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On my local network, I can type the IP address of a computer like so: \\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx and access the shared files/printers of that computer.

But when I try by computer name, it does not let me. Any reason why?

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  • possible duplicate: superuser.com/q/104075/179299 Mar 14, 2013 at 22:55
  • tried that and it did not work
    – e-zero
    Mar 14, 2013 at 23:05
  • How are you expecting it to work? Mar 14, 2013 at 23:06
  • As stated above, I want to be able to type \\computer-name and be able to access shared files/printers of that computer. At this moment, accessing shared files/printers of a computer only works when I type ip address like this: \\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    – e-zero
    Mar 14, 2013 at 23:08
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    What have you done to make the computers "know" each other's names? Do you have DNS configured? hosts files? Mar 14, 2013 at 23:12

1 Answer 1

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Easiest fix is you edit your hosts file (%windows%\system32\drivers\etc) in your favorite text editor to add the other machines on your network in the following format:

IP HOSTNAME (IP and hostname need to be separated by at least one space (I use a single tab)

Save and exit and you should be good.

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    This is not a good fix if the network is using DHCP. Mar 20, 2013 at 15:30
  • Actually, it is. Most home use routers in my experience assign the same IP to a host.
    – Sarge
    Mar 20, 2013 at 23:31
  • No its not @Sarge, you cannot guarantee that the IP will stay the same. If it does stay the same for a while, that's even worse as it's easy for people to forget changes made to the HOSTS file. Most routers allow MAC addresses to be assigned a fixed IP under DHCP which fixes that part but that doesn't resolve the fact that this should work without hacks. Mar 21, 2013 at 21:55

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