Windows 7: Search for Computers

I am trying to find out how to search for computers not on network with windows 7. On my old XP PC's it is easy to find. Right click on my network places and one of the options is search for computers. There I put in box Example: \\69.252.555.55\ and hit enter and it will search the world for that IP and find my pc at work. With windows 7 I can not find this function anywhere. All I find is map a network drive. This used to work on the PC but now it no longer will connect to my other PC. So I am trying to see if it can find the other PC first. I can ping it just fine. I know if I can find the SEARCH FOR COMPUTERS on this OS I can solve the problem. Any Help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance

Welcome to Seven Forums!

Windows 7 really doesn't have a search for computers. At least not the way XP, W2K and older OS's did.

In order see other computers and share files you'll need to configure them all to be in the same workgroup as well as enabling file and printer sharing.

In Windows 7 there are similar settings.

Here's a good tutorial to help get you started:

Networking home computers running different versions of Windows

thank you for the reply however I did have it working and had the folder maped to windows 7 then all of a sudden it will not map again. Maybe I also left some info here. The folder I am trying to get to is not on same network. It is a server 2000 at my office and trying to get it mapped from home as I did before. It was working. All I did to map it the first time was map a drive like so \\server\folder and it was mapped and working. Now this no longer works so I was hoping to search for the computer as I do in XP and then find the folder then map it. But I can not find the function to search for computers.Also may I add it is not a firewall issue as I turned off the windows firewall and same results.

Are you using a VPN to get to your office?

no I am just searching for computer and then mapping a shared folder. Using a public IP at office.

I'm a tad confused. You said it was at your office on a different network and you were trying to map it from home. That means you're connecting over the internet to your office. How are you accomplishing it?

If all ports are open on a public IP and you share your drive you can map it to any PC in the world. You just need to know the IP of the public PC and once a drive is shared anyone can map it if you know the username and pasword. example the map would look like this: \\111.222.333.66\driveC . This is all there is to it. No vpn involved. Easy to do. If you have a private Ip and behind a firewall then all you have to do is open the correct ports to the pc you are trying to find. Not a difficult procedure. try it with your home network. you will see. Use your private ip it will work like this: \\192.168.1.5\driveC or name of your pc \\joe\driveC. If you were to give me your IP addy and DMZ your IP (open all ports to your PC) I would be able to map your hard drive If I wanted to. Real easy. Basically all I need to know now is were is the feature to search for computers in windows 7.

You do realize that doing this over the internet without a VPN is very dangerous? All the traffic is unencrypted and unsecured.

As I said before,. Windows 7 doesn't have a "search for computers" like XP does.

ok then I guess I will have to figuire something else out. Thanks for your time.