Sharing drives w11 pro, some PCs not showing up

3 computers connected through a router
ET, CP, SS (w11 pro, w11home, w10home)
CP and SS are always visible on whoever's network.
Files are stored on ET and we connect through mapped drives.
SS can always see and connect to ET through these mapped drives. (this person works off ET all day)
CP does not work off ET much at all. When he does...Mapped drives do not connect most of the time. IF I use the IP address I can connect, and If I then click on the mapped drive nothing happens. Can't connect.

ET almost never shows up in 'network' on CP. ET does not show up in network on ET, ever.
CP will show up on ET's network but clicking usually doesn't work the 1st time. It's like there is some long negotiation before it shows up. (CP has a MS login on CP AND ET). SS is only local.

There are workarounds but it's all kind of a pain. Should I just map network via IP and the folder name? I would need to create a static IP for ET I assume.

Malwarebytes with VPN running on all PCs.

Anymore info needed? sorry for the info dump, I don't know else to add.

Yes, it is a very common occurrence. The many threads we've had on the forum suggest accessing by using computer name and pinning a shortcut on quick access.(or ip but in this case it would be best to make static ip addresses as you said) There seems to be no rhyme or reason why some systems won't show up in the network map. In some cases they'll show up then disappear for no apparent reason. MS has never been able to perfect networking, especially with mixed OSes.

glasskuter said:

Yes, it is a very common occurrence. The many threads we've had on the forum suggest accessing by using computer name and pinning a shortcut on quick access.(or ip but in this case it would be best to make static ip addresses as you said) There seems to be no rhyme or reason why some systems won't show up in the network map. In some cases they'll show up then disappear for no apparent reason. MS has never been able to perfect networking, especially with mixed OSes.

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yeah I think this is the answer I get whenever I ask this question. I don't know why I expect a different one! I appreciate it, I shall make them static.

But why doesn't ET show up on ET's network? That is just bizarre

ChrisPbass said:

But why doesn't ET show up on ET's network? That is just bizarre

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As @glasskuter said, this is perfectly normal for Windows. Sometimes your PC sees itself on the network, and often it doesn't. Comes and goes, without rhyme or reason. I have three PCs on my home network, and almost always each PC sees the other two but not itself on the network. Below is a screenshot from PC named DAWOC1. It sees DAWHC1 and HEMPC1, but not itself.

I have the shared folders mapped for easy access, so that I can click Send To in context menus, and send files and folders to the shared folder on one of the other machines.

Wisewiz said:

As @glasskuter said, this is perfectly normal for Windows. Sometimes your PC sees itself on the network, and often it doesn't. Comes and goes, without rhyme or reason. I have three PCs on my home network, and almost always each PC sees the other two but not itself on the network. Below is a screenshot from PC named DAWOC1. It sees DAWHC1 and HEMPC1, but not itself.

I have the shared folders mapped for easy access, so that I can click Send To in context menus, and send files and folders to the shared folder on one of the other machines.

View attachment 98920

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You use static? I assume you must because my mapped via network name shares do not work consistently.
Anyways...just babbling. I'm going to switch to static.

ChrisPbass said:

You use static?

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I know most people probably don't but I do. I have all my computers and shared printers set up as static, even my ios devices. I also have each Windows device with a specific computer name that I can easily remember. It's probably not necessary but I got into the habit years ago and stuck with it.