Home network - can't get all PCs to see each other

MisterEdF · 16 Feb 2020

Having the same problem. Before retirement I had been dealing with WIN PC's for 25+ years and networking was a breeze now I'm ready to go back to 2 tin cans with a string.. Now I have 2 simple WIN10 PRO pcs both connected to the same switch both with brand new CLEAN WIN-10 latest version all patches installed and they can't even see themselves! All obviousettings are correct, they have been turned on for the last 12 hours rebooted dozens of times and still nothing. Ready to scream. All I want to do is share 2 folders on each. I don't understand why this should be so difficult.

Sigurd · 16 Feb 2020

Welcome to the club EdF! I am screaming and have given up for the time being and going for a walk!
I made changes as guided by the kind gentle(wo)men on this thread but it seems one step forward and one step back - at least it's only one. I can now access files on my wife's PC but the laptops have disappeared! Still can't access my PC from any other one.
Watch this space - I am not going to let this beat me (I say hopefully).

Samuria · 16 Feb 2020

Follow Britecs guide YouTube

PiKo · 16 Feb 2020

I am wondering whether you can reach your goal from a user account, and whether you should setup things using your administrator account.

MisterEdF · 16 Feb 2020

Samuria said:

Follow Britecs guide YouTube

BINGO! The first f'in step in his video resolved probably 2 years of nightmares! THANK YOU !!!!! (edit) Strange part is I was setup as "private network" through Network/advanced settings when I installed. This hidden "private" setting was the issue. Of course YMMV but as soon as I setup both PC's as per first step in video networking just works like it should.

PiKo · 17 Feb 2020

MisterEdE Bingo: nice it helped you, but my two connected PC's are both on a public network. So sharing may function also on public networks.

thomaseg1 · 17 Feb 2020

If everything is working then you should mark this thread as solved.

Sigurd · 17 Feb 2020

My problem is ongoing hence not marked as solved - though Mister EdF's is!

Ed - I haven't had time to follow up on the video you posted but if the problem is the Private network setting as you suggest, that doesn't seem to be the problem with me, though it is a line of investigation. Although set as a Private network, I can see and access files on B & D but they can see A, they can't access files. If it was a question of Private v Public networks I would have expected it to affect both ways.

Barman58 · 17 Feb 2020

Private and Public networks are in fact Firewall settings for the windows firewall and just to confuse the user they actually do the reverse of what their names would suggest

If you are online in a public place and using free WiFi you set the setting to Public, this will close as many of the network ports on your system, as is practical, to prevent others, strangers, from gaining access to your system via the network.

When going online at home behind a router, (which normally has a hardware firewall between your local Network and the Internet), you should set your network type to Private as you are in a private area. your LAN, this will open several ports which are used to communicate between, potential, devices on a network (this includes TV's Media Players etc which may need other ports than those required for internet access )

Sigurd · 17 Feb 2020

That will confuse MrEdF (and me) even more as he got his to work switching to Public and mine half works on Private.
Watch this space. Will have time for further work on it tomorrow - thread not closed!!