can join and see homegroup, but can't share files

this problem just began happening mysteriously, well, today.

I googled a bit, trying to fix it; I don't want to sidetrack the discussion, but needless to say I found nothing that seemed to address my problem directly.

so I have a PC and a laptop. Both computers can see each other, but only the laptop can access and share files with the PC.

When I attempt to access files via homegroup from the PC, nothing happens. As in, it just does nothing. I click on shared folders, they don't open.

When I attempt to access files via the network, I can see my laptop, but when I click to enter it I get:

Windows cannot access \\OMNI-LAPTOP
"check the spelling of the name, otherwise there might be a problem with your network"

from the laptop, I can access and share files with the PC, no problem.

This just started happening. I have no clue why, and I can't figure out what is wrong. The PC discovers and sees things, just like it should, but I can't actually access anything. The laptop, however, can access the PC (despite the fact that the PC claims there is a network problem).

The ONLY change I've made between now and the last time I was able to access successfully was I fixed some goofiness in my network. Previously, I had a modem/router and a router, and both routers were acting as routers. I put the modem/router in bridge mode, so that I have just one router now. But that's it.

The ONLY change I've made between now and the last time I was able to access successfully was I fixed some goofiness in my network. Previously, I had a modem/router and a router, and both routers were acting as routers. I put the modem/router in bridge mode, so that I have just one router now. But that's it.

Are both computers now connected to the same router and therefore have IP addresses in the same Subnet, i.e. you're not connecting one by ethernet to the Modem/Router and the second "wirelessly" to the Router?

yeah. the computer is connected directly to the router, and the router is connected to the modem, and the modem is (conneta to da, hip-bone) DSL.

I can login in to the router, and it sees both the PC and laptop, and is assigning them LAN IP addresses.

...

but HOLY CRAP. I rebooted the laptop and it MAGICALLY FREAKIN WORKS now. I do think it might have had something to do with changing network setup though. After reboot, the laptop took a good two minutes to 'identify the network' (after having connected to it). After this passed, I was able to connect successfully.