Edit Hosts file to fix network issues after 1803 update

I've been using and learning from these forums for years but this is my first contribution. We have a fairly extensive home network (workgroup) that currently includes four wired PCs and two wireless laptops, all running Windows 10 Pro, connected through a NetGear R7000 router. Until the recent 1709 and, especially, 1803 updates to Windows 10, all machines were sharing and transferring files just fine. Then, we started having many of the same networking issues and frustrations that are being discussed here and elsewhere. After lots of reading and trying numerous suggestions without lasting success, I finally hit upon the following process that, at least for us, is working just fine now. Items 3 and 4 are what did the trick by, I think, avoiding the flaky, erratic DNS issues.

1. Go through "Control Panel \ Programs and Features \ Turn Windows Features On or Off" to uncheck all SMBv1 items, as per MS security recommendations.

2. Run services.msc and set both "Function Discovery Provider Host" and "Function Discovery Resource Publication" to automatic or automatic (delayed start).

3. Change your router setup to assign (reserve) each workgroup PC a specific IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.101, etc.). After resetting the router, each workgroup PC will have a unique Name and IP-address combination.

4. Locate the hosts file in C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\ and edit it with administrator privileges. For each workgroup PC add one line with the following syntax:
IP-address Name #any optional comments or info you want
There must be at least one space between each of the line items. For example, two such lines in my hosts file are:
192.168.1.103 ACER #Ethernet: 30:65:EC:AF:A5:87
192.168.1.104 HP8300 #Ethernet: C8:CB:B8:23:73:70
The same list of IPs and Names must be in the hosts file on each PC. The file-editing can be done using Notepad with administrator privileges or automated with a specific Host File Editor (search the web for such programs).

It would be interesting to know if anyone else tries this and whether it helps or not.

Hi there.

fixing specific IP addresses to machines isn't usually a good idea for all sorts of reasons -- DHCP on the router should take care of that problem. You can reserve a specific pool of IP addresses that DHCP will assign which could be useful if you have more than one workgroup in your network but for small networks I can't really see why you would want more than one workgroup.

Enabling SMB1 is fine if you have old Windows PC's (some W7, XP, VISTA) machines in the network or if you have older NAS (Linux) type boxes and older phones / smart TV's and you wish to share files with (or from) these devices and Windows. Windows 10 to Windows 10 doesn't need SMB1 enabled.

As for DNS issues a lot of people find the public GOOGLE ones a lot better than their ISP ones.

Public Google DNS servers are (IPV4)

8.8.8.8
and 8.8.4.4

or IPV6

2001:4860:4860::8888
2001:4860:4860::8844

Cheers
jimbo

As I indicated in the other thread related to this topic, your method of adding the IP addresses and computer names of my 1803 computers to the respective Host files solves this for me as well.
I do set my router to provide fixed IP addresses to some of my systems vis DHCP.

I also tried everything in this forum and then some. None of this made win 10 networking stable-one minute you could access network shares and the next you couldn't. Win 10 sharing of files and folders is broken and unreliable. This solution is the only thing that has worked consistently and reliably for me-editing the hosts file to show windows where to go. Thank you very much for posting this solution.

Since disabling ipv6, suggested in one of the numerous threads on here re networking issues, I've had zero networking problems. ISP doesn't support it anyway so no great loss.

Thanks hollidayjr. I'm glad that the hosts file solution is working for you as it still is for me.

Incidentally, just to clarify my original posting, all of the PCs (desktops and laptops) in my network are set for DCHP assignment of IP addresses. The router is set to assign a specific IP to each box by its MAC address. Thus, the laptops still function normally when connected to a different router away from home.

Yes, mine are setup the same way. Set it in the router and forget about it. You don't have to set each individual PC/Laptop.

Network still stable after 2 weeks and recent updates. Thanks again DrFrog