Windows update 1803 ruined my network.

I’m glad I mothballed my Windows 10 based file server last year. I have totally given up on Microsoft Peer-to-peer networking. It always was a PITA and they were always moving the goal posts.

BTW don’t worry about the name that Windows gives the network on each PC, it’s just an internal label and they’ll all be different even though it’s the same network. You will probably be better off trying IP addresses rather than computer names. However if you have a BT Home Hub that can add all sorts of “fun” to the mix. I regularly have to replace them when they decide to stop parts of the network seeing each other.

The easiest way forward for documents is with a shared Cloud storage account. For large files, like videos, it’s with your own server like a Synology. Another possibility is if your router allows the sharing of a USB drive but this can be slow.

SMBv1 was the pathway for several recent worm attacks so I removed the functionality of SMBv1 a while ago; I have just checked to make sure it was no longer active. Homegroups were introduced somewhat recently; I found them confusing and, less than useful as the then network ran as I wanted. In general it still does with file sharing suffering the odd hiccup but the server still doing what it should, do with daily backups and file serving when wanted. File sharing at the media level has expanded since the use of connected PVRs and I usually use their interface in preference to that on the ‘connected’ TV.

Most PCs have a name assigned to ID them as Ed suggested, but also a narrative name to allow them to be further identified if needed, though some network hardware is unpredictable about being identified at all.

I agree with the idea of using the good old \\PCName approach and recording the resulting shares against a letter.

My network tab can show things two ways:

and,

Both omit a significant number of devices.

I’m interest in a good replacment. My Asus is coming to end of life. It’s dropping out almost hourly now. Not even consistent on which device it drops.

Have been putting it off for about 6 months as I have many iot crap set up, I can’t with be bothered to re do, or simply can’t remember how to.

The Duke wrote:

I’m interest in a good replacment. My Asus is coming to end of life. It’s dropping out almost hourly now. Not even consistent on which device it drops. Have been putting it off for about 6 months as I have many iot crap set up, I can’t with be bothered to re do, or simply can’t remember how to.

You are not alone is having a non standard setup that basically precludes using an ISP basic system, about which it is hard to remember the gradually evolved set up created over a number of years. I have fixed assignment ranges for different functional types, DHCP reserved ranges, though trying to set up the previously unused guest range at the drop of a hat was a challenge. The relation who dropped in to ‘help’ my wife demanded access to a tightly screwed down network and could not understand why I did not just hand out the Wi Fi password – all my friends do that.

I guess they did not understand that with four different networks to chose, which password would have been the first issue. Dave’s idea of an ‘industry strength’ item is attractive. The present router replaced a TP-Link one that died early (yes no receipt of course) so was a distress off the peg purchase to placate a difficult resident user.

Luckily I have a guest network set up, with a very simple router. It can’t enter the house networks, so it’s not an issue.

Its lights, smoke alarms, thermostats etc..  Or a Fixed ip for a minecraft server, the list goes on, I’) have to reccy the house so I don’t miss anythings. Not it all down, and hope I rememeber how I set it all up.

Another potential is issue, is some of the set up is build up over time, so it is likely to be layered.

That’s not to mention all the pc’s, laptops, macs, phones, tv boxes setting them back on like, but then also getting my router hdd to be seen on all them devices.

It just seems a lot more work, than it was 4 or 5 years ago when I got my last router.

Thank you Dave, I downloaded it and ran a demonstration run, it was very interesting and I can see its value right away. It found most items straight off and gave useful information about them, much better than other tools.

Going back to Monkey Shoulder’s problem, the same thing happened here. I got round it using ‘Map Network Drive’ (in file explorer menu). Only disadvantage seems to be that if you boot up with the remote PC not live you get an error message ‘unable to connect all network drives’