Win10 connections on local network - only partial visibility

Gorlash · 03 Mar 2021

JSheridan said:

I can't see other Windows 10 computers either. The problem just stated on two machines. How did you create the link? Thanks

It was a two-step process:
1. on the address bar in Explorer, type \\ip_address_of_other_machine ...
In my case, that was \\192.168.0.186

This caused the other machine to show up under Network, and all public folders were accessible.

Later note: based upon comments from @MisterEd , I tried searching for her machine using her machine name:
\\nyarlathotep
and that *did* work!!
This is nicer, since the name is more meaningful than the IP address...

2. left-click on the IP-address entry under Network, and drag it to my desktop;
That created a link to her machine.
double-clicking that link, opens up Explorer and adds her machine under Network, ready to go.

MisterEd · 03 Mar 2021

The link to a networked computer has format: \\<computer_name>.
For computer DarkMatter link is \\Darkmatter.

If that doesn't work you can try a link to the computers IP address.
For computer with IP address 10.0.0.2 link is \\10.0.0.2

Win10 connections on local network - only partial visibility-2021_03_04_04_28_541.jpg

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Gorlash said:

The only drawback is that I don't seem to be able to rename the entry from ip-address to a useful name, but otherwise it works great!!

All you have to do is rename the link

Win10 connections on local network - only partial visibility-2021_03_04_04_55_251.jpg

Win10 connections on local network - only partial visibility-2021_03_04_04_59_581.jpg

Gorlash · 04 Mar 2021

The only problem with this method of connecting to her machine, is that it doesn't *stick* ...
When I close/re-open explorer, her machine is gone from the listing, I have to click on the link to re-connect.

Also, Map Network Drive doesn't work with the actual machine, I have to map to a shared folder - which is awkward if there are several shared folders...

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MisterEd said:

The link to a networked computer has format: \\<computer_name>.
For computer DarkMatter link is \\Darkmatter.

If that doesn't work you can try a link to the computers IP address.
For computer with IP address 10.0.0.2 link is \\10.0.0.2

All you have to do is rename the link

Yeah, I realized that I can rename the shortcut - but I cannot rename the actual entry in the folder tree.
Fortunately, as you noted, I *was* able to connect to the name rather than IP address, which mostly solves that problem.

bhabbit · 04 Mar 2021

Very real problem i can confirm. I see my pc but cant connect. My pc is HABBIT-LAPTOP. With my android (es file explorer) i can connect only by writing smb:\\HABBIT-LAPTOP\camera or smb:\\192.168.1.183\camera.
If i write smb:\\HABBIT-LAPTOP or smb:\\192.168.1.183 i get error massage. In network detection i find my father's pc (same settings) and mine (transparent icon), my father's connect but mine not, i get the message.

Blackink · 06 Mar 2021

I seem to have a similar problem. I have 3 computers on the same network: 2 desktops running Windows 10 Pro and 1 laptop running Windows 10 Home.
For whatever reason, there are days when I can't see the PC that I am (Steve's PC) on in the Network listing in File Explorer but I can go to the other desktop (Steve's other PC) running windows 10 Pro and under network in File Explorer and I can see all of the computers on the network.
Some days I can't see Steve's other PC on Steve's PC in File Explorer and so on.

What I do to "fix" this is to go to my Settings> Network & Internet> Status page, I scroll down and select "Network reset" on whatever computer isn't being seen on the Network listing.
I restart the computer, upon the restart when the desktop appears, I get an option on the right side of my screen to connect to my network so I can see others and they can see me, and the problem is fixed........for a few days.

For whatever reason, that setting doesn't stay and I eventually lose a computer on the Network.
I can still share and access files between the 3 of them but some days one of them or more won't show up under network in File Explorer.

It would be nice if this problem stopped completely and no matter what computer I was on, if I opened the File Explorer and clicked on Network, whatever computer(s) were on-that they would show up there!!!

MisterEd · 06 Mar 2021

Blackink said:

I seem to have a similar problem. I have 3 computers on the same network: 2 desktops running Windows 10 Pro and 1 laptop running Windows 10 Home.
For whatever reason, there are days when I can't see the PC that I am (Steve's PC) on in the Network listing in File Explorer but I can go to the other desktop (Steve's other PC) running windows 10 Pro and under network in File Explorer and I can see all of the computers on the network.
Some days I can't see Steve's other PC on Steve's PC in File Explorer and so on.

What I do to "fix" this is to go to my Settings> Network & Internet> Status page, I scroll down and select "Network reset" on whatever computer isn't being seen on the Network listing.
I restart the computer, upon the restart when the desktop appears, I get an option on the right side of my screen to connect to my network so I can see others and they can see me, and the problem is fixed........for a few days.

For whatever reason, that setting doesn't stay and I eventually lose a computer on the Network.
I can still share and access files between the 3 of them but some days one of them or more won't show up under network in File Explorer.

It would be nice if this problem stopped completely and no matter what computer I was on, if I opened the File Explorer and clicked on Network, whatever computer(s) were on-that they would show up there!!!

I have a similar setup:
1. Darkmatter (Desktop, Windows 10 Pro)
2. Lightning (Desktop, Windows 10 Pro)
3. EventHorizon (Laptop, Windows 10 Home)

For more than a year I struggled with trying to get the computers to show up on the network. I tried a lot of things including those you mentioned. One day they mostly started to show up. I had tried so many things I still don't know for sure what made the difference. I still keep a folder I call My Network with shortcuts to each computer. I rarely need it but I have it for the rare occasion when one of the computers doesn't show up on the network. If I were you I would just do the same thing and move on. It's not worth the time wasted trying to fix something that may or may not have a permanent solution.

Win10 connections on local network - only partial visibility-2021_03_07_03_55_321.jpg

Blackink · 07 Mar 2021

[QUOTE=MisterEd;2168553]I have a similar setup:
1. Darkmatter (Desktop, Windows 10 Pro)
2. Lightning (Desktop, Windows 10 Pro)
3. EventHorizon (Laptop, Windows 10 Home)

For more than a year I struggled with trying to get the computers to show up on the network. I tried a lot of things including those you mentioned. One day they mostly started to show up. I had tried so many things I still don't know for sure what made the difference. I still keep a folder I call My Network with shortcuts to each computer. I rarely need it but I have it for the rare occasion when one of the computers doesn't show up on the network. If I were you I would just do the same thing and move on. It's not worth the time wasted trying to fix something that may or may not have a permanent solution.
QUOTE]

I did just that after reading through these messages last night.
It is a shame that Windows 10 can't be as efficient as Windows 7 was regarding the Network.