I have 2 laptops both running Win 10 ver 1803, both connected to the same WiFi network, and belong to the same Workgroup. I'd like to be able to open either computer and see the other computer listed under Network, so that I can sync my data files. I have tried with Microsoft Defender on and off, tried every setting adjustment suggested by any online forum I can find, tried adjusting the Hosts file, tried syncing via portable hotspot, but I just cannot get the 2 computers to see each other. The only way I've found to sync the files (privately with out using an online storage service) is to use a third party software and a USB memory stick. Is it possible my router or service provider is somehow interfering? Just looking for easy way to sync 2 computers??????
See if this helps: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-share-files-and-printers-without-homegroup-windows-10
I think from what you describe, you are looking to 'share' folders, rather than 'syncing' settings. (Although 'sharing' and 'syncing' are often used interchangably these days). You can easily do this using cloud storage, OneDrive is built into Windows no third party app required. OneDrive is enabled by default in Windows 10. But you say you don't want to use online storage, so- You can set folders on a PC to be shared with other PC's on a network. The PC that has the folder to be shared must be left powered on at all times for the files to be accessible by others. Another way is to have an external drive connected to your router and store your files on that. You then make that drive shared by all PCs on that network. Again the hard drive will have to be powered on at all times you want the files to be available. (That's how most small businesses do it, users can store files on their own PC's that you have to be sat at to access, or save them on the networked hard drive for everyone to share). Either way you chose this article should walk you through the process. https://www.trustedreviews.com/how-...er-or-hard-drive-on-your-home-network-2945539
Unable to open the shared folder from the second computer. Error message says "unable to find " computer that has the shared folder. I'm not even sure sharing is what I want. I want a two-way sync so both computers update each other and I have the same MyDocuments file on each.
There are 2 main things that could be stopping you sharing, ie. stopping the second computer from seeing the 'host'. Do you have 'Network Discovery" enabled on both computers? Is your network set as a Private or a Public network? https://www.dummies.com/computers/o...-and-configure-sharing-options-in-windows-10/ I share your aversion to putting my documents 'in the cloud' but TBH the easiest way to do what you seem to be asking for is to use OneDrive for your file storage and share to all your devices from there. https://www.howtogeek.com/233339/how-to-share-files-and-folders-from-onedrive-in-windows-10/ Or are you asking for something that will automatically make a copy of a file and download/store it locally on the second computer (so you have 2 copies, one on each computer)?
y Yes I have network discovery turned on. Network is set as Private but I have also tried enabling Public. I am avoiding online solutions and do not have constant internet access. I don't want to share a file. I want two identical folders, one on each computer. After using either or both computers at various times, I want to sit down and manually sync both folders. Resilio Sync seems to be a viable third party alternative(although I haven't gotten it to work either). It just seems that a simple computer to computer connection using a workgroup should be the easiest method.
To do the actual syncronisation of the files this may be work for you: https://windowsreport.com/synctoy-windows-10/ However your problem seems to be that the 2 devices cannot see each other on your network. Until they can see each other no automatic syncing/sharing/copying software is going to be able to work. Take a look at these articles: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-file-explorer-cannot-connect-devices-local-network http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-3523316/desktop-devices-network.html If the computers have different Windows 10 versions then it may be a different, more technical, problem: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4034314/smbv1-is-not-installed-by-default-in-windows
I tried everything but still no success. The 2 computers just do not see each other and until this is corrected, non of the third party apps like Synctoy will work either.
I'm pretty much out of ideas. It could be a setting on either computer, or on the router itself, that is stopping them seeing each other. (It could even be something as obscure as a setting in the AV or firewall on one or both of of the computers). One last suggestion would be to reset the router (to factory settings?) and then put both computers into 'Safe Mode with Networking' to see if they can see each other then.
I'm just wondering it it may be a bug in Windows, something to do with this: Have you checked for updates to your 1803? Note they say they have withdrawn this particular update, so it may be patch Tuesday before it's offered again. https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/4467682
Problem finally solved. I reset the router multiple times and managed to totally screw up my internet connection. My internet provider sent a repair tech to the house. He reset the router(and possibly did some kind of company settings change) and magically both home computers could see each other on the network. I can now sync and move files between computers.
