Windows 10: Windows File Explorer does not see network computers - Win 10 ver. 200

Full disclosure: I have posted this problem at other sites and so far have no working solution. In the text below, in order to not waste anyone's time, I have tried my best to summarize what has been done so far. I was told at another site I should have linked them to my original thread at a different site. I am not doing that here unless requested to do so and then directed to any rule that may be pertinent to linking to other sites from here.


I have been trying to find a fix for the problem I and, apparently, many others, are having. It started, as far as I know, when I read in a newsletter it was safe to install the Microsoft updates for September. So, I did and at the time I was running Windows 10 ver. 1909.

Since updating, I have not been able to see the computers on my network in Windows File Explorer when clicking the Network option in the Left pane. I always have been able before to see them. I do have a program that allows me to send files to all these computers, so I know permissions are set properly. I can also get to them using a shortcut like \\OWNER-PC and access all the folders and files on any computer in my network I make a path to.

So far these suggestions, in addition to making sure permissions are set properly are the following and how they are now set:

Please check that the following services are set to start automatically on every computer in your network.

Function Discovery Provider Host is set to Automatic Delayed.
Function Discovery Resource Publication is set to Automatic Delayed.
SSDP Discovery is set to Automatic.
UPnP Device Host is set to Automatic.

It was later pointed out that Function Discovery Provider Host and Function Discovery Resource Publication should be set to Automatic Delayed. However, it has been tested using both Automatic and Automatic Delayed and it doesnt make any difference at all.

Here is what I can do at present. I have a bat file that when run first STOPS Function Discovery Resource Publication. Then it STARTS Function Discovery Resource Publication.

On any other computer that has an incident of Windows File Explorer open at the time I run that bat file, the computer I run it on then shows up in that other computers open incident of Windows File Explorer. I can navigate to that other computer and open or do anything I want to do. Once I close that incident of Windows File Explorer and open another, the other network computer is no longer accessible until I run that bat file again on it. So, to try to be a little clearer, I open Windows File Explorer on, what I consider my main computer. The network option of Windows File Explorer in the Left pane only displays that computer itself. I then go to my other 4 computers and run that bat file. When I return to my main computer all the 5 computers on my network are displayed in that open incident of Windows File Explorer. If I close it and open another incident, it goes back to only displaying itself.

I guess I should mention that I run a program called MyFolders. Even when Windows File Explorer does not display any other network computers, I can still send files to the ones that MyFolders has previously mapped. I cannot map a new folder because the other network computers are not displayed in Window File Explorer.

Hoping installing Windows Ver. 2004 would fix this problem, I installed it on all 5 computers. It did not fix it; it is still the same. So I am now running Windows 10 ver. 2004 an all my computers.

Any ideas why I can no longer see the computers on my network in Windows File Explorer and how I can fix this? I have searched the WEB and come up with nothing helpful or that hasnt been tried.

By the way, this is the case on all 5 of my computers, so something seems to have made a change somewhere.

:)

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.

 

After 1511 update, other network computers don't show up in file explorer>network

My network setup= 3-Win 7 Pro desktop computers, 1-Win 10 Pro laptop.

All computers were just fine and could be seen in windows explorer>network on win 7. I upgraded the laptop to Win 10 ver. 10240 on 8/4/15 and all was still fine as I could see all the Win 7 computers in file explorer>network on the Win 10 laptop and vice/versa.

Since I never received the Nov. update to ver. 1511, I used the Media Creation Tool on 2/3/16 to upgrade to ver. 1511.

All went fine EXCEPT that NONE of the Win 7 computers show up in file explorer>network on the
Win 10 laptop. The Win 10 laptop shows up and can be accessed just fine on the Win 7 computers.

On the Win 10 laptop, I can type in one of the other computers names in the file explorer address bar (
L: \\othercomputername\ ) and hit enter and it will list that computer under network and I can access it as before BUT as soon as I close file explorer, I have to go through the whole process
again.

I have seen other post's as to this problem but no solutions. Does anyone know of a fix for this irritation?

Thank you for any help.

 

After 1511 update, other network computers don't show up in file explorer>network

Thank you for the followup response Jenith. Unfortunately neither method works. The only antivirus is windows defender that came with windows.

Here is my network setup so maybe it will shed some light:

There are 4 computers on my workgroup network, 3 of which have assigned IP's and the Win 10 is Obtain IP auto, all but one ( which as a shared folder ) having my named administrator account and the same password on all.

Computer 1= workstation 2, Win 7 Pro
64 bit ( which doesn't show up on the Win 10 in network list ).

Computer 2= workstation, an older Win 7 Pro
32 bit which I seldom have on. I just happened to have it on yesterday and it showed up on the Win 10 in file explorer>network listing.

Computer 3= XXXX-PC which is my girlfriends computer, Win 7 Pro
64 bit with a "Shared folder" that I can access because I have an account setup on it. But it
no longer shows up on the Win 10 computer in the network listing.

Computer 4= workstation 5, HP ProBook 450 G2 i7, Started as Win 7 Pro
64 bit upgraded to Win 10 ver. 10240 which showed
all of networked computers, upgraded to ver. 1511 which now only shows itself and the 32 bit Win 7 computer in file explorer>network.

Conclusion so far, for some unknown reason the 32 bit old computer shows up but the newer 64 bit computers
do not show up. Evidently when opening file explorer, it search's for other computers on the network but it is only finding the 32 bit. I'm assuming that there is a setting somewhere that must change when ver.
1511 is applied.

Any help to shed light on the problem would be appreciated, thanks.