Network Error with two Win7 PCs

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I have a Win7 networking issue. First, my set-up. Basic one, just 2 PCs. One is a desktop running Win7 32, connected to Belkin wireless 4-port modem/router via both Ethernet & wireless. Other is a laptop running Win7 64, connected to the Belkin via wireless. Both have identical workgroup names, user accounts, etc. & all file sharing is turned on. They networked with each other fine until (I think) a Windows update late in 2010.

Now the desktop sees the laptop and accesses its files. However although the laptop sees the desktop, it can’t access any files or folders – error reads “Network Error. Windows cannot access \[desktop name]. Check the spelling of the name. Otherwise there might be a problem with your network. To try to identify…” – and the diagnostics are unable to identify the issue. Error code is “0x80070035 The network path was not found”.

I’ve tried networking the laptop via Ethernet cable also (& still running wireless), but no luck. Could the fact that either/both machines have both adapters active be part of it? Would this have changed due to an update?

It seems to be a common problem, & I’ve tried all the fixes suggested on other forums to no avail.

I should add that I’d prefer to run the desktop via the Ethernet (faster), and the laptop wireless (convenient).

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Hi David, and welcome to the Lounge!

I started a new thread with your post as the former thread is over six months old, and this will get your issue more attention.

If I read correctly, your Win7 desktop is actively engaged both with Ethernet and wireless. Disconnect your Ethernet cable from the desktop to see what occurs when you attempt to access it from your laptop. Then disable wireless on your desktop, and plug the Ethernet cable back in to your desktop and give it a go like that. You might do the same on your laptop to find out if either machine has a fault in either the Ethernet or the wireless adapter. In other words, go exclusively with Ethernet on both, and then exclusively wireless on both to see if the network error goes away.

Do you know what Windows Update was installed just before the problem arose? And I take it that no other changes have been made to your network or computers?

Do you have DHCP enabled? Also, check to see that ‘Netbios over TCP/IP’ has not been disabled. Check this site for detailed instructions on how to do so.

You might try to updating your router’s firmware. It is possible the Windows update may have made some changes that a firmware update to the router may solve.

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Hi David,

Although the general idea is that Windows / networking is much improved over previous versions, I must confess that I find it to have some issues that are quite problematic. One of those is precisely the type of situation you are facing, where you can see another computer in the network, but you get “network path not found error”. I know it well, because I have that same exact problem. I have tried many recommendations, as you seem to have done too, and no one even on the Microsoft support forums seems to be able to provide a solution.
With me, the problem is not so serious, because I can access my laptop from the desktop using the laptop’s IP, so I just use \192.168.0.4 and I can access all the files from the laptop without any issues. I have also configured my Belkin router to reserve that IP for my laptop, so that covers most my needs and it’s the best I can do, it seems.

My suggestion would be that you try a similar access in your case. If are able to have access by IP, it would allow file sharing, at least. Not sure, unfortunately, if you will ever get more than that.

I have also been thinking about changing the laptop name and check if that would have any difference. Haven’t done it, but maybe it can be something else you can try.

Regards

Rui

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Have any luck David? I didn’t have anything to add to Gerald’s post, I’m thinking the double connection is causing the problem becasue I have a system I call the Go-between, which is wired to one network and connected wirelessly to another network and through it I can transfer files between networks and otherwise do neat stuff!
That is, I can do neat stuff if I’m booted into XP; if I’m booted into Win7 32-bit with both network adapters active…its the Go-nowhere system. I don’t know why, its just not working by direct I.P. or network place name.

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