Can't see network shares

[s660117]

Hi,
I currently have two PC's - a Windows 7 desktop which is ethernet attached (PC-A) and a Windows 8.1 laptop (PC-B) which is wireless.
Until the other day, the two PC's were able to see each other and access each other in Network Places and both could see the router and the network printer attached to PC-A.
Now, however, PC-A sees only the router. It does not see itself or PC-B and the printer is no where to be found. If I click on the router icon, nothing happens - I am not logged into the router.
PC-B, meanwhile, can see itself but not PC-A. It does not see the printer but is able to print and clicking on the router icon logs me into the router.
I can ping from one PC to another and am able to access network shares from both PC's by entering \\computername, so I know that it isn't a firewall issue and there are no issues with permissions.
Both PC's have access to the Internet.
I am using a workgroup and both PC's belong to WORKGROUP.
All advanced sharing options are correct on both machines.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
s660117

 

[chev65]

Have you tried rebooting or resetting your router yet?

 

[s660117]

Thanks for the reply, Chev65.
I have recycled my router twice to no avail.
One thing I do find curious, however, is that if I execute net view from the command line, I do not get a list of computers on the local network. Rather, I get "System error 53 has occurred. The network path was not found".
If, however, I execute net view PC-B on PC-A, I get a list of all shared files on PC-B. And the opposite is true for net view PC-A on PC-B.
It also might be relevant that when I execute nbtstat PC-A and PC-B from PC-A and nbtstat PC-A and PC-B from PC-B, I don't see any of the hosts flagged with _MSBROWSE_.
Thanks,
s660117

 

[chev65]

The net view command works for me with no errors and the strange sharing problem indicates you may have a system file integrity problem or a problem with the registry or maybe some of the Windows networking services aren't turned on perhaps.

Have you tried running a system file scan using the sfc /scannow command?

Have you checked the Windows services or scanned the registry for problems or junk etc..?

 

[s660117]

Chev65,
sfc /scannow ran fine on both machines.
I am uncertain which services to look for and don't know how to verify the registry.4
When you say that net view worked for you, did you type net view by itself, without a computer name?
s660117

 

[chev65]

Chev65,
sfc /scannow ran fine on both machines.
I am uncertain which services to look for and don't know how to verify the registry.4
When you say that net view worked for you, did you type net view by itself, without a computer name?
s660117

Yes net view worked by itself to show the LAN PC's, then with a computer name it showed me sharing the public and User folders.

 

[s660117]

Ok, here's a summary of where things stand.

Here's the output of the ipconfig /all command executed under PC-A -
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Joe-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : A4-1F-72-6D-87-80
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::a03b:a232:77ee:3f5a%11(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.11(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, April 24, 2014 11:18:03 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Friday, April 25, 2014 11:18:03 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 245636978
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-19-25-9C-CB-A4-1F-72-6D-87-80
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 75.75.75.75
75.75.76.76
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Here's the output of ipconfig /all from PC-B -
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Rachel-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 80-56-F2-BA-91-9F
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : A0-D3-C1-55-C2-E9
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8188EE 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 80-56-F2-BA-91-9F
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::8508:1e74:dba6:4aa8%3(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.16(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, April 23, 2014 10:35:44 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, April 24, 2014 10:35:50 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 360732402
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-1A-49-0B-A8-A0-D3-C1-55-C2-E9
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 75.75.75.75
75.75.76.76
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Here's the output of nbtstat -a PC-B executed from PC-A -

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.11] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
WORKGROUP <00> GROUP Registered
RACHEL-PC <00> UNIQUE Registered
RACHEL-PC <20> UNIQUE Registered
WORKGROUP <1E> GROUP Registered

MAC Address = 80-56-F2-BA-91-9F

Here's the output of nbtstat -a PC-A executed from PC-B -
Ethernet:
Node IpAddress: [0.0.0.0] Scope Id: []

Host not found.

Wi-Fi:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.16] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
WORKGROUP <00> GROUP Registered
JOE-PC <00> UNIQUE Registered
JOE-PC <20> UNIQUE Registered
WORKGROUP <1E> GROUP Registered

MAC Address = A4-1F-72-6D-87-80


Local Area Connection* 11:
Node IpAddress: [0.0.0.0] Scope Id: []

Host not found.
I do not understand what "Host not found" means in this context.

Here's the output of net view PC-B executed from PC-A -
Shared resources at rachel-pc



Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rachel Disk
SkyDrive Disk
Users Disk
The command completed successfully.

Here's the output of net view PC-A executed from PC-B -
Shared resources at joe-pc

Joe's-PC

Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Disk
My_Music Disk
Photos Disk
Seagate F Drive Disk
Seagate M drive Disk
Users Disk
The command completed successfully.

PC-A still sees only the router in Network Places, but is unable to login to it.
PC-B still sees itself, the printer attached to PC-B, and the router, which it is able to login to.

I remain able to access one PC from another if I type in \\computername.

The net view command still yields "System error 53 has occurred. The network path was not found" on both machines.

I have done a net stop and start on the following services - server, spooler, lanmanservice, and browser but without effect.

I have executed the following command on both machines which, according to a microsoft post, should reset TCP/IP:
netsh int ip reset C:\resetlog.txt.
After executing this command on PC-A and rebooting the machine, I saw the PC-A icon in network places for a brief time, but then it was gone.

Given the fact that PC-A cannot even see itself, I am tending to believe that the problem is with that machine and that perhaps a service is not started. But, even after googling it, I remain confused as to what exactly, system error 53 means.

s660117

 

[chev65]

Ok, here's a summary of where things stand.

Here's the output of the ipconfig /all command executed under PC-A -
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Joe-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : A4-1F-72-6D-87-80
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::a03b:a232:77ee:3f5a%11(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.11(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, April 24, 2014 11:18:03 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Friday, April 25, 2014 11:18:03 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 245636978
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-19-25-9C-CB-A4-1F-72-6D-87-80
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 75.75.75.75
75.75.76.76
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Here's the output of ipconfig /all from PC-B -
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Rachel-PC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 80-56-F2-BA-91-9F
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : A0-D3-C1-55-C2-E9
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8188EE 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 80-56-F2-BA-91-9F
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::8508:1e74:dba6:4aa8%3(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.16(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, April 23, 2014 10:35:44 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, April 24, 2014 10:35:50 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 360732402
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-1A-49-0B-A8-A0-D3-C1-55-C2-E9
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 75.75.75.75
75.75.76.76
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Here's the output of nbtstat -a PC-B executed from PC-A -

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.11] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
WORKGROUP <00> GROUP Registered
RACHEL-PC <00> UNIQUE Registered
RACHEL-PC <20> UNIQUE Registered
WORKGROUP <1E> GROUP Registered

MAC Address = 80-56-F2-BA-91-9F

Here's the output of nbtstat -a PC-A executed from PC-B -
Ethernet:
Node IpAddress: [0.0.0.0] Scope Id: []

Host not found.

Wi-Fi:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.16] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
WORKGROUP <00> GROUP Registered
JOE-PC <00> UNIQUE Registered
JOE-PC <20> UNIQUE Registered
WORKGROUP <1E> GROUP Registered

MAC Address = A4-1F-72-6D-87-80


Local Area Connection* 11:
Node IpAddress: [0.0.0.0] Scope Id: []

Host not found.
I do not understand what "Host not found" means in this context.

Here's the output of net view PC-B executed from PC-A -
Shared resources at rachel-pc



Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rachel Disk
SkyDrive Disk
Users Disk
The command completed successfully.

Here's the output of net view PC-A executed from PC-B -
Shared resources at joe-pc

Joe's-PC

Share name Type Used as Comment

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Disk
My_Music Disk
Photos Disk
Seagate F Drive Disk
Seagate M drive Disk
Users Disk
The command completed successfully.

PC-A still sees only the router in Network Places, but is unable to login to it.
PC-B still sees itself, the printer attached to PC-B, and the router, which it is able to login to.

I remain able to access one PC from another if I type in \\computername.

The net view command still yields "System error 53 has occurred. The network path was not found" on both machines.

I have done a net stop and start on the following services - server, spooler, lanmanservice, and browser but without effect.

I have executed the following command on both machines which, according to a microsoft post, should reset TCP/IP:
netsh int ip reset C:\resetlog.txt.
After executing this command on PC-A and rebooting the machine, I saw the PC-A icon in network places for a brief time, but then it was gone.

Given the fact that PC-A cannot even see itself, I am tending to believe that the problem is with that machine and that perhaps a service is not started. But, even after googling it, I remain confused as to what exactly, system error 53 means.

s660117

I agree PC-A seems to be having problems.

I believe the "host not found" error is because it can't find the host IP of 127.0.0.1, you might try resetting the host file back to default by using the "Fix it" button in the following link or you can do it manually by following the directions in the link.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/972034

After than try resetting everything related to the network stack on PC-A by unzipping and running the file below, your machine will reboot automatically when it's done.

 

[s660117]

Chev65,
Your script abended with a memory exception. The last thing I saw it do was the ipconfig /renew.
Nevertheless, PC-A rebooted but when it came up nothing had changed.

In my research on the problem I have come across something called the Master Browser. It is my understanding that it is necessary for network shares to show in network places and that you should be able to identify which PC is the Master Browser with the nbtstat command, where it is marked with the string _MSHOME_.
I don't see that string on either of the two machines when I execute nbtstat and am wondering whether it is possible that no PC is running it.
s660117

 

[s660117]

That should have been _MSBROWSE_, not _MSHOME_.