Can't see ANY computer with file explorer - other apps OK for connecting to other computers

Hi folks
What's wrong with file explorer and Network browsing.

File explorer can't see ANY computer at all (even itself). ping, filezilla, ssh, telnet all work properly even with name resolution so I don't even need to enter an IP address. SMB1 enabled etc. Openssh-server so can SSH / rdp into windows from remote computers.

EXCEL query to remote Mariadb -- no probs also as well as Heidisql. But File explorer No no no.

Even RDP from Linux to it works properly (showing a small screen image here).

So What's wrong with File explorer --Ms -- please FIX IT.



Windows mapping has ALWAYS been a dog in windows -- seems whatever changes stays the same. And of course that "diagnostic" thing is 100% useless as always "can't find any problems".

Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

And of course that "diagnostic" thing is 100% useless as always "can't find any problems".

Click to expand...

Yes, that's because there aren't any network faults.
It's a fault in File explorer not in the network.

Some people have reported being able to fix the fault [temporarily?] using Net commands
FE, Network - fixer - MrEd #4 - TenForums
but I have not tried this myself.
I use direct shortcuts to my main network locations instead and I organise them in my Taskbar Toolbar [for which, in Windows 11, I need to use ExplorerPatcher or equivalent].


Denis

@jimbo45 Getting systems to show up in the network map has been a problem for some since Windows 10. For some reason, it seems to be more prevalent in mixed OS networks. Most people can access other systems on their network by using shortcuts to the computer name or ip address.

Without using any third party tools you can use what I call the poor man's quick launch on the taskbar and put all you network icons in it. That way you have only one icon on your taskbar. I do not use 3rd party tools and do not like a cluttered taskbar so I use one for all lesser used stuff.

1. First create network shortcuts on the desktop for all your other systems using either computer name or ip address..

2. Browse to C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
(NOTE: you have to have "show hidden files" enabled in folder options to see this folder.)
Within this folder create a sub-folder and name it Quick Launch. Drag the individual shortcuts you created into this folder. You can put anything you want into this folder. (I've got files, folders, links, other shortcuts in mine)

3. Make a shortcut to this new Quick Launch folder on your desktop but add
C:\windows\explorer.exe in front of the location path like this:
C:\Windows\explorer.exe C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch.
Name the shortcut.
4. Assign this shortcut an icon. (Right click on desktop shortcut-properties-change icon-select an icon-apply-OK)

5. Pin the shortcut to taskbar. You can remove the desktop shortcut if you wish.

Correction to my previous post.
@Try3 pointed out to me that the folder does not have to be in
C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
It can be anywhere. It makes no difference.
Neither does it have to be named Quick Launch. The users can choose any name and location of his choosing.

glasskuter said:

Correction to my previous post.
@Try3 pointed out to me that the folder does not have to be in
C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
It can be anywhere. It makes no difference.
Neither does it have to be named Quick Launch. The users can choose any name and location of his choosing.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice -- still doesn't work. Haven't tried the latest Canary release but the previous one ----Fail.

Might try later with the newest canary release --released today -- in a VM.


Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

still doesn't work

Click to expand...

Which step?

Denis

Try3 said:

Which step?

Denis

Click to expand...

Seeing any of the computers -- even using IP address doesn't work with file explorer.

From Linux - I'm using the Dolphin file explorer -- works perfectly, no problem seeing or accessing a Windows machine

e.g



And from other versions of Windows :



Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

even using IP address doesn't work with file explorer

Click to expand...

I thought you said the opposite in your OP.
If using the correct IP address in the format
\\192.168.1.222
in
- File explorer's Address bar, or
- the Run box
does not work then that's
- a network problem, or
- an unknown File explorer problem
not
- the known File explorer problem that your OP seemed to be describing.


Denis

Try3 said:

I thought you said the opposite in your OP.
If using the correct IP address in the format
\\192.168.1.222
in
- File explorer's Address bar, or
- the Run box
does not work then that's
- a network problem, or
- an unknown File explorer problem
not
- the known File explorer problem that your OP seemed to be describing.


Denis

Click to expand...

Sorry for the confusion

Windows Canary doesn't show anything even when IP addresses specified.Other windows versions work if IP addresses specified -- and if you are lucky sometimes you actually get the proper map without needing an IP address

I suspect it's the vaguaries of Windows / file explorer that's the issue.

Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

Windows Canary doesn't show anything even when IP addresses specified.Other windows versions work if IP addresses specified

Click to expand...

OK. Understood.

jimbo45 said:

without needing an IP address

Click to expand...

Or
\\ComputerName

jimbo45 said:

if you are lucky sometimes you actually get the proper map

Click to expand...

Yes, it's its unreliability that is so disappointing.
I have given up on using it for my network altogether. I use my Taskbar Toolbar to store-arrange shortcuts to my computers & their shared folders & handy shortcuts to subfolders of their shared folders.
In Windows 11, I have to use ExplorerPatcher or equivalent to get Taskbar Toolbars.
Taskbar Toolbars - Creating and naming, customising, moving [post #20] - TenForumsTutorials




All the best,
Denis