Solved Network between Windows 7 and Window 11 (win7 not showing as Computer in win11)

I have a three ring circus consisting of: 1 Windows 7 w450 laptop; 1 Windows 10 22H2 laptop; and 1 Windows 11 23H2 Surface Pro 9. I have set them up on a wireless network with the following sharing options:

• Win 7 - Home or Work, on network discovery, on file and printer sharing, Public, off public folder sharing, Media streaming is on, File sharing connections, use 128-bit encryption, Password protected sharing off, HomeGroup connections, Use user accounts; Public, network discovery off, file and printer sharing off, Public folder sharing off, media streaming off, File sharing connections use 128-bit encryption, Password protected sharing off.
• Win 10 - Private, On network discovery and automatic setup of network connected devices; Public, off network discovery and off printer and file sharing; All networks, off Public sharing, off media streaming, 128-bit encryption, off password protected sharing.
• Win 11 - Private, network discovery on; file and printer sharing on; Public networks, network discovery off, file and printer sharing off; All networks, public folder sharing off, file sharing connections 128-bit encryption and password protected sharing off.

Problem is that the Windows 7 laptop is not seen by the Windows 11 Surface, but does see it as a media device (no file sharing). Also the Surface (Windows 11) sees the Windows 10 laptop but cannot find it when attempting to share a folder/file and vice versa.

Further, I have tried Denis' instructions here, but am stuck at Step 6. When I try to share a folder or file from the Windows 10 laptop, I get, "Windows was unable to find Georgie," (Georgie is the Windows 11 Surface) and vice versa.

Can anyone help me through the process of sharing on a network? I am a novice at networking.

Thank you in advance.

Kind regards,

tecknot

Hello everyone,

Never mind. I figured it out.

Kind regards,

tecknot

tecknot said:

Hello everyone,

Never mind. I figured it out.

Kind regards,

tecknot

Click to expand...

Good to hear. Your original question might show up in somebody's Google (or whatever's) search results.
Can you share your fix, @tecknot ?

antspants said:

Good to hear. Your original question might show up in somebody's Google (or whatever's) search results.
Can you share your fix, @tecknot ?

Click to expand...

HI antspants,

Sure, it was trial and error. After trying to share a folder in the traditional manner, I went to a folder and did an advance share did a seek and find and then went to another level of advance share where I did another find and typed in the name of the Surface (this is from the Windows 7 laptop) and clicked OK. There was no confirmation, but only OKs or Cancels coming out of window options. Now there was a path with the Win 7 laptop and the Surface under Sharing (or something to that effect). I'm sorry I don't have any screenshot, I am replying with my Windows 10 laptop. Nonetheless, I went to the Surface and could see the path to the Windows 7 laptop and sure enough, I could access the desire folder. What a relief.

Kind regards,

tecknot