Windows 10 install broke network connections to printers & documents

Hello,

My small office (six people) upgraded to Windows 10 about four months ago, when one user was tricked into the upgrade, and the rest of us followed suit so we'd all be using the same OS. We all have Dell Optiplex 980 desktops that were purchased about five years ago. Four out of six are connected to a software server installed about nine months ago; we all connect to the internet through a switch.

Since the Windows 10 upgrade we've had nothing but headaches with our network. We have two basic issues that I have been unable to resolve:

1) Most of us cannot access each other's desktop printers, although we can all access the one printer that's networked directly through the switch. For the most part the printers are not appearing "on the server".
2) Most of us cannot access each other's documents, although there are two computers that use a very old (pre-Y2K) utility software, and those folders can be accessed by all users!

Also, not a problem but more of a symptom, is that when looking in CP Devices & Printers, only two computers show up under the Multimedia Devices area, when all six computers should be there.

I can guess there may be a group policy setting that's out of whack, but I don't know how to modify group policy or how to troubleshoot it.

I have reviewed this thread Latest networking issue caused by KB3189866 and KB3185614 and find that only two of us have one of the KBs installed (KB3189866), with no apparent connection noted between its presence and ability to access other users, since one of the two users can connect to other computers and the other user cannot.

bro67 said:

Did you remove those KB's from all machines, then reboot and see if that fixes it?

No, because my machine is one of the two that has KB3189866, and my machine is the ONLY one talking to the others and I didn't want to risk breaking the connection. What if I remove the KB from the other machine that has it?

bro67 said:

As for printers, you really are better off having a Network printer for say two workers each, and say a color one for manager or special login profile only. Having the printers attached to each machine, means that they have to be on at all times and you always risk something causing problems down the road.

We have each always had small deskjets at our workstations, and they are useful. We only turn them on when they are needed, so most of the time they are off. Our main networked printer (which isn't giving us any trouble) handles 99% of the workload. We just want the things that worked before upgrading to Win 10 to work again.

bro67 said:

SMB/CFS sharing can be messed up if the printers are offline when you boot the machine or log in without a reboot.

You're talking a bit over my head. Does this apply to our situation? We have never had an issue with our printers before Win 10.

bro67, am I understanding correctly that you are suggesting we purchase a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device? Or are you suggesting we get rid of half our printers? I'm not sure what you're suggesting as a fix for our situation, but buying new hardware/throwing away printers seems a bit over the top to fix something Windows 10 broke.

We don't have an "extra" computer, nor do we have the space to set it up if we did have one; and we are not looking for external storage. But thank you for your input.

I'm still looking for a solution.