File sharing nightmare

Question

I have 2 Latitude laptops, both running Win 11Pro.  We recently changed Internet providers, and all of a sudden neither computer can access files/folders on the other.  (I'm assuming the provider change has something to do with this.)  Both machines have the same workgroup name, and the usual file sharing settings are engaged.  Previously I could type the IP4 address of one laptop in file explorer on the other machine and be able to access files, but now I get an 'access denied. see administrator' error.  This happens in either direction.  Heck, I'M the administrator!  Can anyone suggest a remedy?  (Microsoft's community tries to help, but nothing they've suggested has made any difference.)

Tesla1856 · Accepted Answer

Ethernet wires are better.

If using WiFi, be sure both are set to Private.

In Network & Sharing, Advanced ... Network Discovery ON

All Networks (tab) 128-bit and Password Protected Sharing ON.

Anything not mentioned is OFF. Files share fine here.

I only share folders (not whole drives).

I'm assuming this is a simple network (on the safe-side of a router) with no server.

Flatulus Maximus · Answer

It's so funny how my computing education goes!  I struggle with a problem, try all manner of researched suggestions which often don't work, and then I give up and ask for help.  Somehow I hit on a solution before anyone has a chance to reply.  That happened in this case, too.  Both machines are now able to access each other by putting the IP4 address in File Explorer search bar.  I still don't understand why I can no longer do this by simply selecting the computer name in the Network tree (left hand pane), but I'll take this win.  Thank you for responding!

Tesla1856 · Answer

@Flatulus Maximus​ ,   Both machines are now able to access each other by putting the IP4 address in File Explorer search bar.  Good work.   You can probably even create a shortcut with those addresses.   Sounds like an issue with the the DNS on your local network (your safe LAN side of router).   Carry on my friend.

Flatulus Maximus · Answer

@Tesla1856​ Even the IP4 address limit has been fixed.  I've got it so I can contact each machine by clicking on its name on the network tree and entering credentials.  That's everything I wanted... until either Windows or Kinetic makes some arbitrary change.  Thanks again!

Tesla1856 · Answer

Nice.

So (obviously) you can set a static/fixed-IP if you want. Also seems appropriate for wired-ethernet Printers (as they never move).

However, a cool trick is to leave the computer on dynamic (auto-IP from DHCP pool) but in Router, Reserve that IP to always be used for that computer. I've found that ends-up being 99% the same, while leaving the computers on auto (also works nice for laptops that occasionally leave the premises).

Flatulus Maximus · Answer

@Tesla1856​ Interesting.  I'll have my wife (who worked several years in IT) interpret for me.  LOL.  Your proficiency is considerably greater than mine, as I retired when Win95 came into common use.  (I still miss DOS.  At least I could understand what the heck it was doing, and why.)

Tesla1856 · Answer

Yeah, she will know. Router Reservations are pretty common now-days (if you have access to Router's programming-side).

Well, I'm no spring-chicken myself. I was 30 when Windows-95 hit. We started installing it (for Point of Sale systems) instead of Netware-3/4 underneath ... much easier and free/included. I was a long-time Amiga-DOS user, so I finally handed-it-down to my wife.

MS-DOS was OK I guess. I remember always tweaking config.sys and autoexec.bat for more usable conventional memory. We also did CCI-Concurrent-DOS with dumb-terminals for clients. We networked a whole multi-level horse-racing track in the 1990's (multiple restaurants and shops) with all that old tech (was current then). It was a combo of Novell Netware, Concurrent-DOS, and OS/2-Warp. Fun times .

Latitude

File sharing nightmare

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