Solved Shared files on Win 10 network not showing

I just had my laptop upgraded to Win 11, v24H2, build 261006584. I have a home network (private) with shared folders. File Explorer sees my 3 Win 10 network computers, but when I click on a computer name to see the shared folders I get the following message.

Windows cannot access \\computer1
Check the spelling. Might be a network problem... .
Error code:0x80070035.
The network path was not found.

When running win 10 my laptop had no problem accessing the other computers.

I think I have all the Win 11 settings the same as on the Win 10 computers. I have done at least the following in Win 11 following S Blink's post:
* Made sure it has the same Workgroup name as the other computers
* Shared the same directories in Win 11 for R & W by Everyone
* Turned on Network discovery for Private networks
* Set up Network connected devices automatically is on by default
* Turned on File & printer sharing for Private networks
* Left the 2 above Off for Public networks
* Turned on Public folder sharing with 128 bit encryption for all networks

* Under Services
> Function Discovery Provider Host > set to Automatic (delayed start)
> Function Discovery Resource Publication > set to Automatic (delayed start)
> Server > set to Automatic (delayed start)
> SSDP Discovery > set to Automatic (delayed start)
> UPmP > set to Automatic (delayed start)

* Under Turn Windows Features on or off > SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support turned on SMB 1.0/CIFS Client

What am I missing? Any thoughts?

Alex

Thank you Alex for your complete description.
Can you ping the 'unreachable' system? (computer1)

MS has NEVER mastered networking, especially between different OSes. You can fix one networking issue only for another to pop up. What I did that solved all my networking issues was to Create a Windows credential for an account & password on both client and server computers I am sharing files between.
Note: Each computer should have a credential for each of the other computers. This includes adding a credential even if the same MS account is used on multiple computers.
To give you a better idea, I share files between 4 computers. Here's my credentials manager. Each computer has a credential for the other 3.



To create a credential:
Go to Control Panel>Credentials> Windows Credentials>add a windows credential

In the "Internet or network address" box, type the name of the computer on the network that you want to access.
In the User name and Password boxes, type the user name and password that you use for that computer, and then click OK.
Note: It must be a password, not a pin.

An alternative, while not a recommended solution, as a last resort on the win10 computer you can try enabling insecure guest logon to see if it will do it for you..
If Pro
Open Group Policy Editor: Press "Windows key + R", type "gpedit.msc" and press Enter.
In right pane, Navigate to the setting: "Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Lanman Workstation".
Enable insecure guest logons: Find "Enable insecure guest logons", select "Enabled", and click "OK".

If Home
Click the windows key, search for and open PowerShell (run as administrator), enter the following commands and press enter after each one:

Set-SmbClientConfiguration -EnableInsecureGuestLogons $true -Force

Set-SmbClientConfiguration -RequireSecuritySignature $false -Force

Set-SmbServerConfiguration -RequireSecuritySignature $false -Force


Make sure these services are set to automatic and running

DNS-Client – Server
Function Discovery Provider Host
Function Discovery Resource Publication
SSDP Discovery
UPNP Device Host and Windows Defender Firewall

Restart your computer and check if the problem is solved.

These are the network settings I do and have always been successful with:-
A consolidated network setup checklist for Windows 10 and 11 - my post #4 - TenForums


Best of luck,
Denis

Sorry for the delay in responding, I'm a primary care giver for my wife who had a knee replacement on 9/19.

Just a quick note. I tried to see the laptop from my main computer using File Manager, it doesn't show up under Network. So I typed \\Computer1 and there it is. I could see the shared drives and files, copy a file to it, and write on a file. After closing FM and reopening (on my desktop), Network did not show the laptop.

It's like I missed a setting somewhere.

Here are responses to items raised in replies.

Oat,
Here are the results of a ping from my main computer. Looks like it's working.

Pinging 192.168.1.7 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.7: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.7: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.7: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.7: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.7:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 2ms, Maximum = 3ms, Average = 2ms

glasskutter, Wow! I'll copy that and keep it in my back pocket. Looks like a good solution, I'm just hoping for a simpler solution.

At the end of your post you said to have DNS-Client_Server set to automatic and running.
* I have a DNS Client, it's set to Automatic - triggered, and no option to change it.
* Server is set to Automatic - delayed start.
* WD Firewall is set to Automatic.
* Other items you mentioned have already been set to Automatic (delayed start).

Denis, I think I match your setting which follow those listed by S. Blink, How to Share Files and Folders Over a Network in Windows 10 and Windows 11

asallwey said:

It's like I missed a setting somewhere

Click to expand...

Not at all.
File explorer, Network section has been defective for years.
I never use it. I have sets of shortcuts [e.g. \\Computer1\SomeFolderOrOther] on each of my networked computers taking each one straight to the shared folders in the others.


Denis

Try3, that would work for looking at the laptop from my other computers. But I want to go the other way and the laptop won't let me. When i return home I want to be able to move the changed files to my main computer. When at home on the laptop I want to be able to work on the files located on my mail computer. Yes, I can just use a flash drive to move the most recently changed files, but ... .

asallwey said:

But I want to go the other way and the laptop won't let me

Click to expand...

I missed that in your posts.
- What happens when you try a shortcut such as one in the form of \\LAPTOP\ from your main computer?
- What happens when you try a shortcut such as one in the form of \\DESKTOP\ from your laptop?

asallwey said:

When at home on the laptop I want to be able to work on the files located on my mail computer.

Click to expand...

I cannot assist with remote working.
I can only assist with accessing the network computers.


Denis

"- What happens when you try a shortcut such as one in the form of \\LAPTOP\ from your main computer?"
As I said above, I can see the laptop's folders and files, read and write to one, and copy a file to the laptop.

"- What happens when you try a shortcut such as one in the form of \\DESKTOP\ from your laptop?"
Absolutely nothing. nothing changes, it's like when you type something and don't hit enter. I also cannot ping from the laptop to my network computer, but can ping the laptop from the main computer (see my reply in post %).

Yet you are certain that you set everything correctly from my network setting up checklist?
I don't know what else to suggest in that case.


Denis

"Yet you are certain ... "
No not 100%. I will have some time late this afternoon so I'll double check and let you know.

Denis, I went through all your settings and each one matches what I have. 1 further note, I tried to ping my main computer and got the message that it could find any path. So I think I'll just use a flash drive to move changed files for a couple of days.

Thanks for the help!

I took some time to review my settings and check info in several posts. The situation is:
* I can ping the laptop from win 10
* my win 10 computers can see the shared folders on my win 11 laptop, read and write to them, and copy files to them
* my laptop's win 11 does not see any computers on my network
* I cannot ping win 10 from win 11
* wing 11 will connect to the internet

So my Win 11 settings summary is:
It has the same Workgroup name as the other computers
* It has the same Shared directories as the Windows 10 computers on home network
* Shared folders in Win 11 are set for R & W by Everyone

• Under Network and Sharing Center
• Network discovery for Private networks turned on
• Network connected devices automatically is on by default
• File & printer sharing for Private networks turned on
• Public networks have Discovery & File … turned off
• 128 bit encryption for all networks on under Public networks

Under Services
Function Discovery Provider Host > set to Automatic (delayed start)
Function Discovery Resource Publication > set to Automatic (delayed start)
Network Connections > set to Automatic (delayed start)
Server > set to Automatic (delayed start)
SSDP Discovery > set to Automatic (delayed start)
UPmP > set to Automatic (delayed start)

Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows Features on or off > SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support turned on SMB 1.0/CIFS Client

Ops! I forgot to mention, in any post, that I am running Windows 11 HOME. In this version there is no SMB Direct which I have in Win 10, and which anyone with a higher version has. The suggestion is to turn on SMB 1.0..., but I found no difference in resolving my issue if it is on or off. It is off in all Win 10 computers.

Looks like I've got it working! I posted in #13 my settings changes. At that point I still could only see my network computers but not their shared folders.

I then added this change to the pile, which did nothing for my problem. Network List Service > set to Automatic (delayed start).

Then I saw Bree's alternative to install gpedit.msc (not in Home), and I did. [Windows 11 cannot access other computers, but can be accessed by the other computers]

And made these changes.
gpedit.msc > Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options
Change to Disabled both of the following:
Microsoft network client: Digitally sign communications (always)
Microsoft network client: Digitally sign communications (if server agrees)

I now can see the folders and content on my main computer, copy to & from it with the laptop, and work with documents on desktop documents while on my laptop.

Everything is great, well almost. It seems the documents I look at on my desktop are in read-only mode. But that should be a small problem and is for another day.

Thanks for all the advice! I would not have worked out the solutions on my own as I'm not a network person.

Alex