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.

No pats needed. No disrespect for Paul. He obviously has spent a lot if time learning Networks and tricks. He is very smart. I only replied again because you stated you lost connections again. I then simplified from my article. I even redid mine so this simplified is first and then the through for those who never used network sharing. You would be surprised how many have only ever used the worthless HomeGroup. And I do not like coming to his thread and posting really. Not trying to be disrespectful. I probably am though. So I apologize to Paul.

And forget network folder is only that it is the same as a Temp folder that has all the same access and abilities for now until the issue is fixes.

I never access network folder anyways. I have shortcuts with or without connection issues in Quick Access, This PC, Public folder and desktop for quick one click access to PC's.

I can jump from PC to PC in one move.

That little bit more complicated that normal "Home network".

"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. 

To avoid double NAT connect those cables from ISP router to Wi-Fi router's LAN port (instead of WAN port). But as you wrote you want to separate that business part from another network.

One solution to that would be using Virtual LAN (=VLAN), but this required support from network devices and little more configuration.

If you are interested that then read shot description from here:

https://www.lifewire.com/virtual-local-area-network-817357 

But anyway it's good that you get your network to work like you want.

"He obviously has spent a lot if time learning Networks and tricks."

Only two years of studying OS, Servers and networking incl. physical cabling.