Cheesed off with Windows Networking -- will they EVER get it right

jimbo45 · Mar 25, 2024

Hi folks
Why does each new build of Windows just seem to make it harder and harder to simply browse for network shares without having to do all sorts of rubbish like fixed IP addresses etc etc.

Filezilla for example browses a computer (if you know it's name / IP address) but file explorer just has problems finding any computer at all -- no matter if you use SMB1 or whatever.

I'm 100% totally FED UP with Windows Networking -- C'mon M/s -- put a sock in it --forget about creating 97 zillion smiles / emoicons etc -- just GET THE OS RIGHT.

File zilla can find computers = file explorer just shows nothing - or "can't access the server" --- and if you try the diagnostic tool -- well has there ever been in the history of computers a more useless diagnostic tool other than reddit -- also a 100% B/S site) that has ever delivered even a microgram of useful information. Filezilla work so why can't file explorer!!!.

cheers
jimbo

iko22 · Mar 26, 2024

I can't offer any insights, unfortunately. What I wanted to say, it is a similar situation with connecting Smartphones to the computer, and attempting to upload photos and documents. The setup just does not want to know. The situation has been getting worse and worse ever since Microsoft pulled out from doing mobile phones, IMO. Now I have to email my photos to myself, and then download them to my computer - completely unsatisfactory, and a waste of time in what should amount to a piece of cable and no more than a few mouse clicks!!!!! I like Windows 11 very much, but I find it incredulous what Microsoft can't seem to get right.
AND Reddit definitely is rubbish like 95% of the time. Most of it is posts are reacting to Internet Trolls when nothing of the sort is going on. Just so poorly moderated. Quora is not much better, only slightly. This site is the best for computing needs, and @Brink 's tutorials are the best - but, it does need more network and server specialists like yourself

antspants · Mar 26, 2024

iko22 said:
I can't offer any insights, unfortunately. What I wanted to say, it is a similar situation with connecting Smartphones to the computer, and attempting to upload photos and documents. The setup just does not want to know. The situation has been getting worse and worse ever since Microsoft pulled out from doing mobile phones, IMO. Now I have to email my photos to myself, and then download them to my computer - completely unsatisfactory, and a waste of time in what should amount to a piece of cable and no more than a few mouse clicks!!!!! I like Windows 11 very much, but I find it incredulous what Microsoft can't seem to get right.
AND Reddit definitely is rubbish like 95% of the time. Most of it is posts are reacting to Internet Trolls when nothing of the sort is going on. Just so poorly moderated. Quora is not much better, only slightly. This site is the best for computing needs, and @Brink 's tutorials are the best - but, it does need more network and server specialists like yourself

Doesn’t help Jimbo, but what Phone do you have?

If you want to just share photos and you have an iPhone, try “Simple Transfer” app for iPhone and Windows.

Or, try Intel Unison for all others (and iPhone)

Simple Transfer
(Download links for Windows App and iPhone App at bottom of home page)

Transfer Photos and Videos From iPhone To Computer

Simple Transfer is the easiest way of transferring photos and large videos to computer.

rambax.com

Intel Unison

Intel® Unison™ App - Seamlessly Link Phones and Devices to Your PC

Intel® Unison™ app allows your PC to be the center of a multi-device experience by linking your phone or tablet and other devices to your computer regardless of operating system.

www.intel.com

@jimbo45 I know your frustrations. I gave up long ago and now just use //

jimbo45 · Mar 26, 2024

iko22 said:
I can't offer any insights, unfortunately. What I wanted to say, it is a similar situation with connecting Smartphones to the computer, and attempting to upload photos and documents. The setup just does not want to know. The situation has been getting worse and worse ever since Microsoft pulled out from doing mobile phones, IMO. Now I have to email my photos to myself, and then download them to my computer - completely unsatisfactory, and a waste of time in what should amount to a piece of cable and no more than a few mouse clicks!!!!! I like Windows 11 very much, but I find it incredulous what Microsoft can't seem to get right.
AND Reddit definitely is rubbish like 95% of the time. Most of it is posts are reacting to Internet Trolls when nothing of the sort is going on. Just so poorly moderated. Quora is not much better, only slightly. This site is the best for computing needs, and @Brink 's tutorials are the best - but, it does need more network and server specialists like yourself

Samsung phones ones seem to have no trouble connecting to windows if you connect via the USB-C connector - both to Linux and Windows. I use to transfer audio books to phone's internal SD card from computer mainly. I don't really take many photos with a mobile phone -- I prefer "Real photography" with a real camera rather than snapshots and selfies.

cheers
jimbo

antspants · Mar 26, 2024

jimbo45 said:
I prefer "Real photography" with a real camera rather than snapshots and selfies.

Nothing like a good duck face photo for your social media

I can’t understand Networking in Windows. One would think you could just “CONNECT” Wasn’t there a Windows version that did exactly that once? I could load Windows quicker than follow and implement the workarounds for networking in Windows, and then one has to hope it sticks.

antspants · Mar 26, 2024

Windows 7/8/8.1 Homegroup was better than what they have on offer now. Why did they get rid of it?

jimbo45 · Mar 26, 2024

antspants said:
Windows 7/8/8.1 Homegroup was better than what they have on offer now. Why did they get rid of it?

Actually Windows 3.11 for workgroups where networking was based on using a DOS (MS DOS) based Novell LAN system worked reasonably for those days -- IBM also had some sort decent networking for IBM PC's using OS/2 but they hosed it up with having to use those unpredictable token ring cards.

Seems apart from Linux where networking just seem to work straight out of the box and Cr-Apple's O/S Windows networking has always been hideous. Windows NT was really bad -- you probably needed a double doctorate cum laude in computing and black magic to get anything working on that system sensibly.

Networking is so mainstream these days that you'd think M/S would devote more time to getting this fundamental part of an OS right rather than needing armies of high paid consultants to fix things.

Cheers
jimbo

antspants · Mar 26, 2024

jimbo45 said:
Actually Windows 3.11 for workgroups where networking was based on using a DOS (MS DOS)

Ha! I do remember using 3.1 and MS DOS. I am not that young to not remember, unfortunately.
I also remember Win 3, DOS on it’s own and also sadly vaguely remember tinkering on a notice board with a C64. I need to lay down now

antspants · Mar 26, 2024

Speaking of old (Sorry Mum) My mother worked punching cards on the CSIRAC when it was transferred to the University of Melbourne around 1955/1960. Today, she can’t even use a mobile phone, God bless her

CSIRAC, The First Computer in Australia, 1949-1964

CSIRAC, designed and built by CSIR scientists, was the first stored-memory electronic computer in Australia. In 1947 Maston Beard and Trevor Pearcey (a British radar scientist who had emigrated to Australia after World War II) led a research group at the CSIR (after 1949 called CSIRO)...

collections.museumsvictoria.com.au

Try3 · Mar 26, 2024

jimbo45 said:
Why does each new build of Windows just seem to make it harder and harder to simply browse for network shares without having to do all sorts of rubbish like fixed IP addresses etc etc.

Filezilla for example browses a computer (if you know it's name / IP address) but file explorer just has problems finding any computer at all -- no matter if you use SMB1 or whatever.

Browsing in File explorer has been intermittently a problem since Windows 10 Version 1803 and there's no sign that MS gives a monkey's.

I never have network problems and I don't sod about with File explorer, fixed IPs, SMB1 or other nonsense.
This is how I have been successfully setting up my networks for ages.
A consolidated network setup checklist for Windows 10 and 11 - my post #4 - TenForums
Check each item on each network computer.

Denis

Try3 · Mar 26, 2024

iko22 said:
it is a similar situation with connecting Smartphones to the computer

Just connect your phone by USB cable then you can use File explorer to transfer files.
Your phone might or might not want you to respond to a dialog to confirm that you have connected in order to transfer files.

I use MyPhoneExplorer so I can transfer Outlook calendar, Contacts, Notes, Tasks and I often leave transferring photos & screenshots to this utility as well because its ability to connect across the phone's WiFi hotspot is convenient.
MyPhoneExplorer links Windows computers and Android phones reliably - TenForums

All the best,
Denis

jimbo45 · Mar 26, 2024

Try3 said:
Browsing in File explorer has been intermittently a problem since Windows 10 Version 1803 and there's no sign that MS gives a monkey's.

I never have network problems and I don't sod about with File explorer, fixed IPs, SMB1 or other nonsense.
This is how I have been successfully setting up my networks for ages.
A consolidated network setup checklist for Windows 10 and 11 - my post #4 - TenForums
Check each item on each network computer.

Denis

The advice might be sound -- but a) it doesn't always work and b) you've I think missed the whole point -- Network connection and browsing should just work straight out of the box without the user having to mess around -- especially with decent internet and DHCP for dynamic IP addresses.

Even XP with its network browse worked more reliably.

Cheers
jimbo

Try3 · Mar 26, 2024

I have not missed the point.

Denis

jimbo45 · Mar 27, 2024

Try3 said:
I have not missed the point.

Denis

I respectfully disagree as most users don´t want to have to adjust things to get networking to perform correctly. They just want to boot up the OS and start using it. I.T pros, hobbyists and other techies might find it ok or even fun going down checklists like a pilot's pre take off checklist or do other tweaks etc but most people I know don't care HOW windows is made but they just want to switch on their computers and start using it.

Not having a go at you as some of your suggestions are good and helpful but in the "real community" people just want stuff to operate straight out of the box.

Cheers
jimbo

RJARRRPCGP · Apr 14, 2024

About phones? Well, access to the folders, seems to be fine with my Samsung Galaxy S23, which I just got this month.

I found Windows to be the best so far, when it comes to deleting video files that I don't need on the phone.
(Every time I want to delete a video from Android, it seems to want to put it in a bin and I don't want it in a bin, I want it totally off the storage!)

Ironically, the UI for accessing the phone directories, doesn't seem to have the extra stuff that 11 is known for.
Seems to be K.I.S.S. in comparison to elsewhere in File Explorer.

Probably is fine with transferring video files from the phone to PC.

iko22 · Apr 14, 2024

Thanks guys, I have a Nokia X10. I just didn't respond because I thought it a little off topic, and all.

Yes I tried connecting it via USB cable, and the folder location does not show up (although I think the device showed as being connected.)

I had the Windows Phone App on WIndows 10 and I didn't like it because it kept automatically scanning my phone every time I connected, which took ages. So I hadn't bothered with the Windows 11 Phone Link app based on the previous experience.

Hadn't heard of MyPhoneExplorer. Might give it a go. Does it automatically scan the phone's contents every time it is connected?

Perhaps I was originally over zealous with the privacy settings when setting up both the phone and Windows. Although I've now tried tutorial upon tutorial and nothing appears to be out of order.

antspants · Apr 14, 2024

iko22 said:
Does it automatically scan the phone's contents every time it is connected?

I don’t know how else it could give you a true reading or any reading at all of what is on the phone otherwise. If you access the phone it has to be read. When did you want/prefer it to scan?

Do you have a lot of images on your phone? Are you able to deny access to them? But obviously if you do that, you can’t download images to your PC maybe.

jimbo45 · Apr 14, 2024

My beef is with networking between computers -- I don't care didly squat about phones -- people use them far too.much these days IMO. In any case most phones work easily enough to transfer data via a USB cable and if you want audio play via blu tooth or at least on Samsung phones you can get a USB-C connector with a 2.5 ins mini-jack if you want to plug into a computer speaker or other external audio system.

Cheers
jimbo