Windows network issues.

[yatesl]

I have 2 PCs, and 2 Laptops, all on Windows 8. All connected to the same network. However, I'm having real trouble with them all, and always have done.

Right now, I can't connect to Laptop A through the Windows network, by going to Network > Family-Laptop. I can only connect by typing \\192.168.1.64\Users\Public

However, on Laptop A, I can connect to PC A by going to Network > Family-PC.

Currently PC and Laptop B are turned off, although PC A can still see Laptop B in the explorer but can't connect.

But sometimes, it pops up "Can't connect, check it etc etc", but then I try again and it works.

PC A and Laptop A are both using Kaspersky, but with LAN set to trusted. PC B and Laptop B don't have anything.

 

[anything I don't mind]

I have had these sorts of issues before for windows file sharing. The way I always do it. Turn off the simple file sharing in control panel -> folder options. "use sharing wizard" its called in windows 7. I am not sure on windows 8 they may have made it more confusing in the process of making it more user friendly. I know from xp to windows 7 they added a layer of worthlessness to the network configuration control panel settings that made it far more complicated to share than it used to be.

Go to this, Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center\Advanced sharing settings and just disable all the security on all the pcs and once you have it all working, start making it more secure until it breaks again.

Connect with //ip address/ login using login and password of local account.

Also Create a share on the host pc that you want to access and go to share permissions and security tab and add the user account that you use to log in to the pc with. That always works. accessing computers on the network via the "windows network" shortcuts from my computer is always problematic for me and i have never found exactly why.