Noob networking question - why does \\DESKTOP\pubshare\readthis.txt not work but \\192.168.1.5\pubshare\readthis.txt work just fine?

On Thu, 12 Jul 2018 06:45:46 -0000 (UTC), Arlen Holder
wrote:

Noob networking question - why does this command not work:
Start Run \\DESKTOP\pubshare\readthis.txt
But this command works just fine?
Start Run \\192.168.1.5\pubshare\readthis.txt

My overall goal is to set up a single password file on the LAN, but for
this question, the text file above is good enough of a test of the network.

Bear in mind I don't normally play with networking, so, the answer may be
something silly that I forgot to do.

Given two windows machines on the same LAN, here's how I set up the
network.
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1. Make sure the PC1 computer name isn't something created by Microsoft!
Start Settings System About Rename this PC (change name)
Device Name = DESKTOP
Restart
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_pubshare01.jpg
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1. Make a new folder on PC1 for public sharing:
mkdir c:\tmp\pubshare
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2. Right click on that folder on PC1:
Properties Sharing Share (select a username) Share
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3. That says "your folder is shared" to that user".
pubshare
\\DESKTOP\pubshare
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_pubshare02.jpg
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4. On PC2, as the same user, right click in "This PC" to
Add a network location Choose a custom network location
\\DESKTOP\pubshare

That didn't work for me, so I got the IP address using "ipconfig"
where the IP address worked fine:
\\192.168.1.7\pubshare

Where it asked "Type a name for this network location":
pubshare (192.168.1.7)

And it said "you have successfully created a network location:
As long as the IP address doesn't change, you're fine.
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5. It's easy to reproduce on PC2 using the Start Run dialog box:

This fails: Start Run \\DESKTOP\pubshare\readthis.txt
This works: Start Run \\192.168.1.7\pubshare\readthis.txt
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6. Maybe the domain name is the problem? (I never set one, I don't think).

On PC1: Start Settings Network & Internet
View your network properties
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_pubshare03.jpg

On PC2: It's similar
http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=18_pubshare04.jpg
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Bearing in mind I may have made a dumb noob networking mistake, can you
point me in the right direction to getting this command to work on PC2?
Start Run \\DESKTOP\pubshare\readthis.txt
Where the eventual goal is a single location for a password file.
================================================= ===========================

Just a thought, but have you tried adding DESKTOP 192.168.107 to
your Hosts file? I add all my computers to HOSTS so that they can find
each other faster. I use the same HOSTS file on each box so they all
"know the same thing"
(I also use it to block bad web sites but that a Whole other thing)

Beamer Smith
Out on a limb, sawing Madly