Network - View and Browse Computers or Devices

How to View and Browse a Computer or Device on a Network in Vista​

information   Information
If your computer is connected to a network, you can see all of the computers and devices that are currently part of the network in the Network folder. This will show you how to browse a network so you can share a printer or files on another computer in the network that are allowed to be shared.
warning   Warning

  • If you change the name of a file or folder after you have shared it with someone, the previous link you sent them will not work. You should send them a link to the new location instead.
  • When a computer on the network has password protected sharing turned on (STEP THREE step 8 below), you will need to create a user account with a password on that computer to be able to connect to and browse that computer for sharing.
  • To prevent shared folder connection failures, use your same computer user account username and password when creating a user account on each other computer on the network you want to share with.
  • If password protected sharing is turned off, computers on a network that do not have a user account with a password on your computer will need to use the Guest account. The Guest account must be turned on for them and allowed to share the file or folder.





STEP ONE
Requirements to View and Browse a Network

1. Set the Workgroup Settings​
A) Make sure all computers on the network have the same workgroup name.​
​

2. Set the Computer Name Settings​
A) Make sure that each computer on the workgroup has a unique computer name so they can identify and communicate with each other on the network.​
​

3. Set the Network Location Type Settings​
A) Change the network location type to Private.​
​

4. Set the Network Discovery Settings​
NOTE: Step 3 should turn this on by default, but it is a good idea to double check to make sure.​
​

5. Set File Sharing Settings​
NOTE: Step 3 should this on by default, but it is a good idea to double check to make sure.​
​

6. Set Windows Firewall Settings​
NOTE: If you are using a 3rd party firewall you might have to change its settings to allow File and Printer Sharing to.​
A) Check the exception File and Printer Sharing to allow access.​
​







STEP TWO
View Computers and Devices on a Network

1. Through the Control Panel​
A) Open the Control Panel (Classic view).​
​
B) Click on the Network and Sharing Center icon.​
​
C) Go to step 3.​
​

2. Through the Network System Tray Icon​
A) Right click on the taskbar Network system tray icon.​
​
B) Click on Network and Sharing Center.​
​

3. Click on View computers and devices. (See screenshot below)​
A) Go to step 5.​
​
​
NS_Center.jpg​
​


4. Through the Start Menu Network Button​
A) Open the Start Menu.​
​
B) Click on the Network button. (See screenshot below)​
​
​
Start_Menu.jpg​
​


5. After a moment, you should see a list of computers and devices that your computer found on the network. (See screenshot below step 6)​
NOTE: It might take several minutes for computers running previous versions of Windows to appear in the Network folder.​
​






STEP THREE
Browse or Connect to a Computer or Device on Network

6. Through the Network Folder​
NOTE: From Step Two above.​
A) Click on a listed network Computer or Device that you want to browse or connect to. (See screenshot below)​
​
B) Go to step 8.​
​
​
Network.jpg​
​


7. Through the Run Command Window​
A) Open Run.​
​
B) Type in the: \\ComputerName or \\Ip Address of the computer on the network. (See screenshot below)​
NOTE: For example, this computer name: \\Test-pc​
​
C) Click on OK.​
​
​
Run.jpg​
​


8. If the computer on the network has Password Protected Sharing turned on, then you will be prompted for a username and password before you will be allowed to connect to the computer. (See screenshot below)​
A) Type in your username and password for the user account that you have created on that computer.​
NOTE: If you do not have a user account created on that computer, then see the WARNING at the top of this tutorial.​
​
B) Click on OK.​
​
​
Password_File_Sharing.jpg​
​


9. You will now be connected to the computer or device to be able to browse it.​
​
That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

 

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Very good tutorial. I had read around the net for 3 days. This is a complete knowledge and cover all details. I tried to fix my vista shared for 2 years.

Thanks!

------------------------------------------------

If you got error "Access is denided." when access shared folder on XP or VISTA or 7, there are some places to checkup.

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa

restrictanonymous must equal to 0. Otherwise you will can't get shared name(s) on \\machine.

2. Enable Guest account on shared machine. Otherwise you will can't access shared folder.

3. Add or setup Guest permissions to that shared folder. Otherwise you will can't list/read/write/delete file(s).

snap2344.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

You're welcome Natong, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Thank you for the additional information. :)
 

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  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
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    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
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    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
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    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
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  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
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    17.3" UHD IPS touch
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hi! brink I have small network 2 laptop and 1 desktop ,the desktop is the main computer in my laptop I can not see the main computers could you tell me if I am doing something wrong I will appreciate your help.
thanks
 

My Computer

System One

Hello Gerardo, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Did you do all of the steps in the tutorial on both computers?

Do you have a router? If so, did you set it to allow devices on the network to see each other?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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