Can't turn on network discovery!

[metalmuscle]

Can someone please help me with this problem?? I have just done a fresh re-install of Windows 7 Ultimate on my Dell XPS M1530 laptop. I was trying to connect my PS3 and Laptop together and one of the steps is to turn on network discovery. Every time I try to click on the network discovery and save changes, it automatically goes back to off. I've checked my services that are running in services.msc and it seems that everything is running fine. Can you guys help me figure this out? Thank you in advance!

 

[WebMattR]

Are you an administrator on the machine, and is it part of a domain? I'm guessing you're at home, given the PS3, but if it's a work laptop, then that may factor in here.

 

[metalmuscle]

I am Admin, yes. It is not part of a domain and I am at home. I do use it for business related projects, but it is my personal computer.

 

[WebMattR]

Alright. Well, here's some info I swindled from Microsoft's Knowledge Base:

: Check if network related services are up and running
a. Click Start, type services.msc and hit enter.
b. From the list of services, double click on "Function Discovery Provider Host" service, change the startup type to automatic and start the service.
c. Apply the changes.
d. Restart the computer and check if the issue persists

If that doesn't help, let me know, and I'll suggest something further.

 

[metalmuscle]

I changed the setting for that specific service, restarted my computer, and got the same result when trying to turn on network discovery. Next suggestion...?

 

[WebMattR]

First, a question: What're you running as far as a firewall/antivirus? Try turning your firewall off, enabling it, and then turning the firewall back on.

 

[metalmuscle]

I am using avast (v 6.0.1000) for an anti-virus and windows firewall. I have tried disabling them both, but still no luck; I get the same results.

 

[metalmuscle]

Any more suggestions??

 

[WebMattR]

Sorry. I somehow missed the previous email about this.

Could you try a few things for me? open a command prompt, and type 'net view' and let me know if it sees other machines. Having done so, try and ping all of those machines, and let me know the results.

After both of those, run a full virus scan. Just in case.

 

[metalmuscle]

This is what I got when I typed the net view command:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Frank>net view
Server Name Remark

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\\FRANK-PC
The command completed successfully.

And here is the ping: (by IP)

C:\Users\Frank>ping 74.88.232.183

Pinging 74.88.232.183 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 74.88.232.183: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=64
Reply from 74.88.232.183: bytes=32 time=61ms TTL=64
Reply from 74.88.232.183: bytes=32 time=27ms TTL=64
Reply from 74.88.232.183: bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=64

Ping statistics for 74.88.232.183:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 13ms, Maximum = 61ms, Average = 33ms

Now by machine name:

C:\Users\Frank>ping Frank-PC

Pinging Frank-PC [fe80::448:4352:8a01:9ba8%11] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from fe80::448:4352:8a01:9ba8%11: time<1ms
Reply from fe80::448:4352:8a01:9ba8%11: time<1ms
Reply from fe80::448:4352:8a01:9ba8%11: time<1ms
Reply from fe80::448:4352:8a01:9ba8%11: time<1ms

Ping statistics for fe80::448:4352:8a01:9ba8%11:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

 

[WebMattR]

Sorry, allow me to clarify: can you try to ping your PS3?

 

[metalmuscle]

How do I do that?? Right now I have my laptop acting as a network bridge to get internet access on my ps3. This is the only way I can get internet on my ps3 as the wireless never seems to work. How can I ping my ps3??

 

[WebMattR]

How exactly do you have that cabled? And if possible, I would suggest hard wiring your PS3.

 

[metalmuscle]

How exactly do you have that cabled? And if possible, I would suggest hard wiring your PS3.

I just have an Ethernet cable running from my laptop to my PS3. It is impossible to hard-wire my PS3 directly to the router. But none of this should explain my problems with network discovery, correct?

 

[WebMattR]

If you're bridging your internet, it might, actually. Does your router not have four network ports on the back? What make & model is it?

 

[metalmuscle]

If you're bridging your internet, it might, actually. Does your router not have four network ports on the back? What make & model is it?

It does have 4 ports on the back, but I meant it was impossible due to location(s) in my house. Router is in my dad's office downstairs, while my PS3 is upstairs in my room. Also, I don't believe this issue has anything to do with the network bridge because it was the same result before I even set up the bridge. Also, if I get rid of the bridge, it's the same also.

 

[WebMattR]

Okay, I have a question: Are you just trying to make the network bridge work, or are you trying to access files back and forth?

Also, could you try booting into safe mode and see if you can turn on Network Discovery from there?

 

[metalmuscle]

The network bridge works, but apparently there is a way to stream files from the computer to the ps3. In order for that to work, I need to have network discovery turned on. That is what I'm trying to do. I was never able to join homegroups either, which I'm pretty sure has to do with the network discovery also. I am going to try safe mode now.

 

[metalmuscle]

Safe mode is a no go. Still not working.

 

[WebMattR]

And you're positive that turning off your AV/Firewall made no difference?