Home network computers aren't shown in Windows Explorer

@Seahawks65,

Your advice is sound up until the time there is a power failure. Where I live that is quite often. Once Roger gets everything set correctly it shouldn't be a problem. All the correct settings that maintain network connections and sharing capability, should be retained through a power off. Just like a computer retains the info to properly connect when it is powered off.

@Roger_Sawkins,

With that said Roger, once you do get everything set properly I would also advise not turning off the IP providers router on a daily basis. I leave mine on 24 hours. Just don't be afraid that everytime you power it off, or it loses power due to some other reason, that you will have to spend an inordinate amount of time resetting everything. All of your computers and the router should retain all these settings.

When my IP providers router is powered off it can take up to 10 minutes for it to reestablish a network path and another 5 after that for the Wi-Fi to become active. My sub-router then takes another 5 minutes to establish connections to the IP provider's router.

So I am saying the same thing Seahawks65 is saying, but I think for a different reason for powering off the router daily. Maybe not.

I agree.

But, when you have not configured it yet, and wonder why it does not wake other PC's when you try and access them after they have been idle and you had the modem power off, and wonder why you have to restart the PC's and what not, is clearly obvious that is part of his problem for that.

Next, if he has the issues connected to PC's on his network in v1803, then you will get access denied every time and must use shortcuts using PC IP ADDRESS. And then does he have his shares set up properly. Has he only used HomeGroup like many others and have no clue how to now share on the Network without HomeGroup.

And then he has people telling him to make all these changes on his PC and Network to further his problems, when none of it is the problem.

I do this everyday. I have not once had to alter anything on a home or business network or their PC's, servers or Domain settings.

Once he sets up his network and it works, then he can power off his modem. But when he starts it up again, then tries to access another PC through the network, it might not do it until the PC's are restarted. I have seen this a million times over again. It is ELEMENTARY TO ME.

For those poor souls who have been following this, let me summarise how to get a stable Network.

First find the computer's MAC address by hitting the Windows key, type cmd [Enter] and then ipconfig /all [Enter].

Under "Wireless LAN Adaptor WiFi" the "Physical address" is the MAC address of that computer.

But, convert the address from what it shows 1C-4B-D6-92-F6-6K to 1C:4B:D6:92:F6:6K (i.e. replace dashes with colons).

Log in to the modem and go to "Advanced Setup". Change the "Start IP address" (at the bottom of the screen in mine, but maybe elsewhere in yours) to a higher figure out of the way (50?)

Underneath that click "Add entries" and put in the MAC address and the preferred (static) IP address (say 3).

Do that for each computer. Restart in all directions, and presto! you have a fixed IP address for each computer and the network is stable.

No problem in turning off the modem to save power - it will reopen with all the static IP addresses.

I found that not all computers will show in the Network window of Windows Explorer, but they can be found by putting the computer name (e.g. \Laptop) in the address bar. Another alternative is to construct a short cut on the desktop or elsewhere. Software on one computer can also open a file on another computer that way.

I still find it unbelievable that Microsoft can just abolish the Homegroups and leave everyone with days of investigation to get a stable network.

Real black mark, MS.

Sounds like you have made as much progress as anyone with the current state of Win10. Good job and way to persevere. It's always great to see people get the results they need. I just wish it hadn't come to this.