Desktop and laptop can't see each other over Ethernet

Yes, I can ping each PC from the other. I have Windows Defender running on the laptop and Malwarebytes running on the desktop.

Were you using home group as thats now gone run this on both pc can it see the other it often kicks it into life NetBScanner - NetBIOS scanner

Thanks, Samuria. I used to have a Homegroup, but it doesn't seem to be there anymore. NetBScanner can see the laptop from the desktop and the desktop from the laptop. Clicking on Network in Windows Explorer on the laptop shows the laptop, but not the desktop. Clicking on Network in Windows Explorer on the desktop also shows the laptop, but not the desktop. If I try to open the laptop from the desktop (from within Windows Explorer), I get a pop-up titled, "Windows Security," asking for my network credentials. I've never seen that before and don't know what it's asking for (well, user name and password, but for what?).

Involute said:

If I try to open the laptop from the desktop (from within Windows Explorer), I get a pop-up titled, "Windows Security," asking for my network credentials. I've never seen that before and don't know what it's asking for (well, user name and password, but for what?).

For a local account and password that exists on on the laptop. Once you give a valid name/password you'll get access to the laptop, what you can see is determined by the permissions that the account you used has on the laptop. You can tick a box to remember this account/password for future use.

If you are signed in to the desktop with an account that also exists on the laptop and has the same password as the one on the laptop you won't get asked.

When I log into my laptop (Windows login screen), I'm only ever asked for my password, never a user name. I don't know what to put in there.

When you start Windows the login screen offers to sign you in as the last user who signed in, so you don't get asked for a user name. But it shows the account it will sign in as above the password box.

You can also see your user name when you are signed in on the laptop in Settings > Accounts > You info.

OK, I see. I found the the user name and can "access" the laptop from the desktop, but:

1. Windows Explorer just shows a blank pane; there's no folder tree.

2. I still can't see the desktop from within Windows Explorer (under Network), either from the laptop or the desktop.

Involute said:

Windows Explorer just shows a blank pane; there's no folder tree.

When you look at the laptop from File Explorer on the desktop you will only see folders that have been shared by the laptop. Sounds like you may not have set up any shares on the laptop yet.

Share Files and Folders Over a Network in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials