Local network problem

oeivinr · 08 Nov 2017

Hi again,

OS: Windows 10 Fall Creator version 1709 build 16299.19

Have I been stupid again? I changed name of desktop computer and it disappeared from file manager/network, so I can no longer access it from my laptop. Is there anything I can do to put it back again where it belongs? I sincerely hope so, because a well functioning network is so valuable to my work as a teacher.
I have a small local network consisting of a desktop and a laptop both running windows 10. The laptop is connected via wifi and the desktop is cabled to the router. Please, help me. Any ideas would be most appreciated.

oeivinr

Caledon Ken · 08 Nov 2017

Hi oeivinr.

What were you using to share, homegroups, network shares or mapped drives?

If homegroups, remove from all machines and recreate.

Ken

oeivinr · 09 Nov 2017

Caledon Ken said:

Hi oeivinr.

What were you using to share, homegroups, network shares or mapped drives?

If homegroups, remove from all machines and recreate.

Ken

HI,
Thanx for answering. Both really, but I'd like to have my network put right.

Caledon Ken · 09 Nov 2017

Agree. So what were you using to share before you made the change and if you were using homegroups then starting fresh accomplishes that.

Kari · 09 Nov 2017

This really is quite simple:

You have a shared folder named MyStuff on a PC named MyMonsterRig. All other computers on your network connect to this shared folder using path \\MyMonsterrig\MyStuff (syntax: \\ComputerName\ShareName).

You change the computer name of MyMonsterRig to DesktopInStudy. The other computers on your network are trying to connect to network shares on \\MyMonsterRig but as this computer does not exist anymore, connection fails. A network share \\MyMonsterRig\MyStuff does not exist anymore, that shared folder is now found at \\DesktopInStudy\MyStuff.

Simple solution: remove current shares on other computers, the ones no longer existing hence failing to connect. Set new network shares using the new, existing computer name.

Kari

oeivinr · 09 Nov 2017

Thanks. Simple for you but, not for a newbie like myself. What exactly do you mean by a network share?. Do you mean files and folders on a computer drive whose properties are set to shared, read and write so that the files and folders can be accessed by other computers on the network.

Quote "Simple solution: remove current shares on other computers, the ones no longer existing hence failing to connect. Set new network shares using the new, existing computer name".unQuote

My laptop cannot connect to my desktop because I changed the name of the desktop. I know how to remove shares on the laptop, but how I set new network shares using the new desktop name? Sorry, I feel completely at sea here.

oeivinr · 09 Nov 2017

Caledon Ken said:

Agree. So what were you using to share before you made the change and if you were using homegroups then starting fresh accomplishes that.

Sometimes I used network share, somtimes I used homegroup. Do you mean that recreating homegroup would also solve the network problem.
That is have the file manager display the computers under NETWORK.

Caledon Ken · 09 Nov 2017

Yes it should. That is what homegroups was supposed to be, a simple method to share within a lan.

The information Kari provided is another way to share, in File Explorer you Map a Network drive. You give it a letter and then that letter becomes a drive on your machine only it is pointing at a folder on another device.

There has been plenty of issues with sharing. My first recommendation, make sure all the devices are on a "Private" network. Normally this turns on Discovery. Then delete and re-establish your homegroup.