Can only connect to network devices using an IP address

[philjayj]

Hi, I have a small home network which consists of a modem, router and gigabit switch. I recently added a Windows 7 machine to the network, the Windows 7 machine is unable to connect to Windows XP Pro devices using RDP by using the PC name, it will only work when using the IP address.

Any ideas/suggestions would be great.

Thanks

Phil

P.S. I have also made sure the PC is part of the same workgroup in case that is of any significance.

 

[PistolPete]

Sounds like a naming resolution problem.

Open a command prompt on the W7 machine and type:
ping -a xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

Replacing the xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx with the Win XPs IP address and see what name it resolves - you should get something similar:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7100]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\xxxxx>ping -a 192.168.0.48

Pinging MACHINE [192.168.0.48] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.0.48: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.48: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.48: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.48: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

My machine is called MACHINE on IP 192.168.0.48