Win 10 networking to an XP computer has changed

My XP machine still can't access the workgroup and if I go back to an old image file on 1 of my Win 10 computers from Nov 2016 and disconnect my 2nd Win 10 computer from the network, then I can access the Workgroup on my XP like I've been able to do for years. So clearly something has changed in Win 10.

I didn't disable IPv6 I instead used this patch "Prefer IPv4 over IPv6" from that MS website. I used that for both Win 10 computers and my XP. I've tried the "Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP" on my XP and both Win 10's.

I'm not using a router. I have an AT&T U-Verse modem for my internet and it also has the wired LAN connections that I use to connect all my computers to the network, so it basically has a router built in.

I still don't know what a master browser is or how I can view mine, possibly that would give a clue. Any more guidance would be appreciated

bro67 said:

Your ATT Gateway is your Router. ATT does not implement IPv6 with their devices in a proper way, along with there are issues with elder OS’s and SaMBa v1. It does sound like the one machine you have to take offline wants to be the brute with Master Browser.

Since ATT doesn't use IPv6, then should I change the patch "Prefer IPv4 over IPv6" back to the default state? The reason I didn't involve my 2nd Win 10 computer in the test with old boot drive images is because it's a slow process to do this with that computer whereas my 1st Win 10 computer has a dual boot setup, so it's easy.

When I return my 1st Win 10 computer to the current settings of up to date Win updates then I lose my Workgroup access. So no, it's not my 2nd Win 10 computer that's causing this, it's something that's changed with Win 10 updates.


Everything else works perfectly, Remote desktop on all computers, I can see and share files with any computer using mapped HD's I set up years ago. With no Workgroup access I can't let the XP computer use a network printer or set up new mapped HD's

GerryPeters said:

With no Workgroup access I can't let the XP computer use a network printer or set up new mapped HD's

You should still be able to map drives in XP even if you can't see the W10 machine in the Workgroup. Use Explorer's 'Tools > Map network drive' and type a name in the form \\server\share to map it directly. Shares you have previously accessed directly by name should also be listed in 'My Network Places'.

Thanks Bree I tried it and was able to map a new HD - excellent!

Now to install a printer would be good.

Fafhrd said:

Also you can map to the IPv4 address of the computer:

\\192.168.0.23\users\public

is equivalent to

\\DESKTOP-ABC45F7\users\public

when the IPv4 address is that of the named PC.

What is your printer model and how is your printer connected to the network? Is it directly connected or is it shared through a networked computer? Are the printer drivers and setup/management software compatible with Windows XP?

My HP officejet 3830 series only really seems to be set up properly using its own setup program which installs some hybrid web and installed software, otherwise network connection is patchy. And it prefers to use IPv6.

I have 2 printers Canon MX920 and Canon MX410 both installed on Win 10 computer #1, which is the one I can use the earlier boot drive image on. In the past I had both printers installed on the XP computer and they worked fine. I have the XP computer turned off at times, so I prefer the printers on the Win 10 computer.


They are both connected using USB cables, although something strange happened when I first connected my MX920 it seemed to auto connect to the network using wireless. It still doesn't show up in Control Panel Devices+ Printers, but I see it in Windows explorer when I select "Network"

Fafhrd said:

Also you can map to the IPv4 address of the computer:.

There is a small chance that one day the PC being mapped to may have been allocated a different IP address by the router's DHCP. That's why I suggested mapping by name rather than by IP address (though both work equally well).