Sharing Win 10 Disks/Folders ON LAN With Win7 Computers

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NewW10user said:

I added a new name for the folder in Win7 (sharing -> advanced sharing ->settings ->Share) and tried accessing it as described (\\192.168.1.?\newsharename) but it still doesn't find it. I also have Avast shields disabled on Win 7 to eliminate that.

Also I don't quite understand how you got the shortcuts for the shared folders (Toshiba) set.

The only time I use IP addresses to access other computers was years ago when I tested my network. Now I just use the computers name. I really don't need or care anymore what the IP addresses are.

To access computer Lightning-7 I use the shortcut \\Lightning-7
To access computer Phoenix-7 I use the shortcut \\Phoenix-7

There is absolutely no need to have shortcuts to shared folders. You just double-click on the shortcut to the computer and browse the share folders it shows.

I have the following network computers powered on and awake:

1. DarkMatter (Win 11 Pro)
2. EventHorizon (Win 10 Pro)
3. Lightning-7 (Win 7 Home)
4. Phoenix-7 (Win 7 Pro)
5. Starship (Win 11 Pro)
6. Toshiba-PC (Win 10 Pro)

The problem with using File Explorer > Network is that many times not all the computers show up. The following shows that only 4 of the 6 computers show up. However, I can still access all of them using the shortcuts to them.



Example #1: If I double-click for the shortcut for Lightning-7



I see the shared folders for Lightning-7



Example #2: If I double-click for the shortcut forPhoenix-7



I see the shared folders for Phoenix-7