just the way I wanted it. I consider the problem solved

Regarding SMB1, I learned with google that SMB1 is vulnerable to the WannaCry Trojan ransomware virus aka MEM:Trojan.Win64.EquationDrug.gen. My Kaspersky Internet Security claims to protect against WannaCry with its System Watcher component. I am willing to depend on Kaspersky to keep its detection technology current.

I am curious that my Windows 10 computer #1 shows itself and #2,#3 and #4 as part of the network in File Explorer, while #2 and #3 show only the other two Win10 computers -- but not themselves nor #4=Win98. What could explain this?

What network is running on win98 as by default it used to use netbui and there was not tcip unless you added it

Samuria said:

What network is running on win98 as by default it used to use netbui and there was not tcip unless you added it

In Device Manager: Linksys LNE100TX(v5) Fast Ethernet Adapter

Bree said:

Only the Client need be enabled for network discovery to see the PC names on the network and to be able to connect to shares on a legacy server like the '98 PC. The Server is only required if you want the '98 PC to be able to connect to W10 shares.

Then you don't need the Server.

I switched #1 SMB1 server off & rebooted. Following that #1 & #4 did not display in the Network section of File Manager. (The mapping from #1 to #4 still worked as before.)

So I switched the server back on. Still, #1 and #4 did not show as they did before turning the SMB1 server off! That doesn't make sense to me. The next morning (today, after being shut off overnight) #1 and #4 were back in #1's Network!

Factors that might explain the apparent instability:

(1) I am wondering if order of startup matters to how sharing works -- I started #4 first and then #1.

(2) Also startup of #1 was unusual today. It took an extremely long time. It hung on a screen that offers a duel boot choice between Win10 and a Macriam recovery system. Instead of a 10 second wait, I waited 10 minutes and then walked away for an hour. At that time the long delay had finished and #1 was at its login screen.

I am happy with current capabilities but would like to understand that strangeness.

Bree said:

That tells us the hardware, but not the protocol(s) it is running. In Win95/98 look in Control Panel > Network.

Bindings Tab:
[X] IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol -> Linksys LNE101TX(v5)Fast Ethernet Adapter
[X] NetBeui -> Linksys LNE101TX(v5)Fast Ethernet Adapter
[X] TCP/IP -> Linksys LNE101TX(v5)Fast Ethernet Adapter