Pauli O,

Sorry, it's been a while since your last reply. I've had some other things come up. I really appreciate your time and patience. It was very late last night and I just wasn't comprehending your instructions. Now I'm rested and my brain is functioning again! Your reexplanation made much more sense to me today.

I undid the things I did last night and properly followed the steps in altering the hosts -file. I now have the hosts -file in 

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc location on each machine I'm networking. It now has the table included properly in that file. I was able to save it in a public folder and easily copy it into the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc location on each machine. Quite simple when you can actually comprehend what was being done. And that's my issue, not yours.

In answer to your latest question, I have a rather obtuse setup. My internet provider is AT&T DSL. We live in a rural area and its the best I can do here. So I have the AT&T Modum/router with built-in Wi-Fi. My wife has a home business that requires high security. I have the house ethernet hard-wired to all the rooms. I have several printers and scanners of varying models and age, networked.

The house has 4 levels and several rooms on each level. It was built as a Smart Home about 10 years ago although we have only recently purchased it. This means there are Z-wave switches everywhere and the house has two separate built-in  Wi-Fi access points that were used for the Smart house operation. The smart functions were originally controlled by proprietary software developed by a company called Lagotek that has gone out of business. They seemed to have just evaporated so it is impossible to replace the failing controllers. There were three of those controllers built into the house along with a proprietary tablet that also no longer functions. Oh yeah, the original internet provider was a Wi-Fi internet provider that is also no longer in business. So I have a Wi-Fi antenna bolted to the roof that is proprietary to that company and is no longer technically viable. Obviously, the technology that the house uses is quite dated. Then there is the separate outbuilding that functions as a game room/ home theater.  DirectTV adds to the mess since has its own bridge and mini-genies that send signals to other parts of the house.

I have a separate newer multiband Wi-Fi router that is hard wired to the IP providers Router. Obviously, that creates its own set of problems. Double NAT for instance. And there is no need for anyone to go into all the ways to set up multiple routers. I am completely familiar with them and each set-up has its own characteristics that may or may not work with my set-up. 

I use the newer router as an isolated Wi-Fi section so that everything that is connected to it can not see any of the home business devices. Some of the devices have to be used for both personal and business use. What I have usually been able to accomplish over the years of everchanging Windows is to keep all the devices on the sub-router communicating and sharing quite nicely. Every new Windows version has changed how I am able to do that, some better than others. 1803 has been especially problematic.

Now that I have correctly implemented your method I can say that I am getting the connections I want, the way I need them to work. Thanks again, I highly recommend this thread.

Now @seahawks65:

I have set up the desktop shortcuts the way you recommend. They work perfectly. I have told you that in your thread. And for anyone reading this far, let me say that his very thorough explanation does indeed work. It isn't very difficult to do. Way simpler in practice than reading the procedure itself. So once again let me pat you on your head, You seem to desperately need the affirmation. I will also continue to recommend your thread. It does work.

But please don't tell me to forget network folder exists. I have my reasons to make that folder function properly. I will not attempt to make you comprehend them. You won't even make the effort. But thanks for playing.

Edit 6-24-2018

It appears that

• seahawks65

has run afoul of some rules here and his posts are no longer showing in any of the threads. If he isn't allowed back I will remove my comment directed at him since it doesn't make sense.

Edit 6-27-2018

It looks like

• seahawks65

got the ban hammer wielded his way. Now his posts are just listed as A. User but they are now visible again. That is less confusing. Thanks Mods.

THANK YOU!!!! I have spent hours researching, reading, and trying solutions to this issue. This worked! Thank you so much.

You need to know you can get FALSE POSITIVES. What I mean is it will connect and seem fixed. And then 1 minute or hours later it is back to not connecting.

Create Shortcuts for all PC's on your Network using IP Address:

Example:

BOBS-PC in modem device table is listed below. This is what you enter to create the shortcut.

\192.168.0.6

It will connect every time.

This is why I do this or I would be back at customers Businesses or Homes everyday costing them and myself time and money and make me look pretty bad.

There is no altering anything and creating a possible bigger mess for a temporary problem that will most likely be fixed in a Cumulative Update soon or the next Creators Update. What is the difference of connecting to all PC's on Network in the Network folder, to now creating 1 shortcut for all of them, creating a folder called Network Temp and placing all shortcuts into it and then copying that folder to all PC's Public Folder. Then each PC's User can access from there or put a shortcut of that folder anywhere. Desktop, Pin to Quick access, etc.

You can also create a shortcut in 'THIS PC'. Add a Network Location.

But you have to add Public

Example:

BOBS-PC in modem device table is

\\192.168.0.6

Location entered is:

\\192.168.0.6\Public

It will connect every time.

**Some addition RULES sharing items or drives WITH or WITHOUT connection issues**

All external or additional drives, excluding C:\ OS drive, must be shared to user Everyone and with permissions you choose.

Then each Item or folder in that drive has to be selected individually to share for user Everyone and permissions set. Permissions can not be above the drive permissions. This is with or without connection issues.

Public folders on all PC's and all content inside is automatically shared. You can set permissions for the public folder or certain items in it using Sharing>>Advanced Sharing.

Now to share anything on your C:\ OS drive, then same rules apply to share items just like the drives sharing settings.

BUT, for v1803 connection issues, you must do this to share anywhere on C:\ OS drive, excluding Public folder. A one time setup.

Right click C:\ drive>>properties>>Security>>advanced

Add the NETWORK user with the FULL Permissions/Control box checked.

Apply and keep clicking on confirm as you will not be allowed to apply this to some system folders and files.

ADD>>Select a Principle>>Advanced>>Find Now

Select in the list>>"Network">>OK

Check Full Control/Permissions Box>>OK>>Apply>> >>Confirm multiple times.

Make sure "Administrator" user also has full control. If not, add in Administrators with full permissions/control.

Restart PC

One extra step sharing items On C:\ OS drive, excluding Public:

Now when you select an item to share,

Sharing>>Advanced Sharing>>check box to share item

Permissions>>Everyone is there by default.

Select ADD>>Advanced>>Find Now

Add in Network user.

Now set the permissions for Everyone and Network the same, as one will override the others permissions.

Make sure to APPLY settings in each dialogue box.

Now forget the Network folder exists. Use the shortcuts on each PC to access all PC's by IP address and use shared items or create shortcuts from those shared items or pin them to your quick access, etc.

What kind of settings your networks is?

Standard modem/router with Wi-Fi and PC's connected to it by cable or Wi-Fi?

Anything special devices?