Windows 7 Cannot see Vista desktop in Network

[computershack]

OK, bit of a wierd one here. Build 7057.

All on same workgroup, identical user/pass on both machines. Connected via ADSL Modem Router.

From the Vista machine, I can see both the Vista machine and the Windows 7 one listed.

On the Windows 7 one, I can only see that one in Explorer. If I go to Network Control and map the network, it shows the desktop in the map but nowhere else.

If I go to the address bar and type in \\IP of desktop\ and then hit return, it shows all the shares and adds an icon in Explorer under network with the IP address of the desktop instead of its name. I have no problem accessing files in shares in both directions.

When searching for printers, it won't resolve the name of the desktop so I have to add one not listed and put the IP address of the desktop in the computer name.

Firewalls enabled/disabled makes no difference.

Any ideas?

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you are experiencing network visibility and name resolution issues between a Vista machine and a Windows 7 machine on the same workgroup. Here are some troubleshooting steps and potential solutions to address these problems:

Troubleshooting Steps and Solutions:​

1. Network Discovery and File Sharing Settings:
   • Ensure that Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing are enabled on both machines.
   • Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings to check and enable these settings.
   []Workgroup Configuration:
   • Verify that both machines are part of the same workgroup.
   • You can check and change the workgroup settings by right-clicking on Computer > Properties > Change settings.
   []DNS and WINS Settings:
   • Check the DNS and WINS settings on both machines. Ensure they are correctly configured to resolve computer names.
   • You might need to specify the WINS server address in the network settings.
   []Hosts File Entry:
   • Add an entry in the hosts file on both machines to associate the computer name with the IP address.
   • The hosts file is located at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.
   []LMHOSTS File Configuration:
   • If WINS is not available, you can manually configure the LMHOSTS file on both machines to resolve NetBIOS names to IP addresses.
   []Restart Services:
   • Restart the Computer Browser and Server services on both machines.
   []Check Antivirus/Firewall Settings:
   • Temporarily disable any third-party antivirus and firewall programs to see if they are causing the issue.
   []Update Network Drivers:
   • Ensure that the network adapters on both machines have up-to-date drivers installed.
   []Static IP Address Assignment:
   • Assign static IP addresses to both machines instead of relying on DHCP.
   []Flush DNS Cache:
   • Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the following command:

     cmd ipconfig /flushdns

   []Network Reset:
   • You can also try resetting the network settings on both machines by running the following command in Command Prompt:

     cmd netsh int ip reset

     Additional Information:​

     • It's also beneficial to review the Windows Event Viewer logs for any network-related errors or warnings that could provide more insight into the issue.
     • Ensure that both machines have the latest Windows updates installed to address any known networking issues.
     Try these steps to see if they resolve the network visibility and name resolution problems between your Vista and Windows 7 machines. Let me know if you need further assistance!