Can't See Other PC's On Home Network

I need to connect two laptops on my home network via WiFi, one of which has a printer attached via USB that I need to share. I read this recent post from Yertiz on the same issue. I followed the tutorial here on this forum, and then the suggestions in Yertiz's post. I still can't get things to work - I can't see the other computer from either computer in File Manager, and entering the path to the other computer doesn't seem to work either.

Both laptops are Win10 Home Edition, 1909, with the latest available updates. I did everything Yertiz did:

• SMB 1.0 is checked with automatic removal unchecked.
• Use sharing wizard is checked
• Function Discovery Resource Publication and Function Discovery Provider Host services are both running and set to start automatically
• Network discovery is on for both private and public networks
• File and printer sharing is on for both private and public networks
• Public folder sharing is on
• Password protected sharing is off
• 128 bit encryption is on
  

One thing I can't find on either laptop is the SMB Direct setting - it's nowhere to be found. Is this the snag?

The WiFi network at home is fast and stable, although I don't know if there are any router settings that are a blocker for connecting on my home network.

Is there another tutorial that I need to reference? Any other tricks/tweaks?
Thanks in advance for any ideas.
-bjk

Three things:

First, do you have both SMBv1 Clint and SMBv1 Server checked on both machines? If both server and client are not checked, neither machine will "see" the other.

Second, as both machines are Windows 10, you don't need SMBv1 at all. It's best to uncheck SMBv1 if its not needed.

Third, and of no particular importance, I don't think that SMB Direct is available in Windows 10 Home.

JackHughs

Thanks Jack.

If I tracked you correctly, since both machines have SMBv1 Client and Server enabled, and it's not working, I can uncheck both, on both machines since Win10 is on both machines. Right?

I'll give that a go.
Thanks!

- - - Updated - - -

Just gave it a go.
It's a no-go.
I unchecked both Client and Server SMBv1 on both machines (both were previously enabled), and it made no difference.

Other ideas??

Are both computers in the same Workgroup?

Do you have shared folders on each machine?

On each machine, pull up a command prompt and type ipconfig /all This will give you the IP address of each machine

On computer A, go to File Explorer and type \\ip address of computer B This should give you access to all network shares on computer B.

You can try turning off Function Discovery Resource Publication and Function Discovery Provider Host services on both machines - leave automatic start enabled - and reboot both machines. Wait until computer A is fully started before starting computer B.

JackHughs

Hey Jack,
Thanks for your support.
I cannot ping the other machine using IP.

I re-enabled SMBv1 Client and Server on both machines, just b/c last time this worked for me, it was the setting I had. Automatic removal is still unchecked.

On a lark, I tried changing the Homegroup name on both machines, just to see if that had any effect.
It had none.

Any other ideas?

If you cant ping by ip something is wrong either wrong IP or subnet or firewall blocking if your using WiFi a lot of routers have a settings user isolation or similar which stops contact with other PC's so if someone hacks wireless they can't hack PC's

Samuria,
Thanks for that!
I checked my router and the AP Isolation is disabled and there are no other "protections" enabled.

I am stumped!

Is the IP and subnet the same range?

Samuria:
When I put my IP addy in this calculator:
IP Calculator / IP Subnetting
It spits out my subnet, exactly.

Does that tell you something?

Jacee:
Yes - after being frustrated after days of not getting anywhere, I did the reset this am.
Nothing.

There's gotta be something right in front of me!!

- - - Updated - - -

Everyone...


I don't know how this happened, but as I was working on another forum, I randomly looked in File Explorer and DAMN! I could see laptop B from laptop A. I could also see A from B.


I set up the shared printer connected to laptop A and B prints to it perfectly.


The only things I did since I last did a thorough check earlier this afternoon:
- I disabled everything under SMB, on both machines.
- Both machines were sitting idled for a while as I as working on something else.


I have no idea if this will be a reliable network connection, but it works now!
I'll certainly be right back here tomorrow if it's broken again.


You folks on this forum are awesome!
Thanks again!
-bjk

- - - Updated - - -

Still working today.
Great!!