Small network 2 pcs see 1 refuses credentials

I have 4 W11 computers, a mix of pro and home.
I have a new desktop I'm using as a server. dtop
All share the same Network Name
2 are connected w/ethernet to a Netgear 7900 router, 2 are connected via wifi from the same router

They are all local accounts except for cltop which has an MS @outlook.com login.
dtop has 3 users with identical credentials as the pc connecting to it. e.g Fred/pw123 on 1 laptop has the same creds on dtop.
I have them all on a private network with discovery and password protection.
I tried multiple times to log in to the new hardwired desktop (dtop) entering credentials, worked then didn't work.
Started all over this morning
Some pcs can see stuff on the network but some don't
using \\dtop. boom. access for 2 of the 3.

HOWEVER

1 laptop (ltop) cannot get into dtop. However, I can get into ltop from dtop.
They have the same user name and password and they are both administrators.
I have tried typing the name in all caps, because inexplicably it shows up like sometimes/somewhere.
nothing works...cannot get into it no matter how many times I type the password.

I can login to dtop from ltop using the outlook.com login.

I know I'm right because I'm logging into both computers....with the same log/pass.

W.T.H. Windows!

BUMP

I can sympathize. For the longest time my Windows 11 would not recognize my Windows 10 but 10 would see 11 in the network map. I ended up accessing by ip address rather than the network map as it is supposed to work. Networking issues of all kinds has been a steady source of threads here.

We've had many lengthy threads regarding credentials and networking as well as issues where some sytems will see other sytems on network but another system won't. Maybe one of them can be of help in your situation. Click on search in forum toolbar>select advanced search>enter search criteria eg: credentials, networking credentials, computer not listed in network map. You'll have a lot of reading.

Windows Networking is such a pain. Yeah I'll just do it by Ip. Hopefully that will work. I think I did that last time I ran into this problem, but that was 5+ years ago, so I don’t even remember.

10 sees 11 that’s not the problem. The 211 Pro computers with exact same credentials only one sees the other. Whatever...I’ll just do IP

To make it easier and quicker I just made a shortcut and pinned it to my quick access. To add a little quirk to this, You may wake up some morning and find the PC mysteriously be listed in your network map after an update. That happened to me. Worked for about 2 months, then gone again. No rhyme or reason to it. There have always been problems of one kind or another pop up with networking in windows. When it works, it work well. When it doesn't, you have to punt.

@ChrisPbass, If you want to make a shortcut to the computer use \\name of computer. When you click on the shortcut you will be ask for the sign-in credentials. Use the info that you need to sign-in to that computer with.

ChrisPbass said:

I have 4 W11 computers, a mix of pro and home.

Click to expand...

I suggest you check each setting on each computer.
A consolidated network setup checklist for Windows 10 and 11 - my post #4 - TenForums


Denis

I only Map a folder on my NAS drive attached to the Router from any computer desired, Wired or Wireless/Wi-Fi. I used the format of \\NASMODEL\Foldername\, as shown in the right-click of This PC and Map The NASNAME was established when first setting it up and I assigned the letter Z [like old versions of Windows did].

My network is working great and I see all my powered on PCs on my network. Powered on because powered off PCs won't be seen on the network (for those not familiar with networking).

This biggest advice I can give is make sure File and Print is on, as well as Network Discovery. Also make sure every PC is configured the same way network wise. Lastly, setup your Network ID and name your Workgroup. Also name your PC and Workgroup.

This my Network as seen from my Windows 10 Yoga laptop...



The Yoga is the laptop, Drew is my desktop. Backup_PC is my other desktop, and MyCloud is my NAS. I can even see my Samsung TV. This same info is shown from my Windows 11 PC (Drew). The other PCs are Windows 10.

To access the PC's, I use Remote Desktop, as clicking the PC will get you a blank screen unless you have Shares enabled on the PC. You can also right click the PC and choose "Connect with Remote Desktop Connection". This logs you directly into the PC.

Everything suggested except connect by I.P. I've done. It's just inexplicably working now.
I mapped all the necessary shares.
Thanks for all the help!