How to determine DHCP range?

daklone said:

Next thing I'd check is file sharing.

...go to Control Panel -> Network & Internet -> Network and Sharing Center -> Change advanced sharing settings

Check that network discovery is on, automatic configuration is checked and that file and printer sharing is on. Make sure that you only change things in Private, which should be your current profile.

In my private profile on the PC I found that network discovery was on, automatic configuration was checked and file and printer sharing were on.

However I also found the same settings in my guest or public profile on the PC, so I turned those off.

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EdTittel said:

I've learned over the years that on target machines (the ones you remote into, not from) you often need to make some changes in All Networks in Advanced Sharing Settings -- specifically:
1. Turn on sharing for Public folders
2. Turn off password protected sharing

On my PC, that's how those are already set.

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pparks1 said:

Can you open start and hit \\othername\ and see the list of shares?

What do you call that trick where you enter \\DeviceName?

That's a great one to have up my sleeve when Windows File Explorer loses one or the other (or both!) of my networked computers.

CluelessInSeatl said:

In my private profile on the PC I found that network discovery was on, automatic configuration was checked and file and printer sharing were on.

However I also found the same settings in my guest or public profile on the PC, so I turned those off.

Did you also check the laptop for the same settings?

CluelessInSeatl said:

What do you call that trick where you enter \\DeviceName?

That's a great one to have up my sleeve when Windows File Explorer loses one or the other (or both!) of my networked computers.

It's referring to a computer by it's Hostname, rather than it's IP address.

daklone said:

Did you also check the laptop for the same settings?

Yup!

CluelessInSeatl said:

Bingo!!!

I just entered \\PCName in the little search box on the Start Menu, and amazingly a new window that looked just like Windows File Explorer opened up, showing both the laptop and the PC in the Network folder.

But, when I switched over to the default Windows File Explorer window, the PC was still missing from the Network folder.

So, what does this tell us?

Since shortcuts work why not create some to use until you get this sorted out?

I gave a link to do this in my Post #9. I will repeat them again

Laptop can't see main PC even though PC can see laptop (Post #8)
Laptop can't see main PC even though PC can see laptop

OK, next thing I would do is make sure Windows Firewall is not interfering with things.

If you go to Control Panel -> System and Security -> Windows Defender Firewall -> Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off and you should see something like this:



Just temporarily for test purposes, click the "Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended)" button under "Private Networks". Do this on both machines and see if it helps.

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Forgot to confirm a couple of things:

1. Both machines are running Windows 10, correct?
2. Both machines are connected directly to your router using cables, correct?

CluelessInSeatl said:

Bingo!!!

I just entered \\PCName in the little search box on the Start Menu, and amazingly a new window that looked just like Windows File Explorer opened up, showing both the laptop and the PC in the Network folder.

But, when I switched over to the default Windows File Explorer window, the PC was still missing from the Network folder.

So, what does this tell us?

Well, this means networking is working fine, it's just the network browser service that shows you things under the network tab in file explorer is having an issue.

Personally, working with enterprise networks, I NEVER use the network tab in file explorer...EVER. I always connect to whatever I want via a servername using Start, Run and then typing \\servername.

So, I don't really have any experience troubleshooting networking using the Network tab in file explorer. Heck, on my work computer where we have probably 7000+ servers, network discovery isn't even turned on.


Overall, you aren't missing out anything if you don't get that tab working. It's not essential to making use of the network.

Good point pparks1, it is looking like a browsing problem.

I vaguely recalled something about there being problems regarding browsing and SMBv1.0 on Windows 10, and found this:

Network Discovery without Computer Browser service | Michael Firsov

Which seems to suggest that making sure that the two services Function Discovery Provider Host and Function Discovery Resource Publication are set to Automatic (Delayed) rather than Manual might fix the situation.

CluelessInSeatl:

If you type "Services" into the search bar you can open the list of services. Scroll down to "Function Discovery Provider Host" and right-click -> Properties. Change it's "Startup Type" to "Automatic (Delayed)" then click "Apply". If it's "Service State" is not "Running", then also click "Start".

Do the same for "Function Discovery Resource Publication" on both laptop and PC, then see if it makes any difference.

MisterEd said:

Since shortcuts work why not create some to use until you get this sorted out?

I gave a link to do this in my Post #9. I will repeat them again

Laptop can't see main PC even though PC can see laptop (Post #8)
Laptop can't see main PC even though PC can see laptop

Thanks, MisterEd, for reminding me about that link. I just created, on the desktop of my laptop, a shortcut to my PC, and it works fine. I tried to drag and drop it to the taskbar, but it just disappears when I try to drop it there. When I drag it, it has a little label with a curved arrow along with text saying "Pin to File Explorer."

So I just dragged it and dropped in on my Start Menu for now, until I can figure out how to get it onto my taskbar.

Although we haven't solved the mystery of why the PC vanished from File Explorer on the laptop, you have given me a work-around that seems to be a viable replacement for the network folder in File Explorer. I appreciate your being so patient with me. Many thanks!

Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"


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daklone said:

go to Control Panel -> System and Security -> Windows Defender Firewall -> Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off

When I click on Control Panel, I don't see a "System and Security" item. But there is a "Windows Defender Firewall item:



As you can see, on the private network I have the firewall turned off, on the advice of a BBS acquaintance who assured me that the firewall in my Comcast/Xfinity modem/router was more than adequate, and that the Windows firewall would just mess up my network.

Forgot to confirm a couple of things:

1. Both machines are running Windows 10, correct?
2. Both machines are connected directly to your router using cables, correct?

Yes and Yes.

Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"

CluelessInSeatl said:

Thanks, MisterEd, for reminding me about that link. I just created, on the desktop of my laptop, a shortcut to my PC, and it works fine. I tried to drag and drop it to the taskbar, but it just disappears when I try to drop it there. When I drag it, it has a little label with a curved arrow along with text saying "Pin to File Explorer."

So I just dragged it and dropped in on my Start Menu for now, until I can figure out how to get it onto my taskbar.

Have you thought of putting the shortcuts in a folder on the desktop?

I have mine in a folder called My Network. It sits right next to the Network icon.


This is the contents of the My Network folder. I have the same folder on every computer in the network. Note that there is even a shortcut to the computer the folder is on. That is so I can have easy access to the shared folders on it.