If you don't see your computer on a home network

On a home network (workgroup) with Windows 7. Here is the situation:
0- The network is functioning well on both sides.
1- In the Windows 7 network window, you can see the Windows 7 computer and also the Windows 11 computer.
2- In the Windows 11 network window, you can see the Windows 7 computer but not the Windows 11 computer.
I tried several solutions, including changes to Services.msc and the firewall, but nothing helped until we came up with a solution using Gemini that includes creating a BAT with a shortcut to the desktop (maybe it is also possible to make a shortcut to START when the computer starts).
What the command does is initialize/refresh the Network Discovery rule group in the firewall and causes the Windows 11 computer to appear in the Network window in Windows 11.
Here is the command:

netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="Network Discovery" new enable=No
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="Network Discovery" new enable=Yes

Not trying to pee in your Cheerios or anything, neat trick, etc., but just in general... I've never understood why people need to see the computer they're on in the network section of Explorer. You're on the computer already.

For example, to transfer files from computer to computer in the same window, have you thought about that?

prukeyhi said:

For example, to transfer files from computer to computer in the same window, have you thought about that?

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But you appear to be talking about not seeing the (same) computer you're already on, on the network. That's not computer to computer?

I would agree with above, why should you want to see the home/base/same computer on the computer being used. Sufficient to be able to identify other computers on the network anyway

I suspect that's why it doesn't show up and that Windows 11 networking has removed that redundancy, and it's an unnecessary anachronism in the Windows 7 networking

EDIT
In any case, networking between versions of Windows is a nightmare, as many posts in many forums demonstrate. Why knows why? That's why a lot of users resort to cloud-based sharing.

prukeyhi said:

For example, to transfer files from computer to computer in the same window, have you thought about that?

Click to expand...

I've not only thought about it, I've actually transferred files from one computer to another at least twice in my lifetime, maybe more. If I'm on computer A, I grab the files from a folder on computer A, and copy them to a share on computer B. I have no idea why I would go through the share on computer A, if the folder is even shared, and send them to a share on B.

At the time, I managed to create a network with 98SE and Vista just for the challenge and fun.

prukeyhi said:

I tried several solutions

Click to expand...

We all have to try solutions or workarounds. This fault has existed for eight years and there's no sign of MS ever doing anything about it.

prukeyhi said:

a shortcut to the desktop

Click to expand...

Using shortcuts as an alternative to File manager's Network section is fairly common. It's what I've been doing for years.
On each network computer, I have shortcuts to the shared folders of all other network computers & several specific folders within them. It's easy for me to organise the shortcuts because I use Taskbar Toolbars:-
My ExplorerPatcher guide to Windows 11 Taskbar Toolbars [post #2225] - ElevenForum

prukeyhi said:

initialize/refresh the Network Discovery

Click to expand...

I've seen reports of people trying that fix but finding that it does not work for long.
What I've also seen reports of people trying [and, so far, I have not seen any adverse reports about it] is
File manager network section FDResPub solution - glasskuter #3 - ElevenForum
so I suggest you try that if shortcuts do not appeal to you.


Best of luck,
Denis

prukeyhi said:

In the Windows 11 network window, you can see the Windows 7 computer but not the Windows 11 computer.

Click to expand...

Been an issue for several years...

Experimenting, I can get it to display for a short period of time by running ipconfig /release and then ipconfig /renew.

Disconnecting and reconnecting the the ethernet cable on the system will also get it to display (for a short period of time).

I came up with a fix when we were on Windows 7 and Windows 10, but it no longer works in Windows 11.

For me, it's not an issue...other computers on the LAN can see it, and access based on their permissions.