Hi Sean. Yes, it's a private network, and network discovery and file & printer sharing are both turned on.
I'm really amazed (though perhaps I shouldn't be) that what I thought would be a simple and straightforward matter has turned out to be so complex and frustrating.
@Bert Coules, ha, well it certainly should be. It is for me most of the time, sometimes machines don't show in network but I have everything mapped and that all works just fine.
One thing I have not been able to get out of you yet is what do you want to use your network for? I assume you want to share files between the two machines or maybe use one to save things to and the other to access them. If you want that, it doesn't always matter what shows up in network.
@Bert Coules, you could try and setup a shared folder on each machine and then map them to see if that works.
Sean, sorry, yes, you did ask that and I was too wound up with the problems to answer. Quite simply, I want to be able to share files, with the ability to move them between machines in each direction. And also to manipulate them, in the sense of being able to open, edit, and perhaps delete files on one machine from the other.
I'm not familiar with the concept of mapping; I'll investigate.
@Bert Coules, what I would do is setup a shared folder on each machine. Right click on the folder, click properties then the sharing tab. Click share and copy and paste the network path into a text doc. Then, go to my computer, find map network drive in the ribbon.
Select a drive letter and type in the network path for the shared folder on the other machine. It's likely if you click browse you will be able to find it in there. You will probably have to connect using different credentials, which is the user name and password for the other machine.
I hope that helps. Let me know if not and I can send some screen shots.
Sean, thanks for that. I'll try it later and report back.
- - - Updated - - -
Sean, before trying your mapping approach I decided to have one more go at the network. On a whim I tried setting up a network between two different computers - and the result was an almost complete success. One machine recognised and gave access to the other, but that second machine didn't entirely co-operate: though it recognised the other PC, when I tried to access it I got this:
A quick search around has turned up several possible solutions but I haven't yet tried any of them; I wanted to report here first. My thinking is that if I can set up a successful network between these two machines then I can use their settings as a template for the original two. Whether or not that will work I don't know, but I do at least feel as if I've achieved a small step forward today.
Last edited by Bert Coules; 06 Jan 2024 at 09:49.
Hi @Bert Coules, sounds good. The not accessible thing might be due to a username/password, lack of a password on the machine or not using the correct username/password. Personally, I don't use the network setup tool. As far as I know it's for a more complex network then just one group of machines although I'll be honest, not 100% sure. But if it works for you, it works... The only time I remember needing to do the network setup was for two machine connected directly network card to network card in the dark old days of needing a special network cable with the wires switched around.
Morning, Sean. Yes, I've heard that about the network software; I'll look into the mapping approach which you mentioned. But first - since I don't like to be defeated - I'll investigate the accessibility snag this morning.
Another solution I use, my Network consists of Wired and Wireless computers, 4 desktops, 2 printers and a NAS drive connected via Ethernet to the Wireless Router. At any time I may also have 2 to more Wireless Notebooks connected [1 required by my wife]. If I need to store or access files on the NAS from any computer I Map the Public folder on the NAS drive. After connecting to the Router the Internet can also be accessed but that is not required for the Network to be usable. The setup also works if I have to bring in a client's computer for repair.
Berton, thanks for that. I shall definitely look into mapping, which is an area I've never used. But as far as my immediate problem goes...
Sean, I solved the accessibility problem by tweaking the permissions in the Security settings of the PC and the specific drive and folders I needed to get to across the network. The result is that I now have the setup I wanted, with each machine allowing access to the other. Many thanks again for all your help and patience.
I now have something else to look forward to: I'm thinking of replacing the main desktop PC with something a bit newer and faster and with more storage, and this is going to involve moving more or less the entire contents of the old computer - not only data but also programs, settings, everything - to the new one. I'm hoping that it's going to be a nice, straightforward procedure...
Last edited by Bert Coules; 07 Jan 2024 at 11:13.
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