Windows 7 Cannot Network Two Computers with the Same Name

[miked79]

Hello,
I have a client that has about 5 computers set up in their small office, 2 running XP one running Vista and the other two running Windows 7. All on a wired network

The main document server one runs windows 7. The docs are in the public folder on that PC.
All the PC's can see and access these folders perfectly.

The only one that cannot is the other one running Windows 7 (which is a laptop). I have tried normal networking, homegroup.

I think the problem lies in the fact that when the client bought the laptop, They didnt think and gave it the SAME NAME as the computer it needs to access.

I changed the computer name, but as you know this doesn't change the User/Folder structure or name.

Thus far I have been unable to solve it.
As they are the only ones on the Homegroup. I can click on the Icon and see the Shared Documents, Music, Pictures folders etc. But when I click to go in to them it does nothing.

Has anyone encountered this before?

And lastly, I CAN access the laptops public docs from the document server PC?

Thankyou for your time and help.

Michael

 

[ChatGPT]

Michael, It seems like the issue you're facing with accessing the shared folders on the Windows 7 laptop from the Windows 7 desktop might be related to computer name conflicts and network sharing settings. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue: 1. Ensure Network Discovery is Enabled: - On both the laptop and the desktop, make sure that Network Discovery is turned on. This setting allows computers on the network to see each other. 2. Check Workgroup Settings: - Ensure that both computers are part of the same workgroup. You can verify and change the workgroup settings by going to Control Panel > System and Security > System. 3. Set Up Proper Folder Sharing: - Check the sharing settings for the folders you want to access. Make sure that the folders are shared with the appropriate permissions for the user account on the laptop. 4. Adjust Advanced Sharing Settings: - Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings. Make sure that network discovery, file and printer sharing, and public folder sharing are all turned on. 5. Check Firewall and Antivirus Settings: - Sometimes, security software can block network sharing. Temporarily disable the firewall or adjust the settings to allow file and printer sharing. 6. Use Different Credentials: - When accessing shared folders, try using different credentials. You can specify a different username and password to connect to the shared folders. After checking these settings, try accessing the shared folders again. If the issue persists, you may need to troubleshoot further by checking event logs for any network-related errors or restarting the network services on both computers. Regarding accessing the laptop's public docs from the document server PC, if that is working correctly, it indicates that the issue might be specific to the configuration or settings on the Windows 7 laptop. Let me know if you need further assistance or if you encounter any specific error messages during the troubleshooting process.