Windows 7 Computer Suddenly Can't See Computers on Network

[Mizmelzy]

When I tried to connect to my desktop computer from my Windows 7 Laptop, it doesn't see any other computers on the network but itself. I did check the firewall. I'm using McCafee Internet Security. It came with the laptop. I tried disabling the firewall, and I still couldn't see any of the computers on the network. When I go into McCafee and look at a network map, there it shows all the computers on the network. But when Looking at my network in windows, I don't see any other computers. I have tried to ping the computer on the network that I want to connect to and it times out. I checked the other computer, restarted it. Still nothing. Yesterday it was fine...today it can't see any of the other computers on the network.

I have a Dell Studio Laptop 4gb of ram 500gb hard drive Windows 7 64bit. If you need any other info, please let me know.

 

[myzr7]

Can you see your laptop from one of the other pc's on your network? Maybe you made some changes to something that turned of your network discovery make sure it is selected in win7 advanced sharing.

 

[chev65]

When I tried to connect to my desktop computer from my Windows 7 Laptop, it doesn't see any other computers on the network but itself. I did check the firewall. I'm using McCafee Internet Security. It came with the laptop. I tried disabling the firewall, and I still couldn't see any of the computers on the network. When I go into McCafee and look at a network map, there it shows all the computers on the network. But when Looking at my network in windows, I don't see any other computers. I have tried to ping the computer on the network that I want to connect to and it times out. I checked the other computer, restarted it. Still nothing. Yesterday it was fine...today it can't see any of the other computers on the network.

I have a Dell Studio Laptop 4gb of ram 500gb hard drive Windows 7 64bit. If you need any other info, please let me know.

McAfee is pretty much famous for causing problems like this. It's sometimes best to uninstall it using the tool for this in the link below.

It can also be configured to work with Windows 7 by allowing the range of IP's you are using through it's firewall but you may need to go to the McAfee forum to figure out how to do this.
|MG| McAfee Consumer Product Removal Tool 3.5.109.1 Download

 

[Petey7]

I had the same problem after my mom get a new laptop from Dell. As Chev says, the problem was McAfee and nothing I tried short of uninstalling McAfee could work. As being able to see all computer from each was a necessity for me, McAfee had to go. To be honest, I was extremely happy to get rid of it. Microsoft Security Essentials will be your best bet for a replacement. It is free and has earned a few awards in its short time on the market. McAfee on the other hand, is famous for causing a multitude of problems.

 

[Mizmelzy]

Thanks for the info. I've uninstalled McCafee and installed the recommended Microsoft product. I can see my other computer now. Just can't see the other one, but that's not important because I don't connect to it. When a friend comes over he uses my wireless internet. When he's online I can usually see his computer connected to the network too. But now I can see my other computer, just not his. But that might be because I changed the network name too. So, I'll change it back and I'll probably see him again.

Thanks for the heads-up about McCafee.

Mel

 

[Petey7]

Another thing you can do to assure all the computers can see each other correctly is to not use home group and make sure all computers have the same workgroup name.

Join or create a workgroup

 

[chev65]

Thanks for the info. I've uninstalled McCafee and installed the recommended Microsoft product. I can see my other computer now. Just can't see the other one, but that's not important because I don't connect to it. When a friend comes over he uses my wireless internet. When he's online I can usually see his computer connected to the network too. But now I can see my other computer, just not his. But that might be because I changed the network name too. So, I'll change it back and I'll probably see him again.

Thanks for the heads-up about McCafee.

Mel

I have nothing but luck using Homegroup but it's required that all machines are Windows 7 if you want to use it, if not then setting up a workgroup is the best option.

I've tested Homegroups six ways to Sunday on 7 completely different machines and it works flawlessly for me.

You are welcome for the info about McAfee, otherwise known as malware.

 

[Mizmelzy]

Okay, I uninstalled McCafee with the software provided. And then changed back to my old network name. I could see everybody on the network just fine. I go to start up my computer tonight and guess what, I couldn't see my other computer again. I typed in the address to it //MEL and the folder popped up and all the folders were accessible. I can print and everything seems to be working, but I just can't see my other computer under networks. I tried restarting my computer again, and turning off and on my wireless network. I restarted the other computer nothing. I then changed the network name again, and whala.... I could see the other computer again.

So, if McCafee was the problem, why is it still happening? I've done a full virus scan, malware scan and nothing came up. So I'm thinking it's something with Windows 7. Just not sure what.

Anyone else have any ideas?

 

[Mizmelzy]

I think I may have and idea of whats causing it, I just don't know why. Sometimes if I'm going to be away from the computer even for like 10-15 minutes, like if I'm doing laundry or something, I just just the laptop. This way my cats don't walk all over it. This puts it in hibernate. When I come back I open it it up again and enter my password and log back on. I did this tonight while bringing my laptop into the bedroom and it did it again. And thinking about today when it happened before, it was in suspend mode. I was distracted when my niece came over. So the laptop was suspended then too.

However when I type in the location and the new window pops up. Under network on the left side where the folders are it appears under Dell. But if I click on network the right pane doesn't show it. Just Dell. This time I shut down the computer let it sit for 20 seconds and then restarted it, and this time it found it again.

So I'm thinking suspend mode is what's doing it, I just don't know why. It never did it before.

Mel

 

[Petey7]

Not really sure why that would cause it. Just a quick question to be sure, your computer is going into hibernation, not sleep/standby, correct?

 

[Mizmelzy]

Well, when my niece came over last night I forgot I had just closed it and didn't shut it down. So I think it went into sleep/standby mode because that was for more than an hour. But when I went into my bedroom for that short time, it was suspended that time. It never has given me this trouble before. I'm not sure what could have caused it. I have not installed anything new other than the Microsoft Security Essentials. And this problem was happening before I installed that so I'm at a loss. But I did put a shortcut to the folder on desktop so I have some access to the computer when that happens. Just makes it hard to find files on the other computer in programs.

Mel

 

[Mizmelzy]

I've noticed that now since I put the shortcut on my desktop to that folder, I have not had the issue happen again, and I did have it on suspend for about 20 minutes.

So I think having the shortcut is somehow making the computer see it all the time? I guess I'll have to wait and see if it happens again.

The other problem I've had since I got the laptop, is that my other computer with XP, doesn't see the laptop. Both computers have the same log in ID and Password. Not sure what else I may have to do to get the Windows 7 laptop to see my other XP computer.

Mel

 

[myzr7]

Mel. This link is from Microsoft. Maybe something in this may help you with your network, Good luck to you.
Networking home computers running different versions of Windows