I can't access another PC on my network by Hostname

00Mark

New Member
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3
I'm running Windows 8 on a laptop over WiFi. My main computer is Windows 7, with a wired connection.

In Windows Explorer, attempting to access \\STUDY2 (the main PC) works only about 20% of the time. Usually it gives the 0x80070035 error. This also means network printers (\\STUDY2\HP LaserJet) normally don't work.

However, I can always access the PC fine using \\192.168.1.xxx\, "xxx" being the currently assigned ending to the IP address of the main PC.

I have tried:

  • Rebooting the router
  • Assigning a static IP address to the main PC

Neither has worked. Other (Windows 7) laptops on WiFi have no such issues.



Thanks for your help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 / Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built / Dell Inspiron 15R SE
    CPU
    i5-2500 / i5-3210M
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3-B3 / Inspiron 7520
    Memory
    4GB XMS3 1600MHz / 6GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire HD6850 / HD 7730M 2GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung / BenQ E2220HD
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050 / 2 * 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB / 750GB
    PSU
    OCZ ModXStream 600W / Inspiron 15R
    Case
    CoolerMaster Elite 430
    Cooling
    Stock Intel / Inspiron 15R
    Mouse
    Gigabyte M6900 / Gigabyte M6900
    Internet Speed
    < 0.5 Mbps :(
You might have better luck using the Sharing and Permission settings rather than relying on an outdated method for accessing files which takes much more time than conventional modern methods.

Once the permissions are set you can access all files or folders on Networked machines using Windows Explorer or you can set up a Homegroup.

It's much easier to click to a machine's file structure rather than typing in it's IP or machine name over and over again.

You will need to turn on Network Discovery and File and Printer sharing in the Advanced sharing settings.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
Thanks for the help, I'm a bit confused though:

You might have better luck using the Sharing and Permission settings rather than relying on an outdated method for accessing files which takes much more time than conventional modern methods.

Once the permissions are set you can access all files or folders on Networked machines using Windows Explorer or you can set up a Homegroup.

It's much easier to click to a machine's file structure rather than typing in it's IP or machine name over and over again.

You will need to turn on Network Discovery and File and Printer sharing in the Advanced sharing settings.

The computers are in a homegroup, and the relevant User areas (and some other folders) are all shared. I'm not sure what method you're saying I should use? I am currently trying (attempting, anyway) to use Windows Explorer to browse the file system of the main PC, from the laptop.

I would prefer to not have to type the IP, but my W8 laptop doesn't seem to be able to resolve the IP to the Hostname of the main (W7) PC.

After opening Network, "STUDY2" appears in the list of computers. But if I try to open it, I get the 0x80070035 error about 80% of the time. It sometimes works, but usually not.

If I click in the 'Address bar' of Explorer, and type "\\STUDY2" (or "\\STUDY2\Users"), same error message.

But, if I type "\\192.168.1.115" (or "\\192.168.1.115\Users"), it always works fine.

So when a program tries to use a network printer (eg. \\STUDY2\HP LaserJet), it fails about 80% of the time because it can't resolve "STUDY2" to 192.168.1.115.

I considered assigning this IP in my hosts file, but a) this shouldn't be necessary, b) it restricts the main PC to a static IP and c) I wasn't sure how to do this for computers on a local network.

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 / Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built / Dell Inspiron 15R SE
    CPU
    i5-2500 / i5-3210M
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3-B3 / Inspiron 7520
    Memory
    4GB XMS3 1600MHz / 6GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire HD6850 / HD 7730M 2GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung / BenQ E2220HD
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050 / 2 * 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB / 750GB
    PSU
    OCZ ModXStream 600W / Inspiron 15R
    Case
    CoolerMaster Elite 430
    Cooling
    Stock Intel / Inspiron 15R
    Mouse
    Gigabyte M6900 / Gigabyte M6900
    Internet Speed
    < 0.5 Mbps :(
I've read that with Windows 8 computer names don't work like they used too.

I'm not sure why you would need to type in anything just to access networked PC's because once the permissions are set you can just open up the network folders as required, no need to type in anything.

Permissions for Homegroups > http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/9990-file-sharing-set-share-stop-sharing-windows-8-a.html

Option 2 shows the basics of NTFS permission settings although sharing with select individuals does not work as it should.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
I've read that with Windows 8 computer names don't work like they used too.

I'm not sure why you would need to type in anything just to access networked PC's because once the permissions are set you can just open up the network folders as required, no need to type in anything.

You wouldn't normally have to type anything, no.

The permissions are set fine, but most of the time attempting to access STUDY2 gives a "Network Path Not Found" error.

You can click in the 'Address bar' in Windows Explorer, then type a file path and it will navigate there. Doing this gives the same error as before, unless \\STUDY2 is replaced with \\192.168.1.115, in which case it works. Once you're in using the IP address rather than the hostname, you can navigate around shared folders as usual.

So the problem is that Windows Explorer is (usually) incapable of resolving the hostname to an IP address, meaning that double clicking on the computer name STUDY2 gives this error, whereas opening by typing the IP doesn't.

It's strange how it sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 / Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built / Dell Inspiron 15R SE
    CPU
    i5-2500 / i5-3210M
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3-B3 / Inspiron 7520
    Memory
    4GB XMS3 1600MHz / 6GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire HD6850 / HD 7730M 2GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung / BenQ E2220HD
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050 / 2 * 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB / 750GB
    PSU
    OCZ ModXStream 600W / Inspiron 15R
    Case
    CoolerMaster Elite 430
    Cooling
    Stock Intel / Inspiron 15R
    Mouse
    Gigabyte M6900 / Gigabyte M6900
    Internet Speed
    < 0.5 Mbps :(
Problems like that can usually be attributed to which ever third party Anti virus or firewall is involved here.

With the permissions set correctly you should have no need to type anything.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
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