Windows 10: Losing Network Shares when switching between wired and wireless

Hoping someone out there has experienced and resolved this or has a clue for me to try. Thanks all and all responses appreciated.



BACKGROUND:

Some background first so as to avoid confusion. I have been researching a fix for a long time and have tried a lot! I am also a programmer with much IT experience as well.



I have been using my setup successfully for years and in the past many month shave a reoccurring problem. My laptop of course has a Ethernet port and WiFi as well. When working from desk I use a docking station that connects via the Ethernet port and when I remove the laptop to work elsewhere in the building, I use WiFi. I use the Ethernet rarely…mainly when I am doing backups where there is transfers of large amounts of files, so the WiFi is very important as I move around the building.



THE PROBLEM:
I have been doing this for successfully for years and then some months ago…maybe even six month ago I can’t remember…when I am using network shares via my WiFi all is good. I connect via the Ethernet and all is good. When I disconnect the Ethernet and go back to WiFi, the network shares fail with “The Network path was not found.” With the shares inaccessible, I still have Internet access as well as being able to Remote Desktop into the PC where the inaccessible shares exist. I can then plug in the Ethernet and all works again.



Because I have so many programming projects, I am like the Cobbler’s son who does not have shoes and have been using quick fixes. I found that I could do random things that sometimes worked like forget the network or disabling the Ethernet adapter. Eventually I could get the WiFi to work until the next time I needed the Ethernet connection. Or at least I used to. It did it again as I am writing this, and I can’t get the WiFi back.



MORE INFO:

When I cannot access the shares via WiFi, I cannot see the PCs at all, but sometimes I can see a Network Drive with shares on it that I use for backups while not seeing the my PC server with its shares for example. Sometimes I cannot see either device. Oddly, I can still remote desktop into the serer PC and ping it as well, but not access the shares or even see the PC. I have Discovery enabled, the WiFi connection is private with “File and Printer Sharing” checked. I have reinstalled drivers and all that as well.



To reiterate, I can connect the Ethernet and everything returns to normal. Disconnect and the WiFi fails. Sometimes I can try like I mentioned, forgetting the WiFi connection and it will not work, but after I try enough of these “fixes” it will eventually work, but it must be some combination of “fixes” that restores it and I have not found the pattern.

:)

 

Sharing between wired/wireless network at home

Hey all,

I've done a lot of searching for this but can't seem to find an answer (and maybe there isn't one!), but I am trying to have my new laptop (windows 10) appear in the Network tab on my desktop (also windows 10). The issue is my desktop is plugged in using
ethernet that connects to a switch, that connects to the router, and the laptop is using the wireless directly from the router. My desktop has no issues detecting other things plugged into the switch, but it won't seem to find anything on the wireless network.

This also makes it difficult to map network drives as it should be looking for something over the wireless network but sometimes has issues getting there. Is there a way to primarily make my laptop simply appear in the Network list from my desktop?

Thanks!

 

Wireless network issue

Right click start button(far left in task bar), go to Device manager, expand Network Adapters, right click Wi-Fi select Properties and find the version of your driver in Drivers tab.

 

wireless network

Vista or XP?

You need to go in and delete the network. Then it will pick it up again, and ask you to enter the key again.

On Vista, you do this by going into Networking and Sharing Center. The click on Customize, then click on Merge or delete network locations. Find the SSID of the router in the list, and delete it.

On XP, I believe you have to go to Network Connections, then right click on your Wireless Adaptor. Go to Status, and there should be a button to Manage Wireless Networks, that should take you to where you need to be to delete the network.