Cannot access LAN computer using computer name

GRoston · 08 Jan 2015

All,

My local area network comprises Windows 7 Pro x64 computers and a number of other devices. All of the computers are a part of the same workgroup.

From my desktop:

With Windows Explorer, I can type \\server and see server files
With Windows Explorer, I can type \\servers_ip_address and see server files
From a command prompt, I can type 'ping server' and see packets. Ping reports that it is connected to server.hsd1.mi.comcast.net
From a command prompt, I can type 'ping servers_ip_address' and see packets. Ping reports that it is connected to the IP address.
From Remote Desktop Connection, when I try to connect to server, it responds 'Remote desktop can't connect to the remote computer for one of these reasons'. This is new behavior - this has worked properly for years. With Wireshark running, I see that the computer is asking the router for the address of server.hsd1.mi.comcast.net.
From Remote Desktop Connection, when I try to connect to servers_ip_address, it connects properly.
From a web browser, entering server in the address bar results in a 'No site configured at this address' message. With Wireshark running, I see that the computer is asking the router for the address of server.hsd1.mi.comcast.net.
From a web browser, entering servers_ip_address results in the web page's being displayed.

When I tried the tasks outlined above on another computer, everything worked as expected. Thus, the problem is almost certainly with my computer and not the server, router, etc.

I have tried rebooting my computer. I have ascertained that various odd services that might effect this (such as TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper, SSDP Discovery, etc.) are all enabled and started. I have disabled the Windows firewall and my AV (Panda free), but to no affect. I have tried ipconfig /flushdns.

What is the proper way to resolve this problem? Some sites have suggested adding entries to /etc/hosts, but this is clearly a hack - there must be a better way.

RolandJS · 08 Jan 2015

With Windows Explorer, I can type \\server and see server files
With Windows Explorer, I can type \\servers_ip_address and see server files
-- I would like to do that also, how did you type the above within Explorer, or, do you mean Internet Explorer?
Thanks!

GRoston · 08 Jan 2015

RolandJS - Maybe I have been doing this too long, but it seems to me that, by default, there is an address bar in Windows Explorer into which you can type an address. I do not believe that one needs to set any particular options to make it appear.

RolandJS · 14 Jan 2015

Well, I typed \\server and then \\servers -- nothing. Ahhhhh, now I get it, I have no servers here! :) I have only a desktop :) I was accidentally thinking back to the earlier Windows in which one can declare a desktop a server, and run OPs a little differently. Lemmie get out of this thread -- and simply listen in.

Slartybart · 14 Jan 2015

The good news is that you have a machine to compare against. The bad news is that it's a lot of work to compare.

It sounds as though you know what you're doing, so I won't bother to play 20 questions or suggest things that you've tried or investigated. See if anything in here helps or makes the proverbial light go on. Sometimes we're too close to the problem we're trying to solve.

Cannot Connect to Remote Systems Using Host Name

I use this batch file to reset TCP/IP and Winsock
TCPIPreset.bat

and this MS Fixit to reset hosts to default
If you have entries n the hosts file that you need - DO NOT run the fixit.
How can I reset the Hosts file back to the default?

+edit
Remote Desktop stopped working - Remote Desktop - Windows 7
A simple thing to try (credit: the great randini)
Unjoin the computer
Rejoin the computer
-edit

Best of luck