Network cannot see other computers

Hi There
just bought a new Dell XPS laptop running Windows 11
I have a setup comprising a "server" PC Dell 3020 running Windows 10
and two other PC's also Dell running Windows 10
The PC's are in various locations either directly on the network or using a VPN to link back to the Server.
Typically , these are linked in the normal way using " map network drive"

When I try and link the new PC I get the following message

The mapped network drive could not be created because the following error occurred
We cant sign you in with this credential because your domain isn't available. Make sure your device is connected to your organisation's network and try again. If you previously signed in with another credential, you can sign in with that credential

This is clearly not the case , as I can see the other PC's in the network folder
I am not very IT orientated , so do not know what they mean by "credential "
is that the username and password?
or is the problem some kind of security blocker?

your assistance would be much appreciated
AndyB

I'm no expert but I can share my method.

1st, is your new PC is part of the same "workgroup or domain"? (search workgroup) I usually have to change this at the beginning because I use a non default name.

#2 My tricks

I create a 2nd non administrator user on each PC, then sign on to that account once, then usually never again.

Then I can sit on each PC and share things with the limited user and control the access level of each shared folder.

Then on the other PCs, I use those limited user credentials (name and password) to access the shared folders.

I highly reccomend the 2nd limited user account for sharing things on the lan. I don't like accessing remotely with admin privledges.

If you have the Group Policy Editor, you can go back and remove that user from it's group. It will still be there, and you can still share with it but, you won't see it listed in the accounts on the login screen.



OK, I need to backup because I often can't see the other PC's on my network due to my tight firewall rules so I use shortcuts.

PC 1 (the one I want to access shared folder on)
PC 2 (the one I want to access those folder from)

I open explorer on 1 and create a shortcut to the root shared folder. I copy that shortcut to a usb drive. I copy the shortcut from the usb drive to PC 2.

I know there's a much easier way if I knew the exact syntax to use in the shortcut but, I do not.

Welcome to ElevenForum!

Andy, the message that you are seeing indicates that the machine in question is joined to a Windows Domain rather that a Workgroup. This is unusual in a home environment. In a domain environment, your laptop would be expecting to be able to communicate with servers known as "Domain Controllers".


Could you start by telling us what edition of Windows is installed on this laptop?


Finally, please run this command from a command prompt:

systeminfo | findstr /i "domain"

If you get a response like this, it indicates that you are in a workgroup:

C:\>systeminfo | findstr /i "domain"
Domain: WORKGROUP

If you get something else (see sample below) then you are configured to be in a domain, meaning that your laptop is expecting to see a domain controller:

C:\>systeminfo | findstr /i "domain"
Domain: MyDomain.Com

AndyB004 said:

We cant sign you in with this credential because your domain isn't available

Click to expand...

I think that is the first thing you need to investigate.
It's your network so why can't it see your domain controller?
Or don't you have one? Were your references to Server merely an indication of the role that one computer plays in your network use? In other words, none of your computers run Windows Server but merely normal Windows 10 & 11 [which is what I think you might be saying].
Can all the other computers see everything they should?
Try connecting to the shared folders by putting the full path in the File explorer Address bar or in a shortcut [see my checklist below]. That skips over the problematic File explorer, Network section.

AndyB004 said:

do not know what they mean by "credential "
is that the username and password?

Click to expand...

It's the UserName and password of an Admin account on the computer you are trying to connect to or possibly, if you really are in a managed domain, a Domain Admin UserName and password.

AndyB004 said:

these are linked in the normal way using " map network drive"

Click to expand...

That is not a method of connecting computers.
It is merely an alteration in the way you refer to network addresses.


This is how I set up my networks.
- I know nothing about domains.
- I know nothing about VPNs.
A consolidated network setup checklist for Windows 10 and 11 - my post #4 - TenForums


Best of luck,
Denis

Try3 said:

t's your network so why can't it see your domain controller?
Or don't you have one? Were your references to Server merely an indication of the role that one computer plays in your network use?

Click to expand...

Denis, Andy noted that the server is Windows 10, so clearly it is not a "real" server and I guess why he put the word "server" in quotation marks.

I'm guessing that we are dealing with an enterprise edition of Windows. It will be interesting to see what response we get.

Hannes - Yes, I think you're right. I tried to word my post to match the OP whilst also dealing with what I think the situation really is. But I am puzzled by the existence of the word domain in that error message Andy mentioned & concerned by my ignorance of VPNs. See you tomorrow. I imagine Andy is, like me, about to stop to have his evening scran. All the best, Denis