networked computers disappeared

[sldi]

Back in July I got around to networking the 3 comps in my system, my new win7, a couple yr old vista and an xp netbook. After getting all the files shared everything was fine. When I went to network on any computer I could see the other computers without problem and access and share files between any computer. NOW what went wrong, if I go to my win7 machine, no computers are shown, except the other halfs win7, but if I type in there computer name in the menu bar I have access to them, same on the vista. My xp netbook shows my win7 machine but thats all, and there is no way of typing in a computer name on that O/S

[srwatters]

Welcome to the wonderful world of NetBios networking...

When this happens, usually two machines have elected to be the "master browser". I'll bet that you took one machine off network and connected somewhere else, like a work network or even a public WiFi?

Windows networking stinks. Without a server and domain, home networking is a pot shot at best. I don't have any suggestions other than to tinker with it until it comes back. Reboot one machine at a time making sure the others are all on. Sometimes that will fix things.

Good luck!

[sldi]

yep, the netbook travels around to other networks.

since my vista machine is constant on, what would be involved in setting it up as the server and establishing a domain?

[srwatters]

You can't use Vista as a domain controller. That requires Windows Server OS. Another option might be to assign static IP addresses or reservations in the DHCP server so they always get the same IP address even if you connect to different networks. Then you can add the names in the local lmhosts system file. It's really a pain. OS X on the Mac works so much better...

[SCone]

Just create a shortcut on the desktop that points to the shared resource.

[sldi]

Well my wonderful sister did it again, "when nothing else works reboot." Yep that did it, I rebooted the router (I have to reboot my Clear Modem often) and all my computers showed up again.