Windows 10: Windows 10 Network Sharing

Hello. This is my first post. My name is Matt. I work in the IT/Telecom field professionally. I am 38 and have been building PCs for over 20 years. I'm not PC/networking ignorant, but there is always more to learn, so I humbly ask for assistance.

So, I have a seemingly random issue, that only occurs with windows 10, where PC's running win10 on my home network cannot access the rest of the network. What I mean by this is, they cannot see the other PCs on the network, and cannot share files. I have a LOT of PCs that come and go on my network, as I build/repair/fix random PCs. Every once in a while I load up win10 on a new PC, and it simply WILL NOT see any other PCs on the network, no matter what I do. On the affected PC, I turn on password protected file sharing for all network types (public, private, etc) but the PC just doesn't see any other hosts, even manually searching for them. When this happens, the rest of the PCs on the network can ALWAYS see the new PC though, and send files to the public folder on the PC currently having the issue.

I am not sure what the heck the problem is. This is just a basic home network. All PCs are on the same subnet, (no domain) and the sharing settings are the same across the board. Once in a while one of them will seem to default to "public network" and changing it to "private" will fix the issue. But, if an affected PC is already set as "private", I am just screwed. This does not seem to affect any of the other PCs running different versions of windows (7, 8)

Generally when I have this problem, I screw around for a while with settings, then I get frustrated, and leave it in an un-shared state, and just give up and power down. Frequently, when I come back to one of these machines a month later (usually because someone wants to buy one) it all of the sudden works fine. All machines can be seen on the network and files can be shared both ways to other PCs on the network just fine.

I have 2 other buddies that have this same issue too. Does anyone have any darn idea what the heck this could be? I'd be happy to provide more info. I've got a PC I just loaded a couple days ago doing it right now!

I have NEVER had this issue in a corporate environment with a domain! I have researched this problem in the past, and found lots of others with the same issue, but haven't found a fix. Hopefully somebody here is smarter than me!

Thanks!

:)

 

Cannot open network and sharing center in windows 10

Hi Aman,

In order to understand the issue in a better manner, please share the following details

• 
  Do you get any error message, when trying to open network and sharing center?
  

I suggest you to follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Method 1: Install all the Windows 10 pending updates and check if it helps.

I suggest you check for the pending updates in resolving the issue.

• 
  In search type Check for updates and hit enter.
  
• 
  Click on Check for updates.
  
• 
  Windows 10 will automatically install all the pending updates.
  

If the issue still persist, suggest you to try the below step to fix the issue.

Method 2: I suggest you to
Run the DISM Tool and check.

The DISM tool checks the system health and will try to restore the files.

• Right click on the Start button, click on Command Prompt (Admin).
• In the Administrator: Command Prompt window, type the following commands. Press the
  Enter key after each command:
• DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

• 
  DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  

To close the Administrator: Command Prompt window, type
Exit, and then press Enter.

Reference: I suggest you to follow the steps recommended in the below article for any network connection issues.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/10741/windows-10-fix-network-connection-issues

Hope this helps. If the issue persists, please do let us know and we would be happy to help you further.

Thank You.

 

Network Sharing

Hi Arya,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

Provide us additional information to assist you better with this issue:

1. Are you trying to share the wireless network connection from Windows device to phone?
   
2. What is the make and model of the phone?
   
3. Which version of Windows is installed on your device?
   

Refer the article ‘Which version of Windows operating system am I running’
to provide the details.

If you’re referring to sharing the Wireless network connection in Windows 10, I suggest you to follow the steps mentioned below.

1. Press Windows + I key on your keyboard and click on Network & Internet.
   
2. On the network & Internet page, click on ‘Mobile hotspot’.
   
3. ‘Turn On’ Share my Internet connection with other devices under Mobile hotspot.
   
4. The default network name and password will be available under Mobile hotspot.
   
5. Enter the same password on the device which you’re trying to connect and check the status of the issue.
   

If you’re trying to share the internet connection, then refer the article
Use your PC as a mobile hotspot
for more information.

If you’re referring to ‘File sharing’, I suggest you to refer the section ‘How do I troubleshoot sharing and folders’ from the article ‘File
sharing over a network in Windows 10’.

Get back to us for further assistance on this issue. We will be happy to help you.

Regards,

Muralidhar

Microsoft Community Moderator

 

Network sharing.

Hi SIrwin_62,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Community Forums.

I appreciate your efforts to work on this issue.

Please answer these questions to get clarity on this issue:

1. Which build version is installed on both the computers?
   
2. Are there any antivirus security software installed on the computer?
   
3. What is the error message you encounter while accessing the computer on network sharing?
   

Meanwhile, I would suggest you to check and confirm the status of few settings, services and features with respect to Network Sharing in Windows 10, to do that, please refer to the reply posted by ‘Roohi_Taj’
from this thread and check if that works for you.

Additional Information.

‘File sharing over a network in Windows 10’.

‘Share things with nearby devices in Windows 10’.

Let us know the result of the steps performed so that we can help you further.

Awaiting your reply.

Regards,

Srimadhwa B

Microsoft Community-Moderator