Stumped on network paths!

mikephillips · 13 Aug 2022

Windows10 21H1

A while ago I had a working home network. Now I don't! Somewhere along all the updates it has been trashed.

I am completely at sea now with the network path issue. I have a PC connected by ethernet and two laptops on wifi.

All laptops can 'see' the PC but not access it " Windows cannot access XXXX"

Here is where my brain disintegrates. The path in this message is '\\MIKE-PC'. When I look at the shared drive (C) on the PC it says '\\Mike-PC\c'. I have been all round the houses via Google, several network resets, SMB active, adapter un/re-install, you name it. Is the problem the difference in network paths? If so, where does W10 store these?

Help!

Samuria · 13 Aug 2022

First you should never share c remove that share by default all drives are shared with a $ is c$ so you connect to \\mike-pc\c$ you have to either pass an admin username and password on the PC your connecting to.

If NetBIOS isn't updated you may need to use ip not name. Windows isn't keen on names with - in it

mikephillips · 14 Aug 2022

Samuria - thanks so much. Removing the - fixed it. Sharing C noted.

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I spoke too soon! I did another W10 update this AM on one laptop and it has now 'disappeared' from the Network map on all networked machines although still accessible by direct addressing. Why is life so difficult.........?

Try3 · 14 Aug 2022

mikephillips said:

... it has now 'disappeared' from the Network map on all networked machines although still accessible by direct addressing. Why is life so difficult.........?

Mike,

File explorer's Network section has been a pig for several years now.
Like many others, I now rely on shortcuts I've made to the other computers and hardly ever use or even notice File explorer's Network section.

I don't have experience of other network problems. I set up my network using this checklist:-
A consolidated network setup checklist [post #2] - TenForums

All the best,
Denis

mikephillips · 15 Aug 2022

Try3 - that is a beautifully concise guide (that I have failed to find on Google in 2 days). Thanks.

Yes, I have in the past set up shortcuts which have continued to work despite the 'nuking' that windows achieves. I will do again on the other machines.

It is about time someone in M$ noticed..................................

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Try3/Denis - you may be able to help further! A couple of years ago I somehow managed to put my desired shared folders onto my File Explorer as 'folders' rather than 'Mapped drives' (as above). I would love to do this again for a new laptop but cannot for the life of me remember how I did it!

Try3 · 15 Aug 2022

mikephillips said:

you may be able to help further! A couple of years ago I somehow managed to put my desired shared folders onto my File Explorer as 'folders' rather than 'Mapped drives' (as above). I would love to do this again for a new laptop but cannot for the life of me remember how I did it!

Mike,

Perhaps what has stuck in your memory is that they looked like folders i.e. they were shortcuts to folders & therefore had folder icons?
\\COMPUTERNAME\SHAREDFOLDERNAME\SomeSubFolderOrOther

That's what I do as well.
I share high level folders and make shortcuts to them as well as shortcuts to specific lower level folders within them.
I never bother mapping them.
I have the shortcuts arranged in a section of my Taskbar Toolbar. And some of them are copied elsewhere e.g. in my video editing folder on this computer I have shortcuts to the video editing folders on the other computers.

All the best,
Denis

mikephillips · 15 Aug 2022

Once again - you have sorted it! Adopt the username genius.....