One PC out of 3 Can't See Others on the Network

larrymcg said:

Running Win10 on 3 PCs - call them X, Y, and Z. Both X and Y are running Win10 1709. Z very recently updated to 1803 but the networking issues started well before that update. I was hoping that 1803 would fix the networking problems, but no progress was made.

Here's the networking issue: X, Y and Z used to see each other and share files just fine. Two or three months ago Z stopped being able to see X and Y. They do not show up in Z's network at all. But X and Y can see Z just fine and can read and write files on Z. X and Y can also see each other and share files. So Z is the only one that can't see any other PCs on the network.

There is a shared printer connected to X via USB. Z can print on that printer even though the host X seems invisible. Maybe printer sharing is a totally different mechanism.

I have tried many different file sharing options on Z with no success. I use X and Y's network sharing setups as models for Z. The network fixers don't fix anything.

SMB 1.0 Status: X and Y have SMB 1.0 fully enabled. The three items are Automatic Removal, Client, and Server. However, Z has only two of the three items enabled. Client is disabled. I tried enabling Client but it remained disabled after the required restart. I have read a lot about the evils of SMB 1.0 but removing it from PC X caused it to not see any PCs on the network (not even itself) so I enabled it again.

Kind of at a loss as to what to try next. The situation is not dire since X and Y can access Z just fine so I can get files where they need to be. But Z really should be able to see and access the other two PCs.

Suggestions? Yeah I know I didn't provide much to go on.

-- Larry

PS: A really long time ago all 3 PCs used Homegroup for sharing but that stopped working so long ago I can't remember when. So long ago I switched to the non-Homegroup sharing which worked fine until recently.

@larrymcg

Please see a very possible solution in this thread posted by @Access Denied - it has solved the problem for many.

Computers can't see each other after upgrade to 1803 Solved - Windows 10 Forums

I really think he should try the Services fix first. His problem, as posted, is very much like an 1803 problem lots were having. It's very quick and could solve the problem. In all the other scenarios people have posted that are virtually identical to his, no mention of the Master Browser at all, and the Services Fix worked for them. It is certainly worth a quick shot, it's very easy to do.

larrymcg said:

It was solved for a few days. Here is current status:

PC A is now a master browser. Don't know why but that should be good.

PC B is powered down.

PC C - the one that couldn't see the others, can't see them again. SMB1 Client is still enabled; Automatic Removal and Server are still disabled.

I have learned that in any File Explorer window I can enter \\A and PC A will appear along with the list of users and their files. I guess that is the way I will access the other PCs from C until a permanent solution is found.

-- Larry

I thought I had this licked, but.....

All the tricks posted here and elsewhere, some would work, some not. Some would hold for a while, then poof! Thought I had it today, but putt my lappy to sleep just by closing the cover. Came back an hour later, opened it and it woke up, but desktop had it listed in network and failed to open it. the "Can't fine on network" stuff. Lappy could still see the DT. Did a total network reset (thru settings) on both. It held for about 2 hours, then poof! I temporarily give up. Something is amiss and I'm tired of re-booting and re-entering wifi passwords.