Sharing Files between PCs quit working

[zcaveman]

For the past 4-5 years I have never had a problem sharing files from my three PCs.

I think the problem started a few weeks ago. I cannot share the files from my main PC with my other two PCs. I can share from me to them but not from them to me. Since I do not access of these files from them to me, I am not really sure when the problem started.

I have not made any changes except for MS updates. I have checked everything and all looks good.

Today, I found something on the internet which stated that I need to use the IP address of my PC on the other PCs. I made the change and it works but I do not understand what changed so that the network will not take the name of my PC to resolve the addresses.

Has anyone else had this problem and if so, does anyone have a clue as to what changed and when?

Z

[2BNTV]

For the past 4-5 years I have never had a problem sharing files from my three PCs.

I think the problem started a few weeks ago. I cannot share the files from my main PC with my other two PCs. I can share from me to them but not from them to me. Since I do not access of these files from them to me, I am not really sure when the problem started.

I have not made any changes except for MS updates. I have checked everything and all looks good.

Today, I found something on the internet which stated that I need to use the IP address of my PC on the other PCs. I made the change and it works but I do not understand what changed so that the network will not take the name of my PC to resolve the addresses.

Has anyone else had this problem and if so, does anyone have a clue as to what changed and when?

Z

Just a guess ,but I would check to see if these files changed to a "hidden" status. If you get them to be "unhiden", it might solve your problem. That is, if I understand, your problem.

Like I said, just a guess. Hope is solves your problem. :smiley:

[Midvale]

Have your IP addresses changed?
Most routers use Dynamic IP addressing and sometimes assign new IP addresses when items are powered off and on. I have this problem when streaming video to my Roku box from my laptop. Once in a while the server IP address changes and I need to reenter the new one. Sometimes it's fine for months, then it changes.

[zcaveman]

Have your IP addresses changed?
Most routers use Dynamic IP addressing and sometimes assign new IP addresses when items are powered off and on. I have this problem when streaming video to my Roku box from my laptop. Once in a while the server IP address changes and I need to reenter the new one. Sometimes it's fine for months, then it changes.

Actually, changing IP addresses should not matter since I was using the computer name to resolve the addresses.

Like I said it has been four or five years - actually it has been eight years. I have changed machines and routers so there were IP addresses changes along the way. I did a google search and they said to switch from the computer name to the IP address. I changed the name from \\user-pc\$billdoc to \\10.0.0.4\$billdoc and everything is now working. NOW I will have a problem if the IP address changes! Not sure what changed. Probably a windows update. I am not going to pursue it here. I will try the Windows forum. I am sure I will not get a definitive answer. But I will try.

Z