Vista Tutorial - \\computername doesn't work (while \\ip do)

Got a problem which I've searched for and many seem to have the same problem
but have yet to see an answer to it.

typing \\ip (i.e. 192.168.100.xxx) works great, every time. But typing the
computername instead, like \\media does not.

I got it working by disabling the firewall before and found out that the
"Registreringstjänst för Datornamn för Windows Collaboration" (thats swedish
- my attempt to translate it would be "Registrationsservice for computernames
for Windows Collaboration" (not a big fan of localized software)) exception
in the firewall resolved it.

Problem is I restored my computer using System Restore due to a faulty
driver and since then I haven't been able to get access to this again. Even
with the firewall completely off.
I have enabled file-sharing in the network properties and the \\ip do work
(and always had).

Don't know if something got messed up in the system restore but as said,
this is a common problem so there should atleast be some solution to it.

If you can map using IP but name, this is name resolution issue. Have you enabled the NetBIOS over TCP/IP? This link may help too,

Vista Name Resolution IssuesWindows Vista requires an open port 139 and NetBIOS enabled on the server to map a server share through a VPN connection - very poor for security! ...
http://www.chicagotech.net/vista/vistanameissues.htm


Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"tjoff" <tjoff@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:0D749B13-52C5-48FC-A51F-6B21C42478DE@microsoft.com...
Got a problem which I've searched for and many seem to have the same problem
but have yet to see an answer to it.

typing \\ip (i.e. 192.168.100.xxx) works great, every time. But typing the
computername instead, like \\media does not.

I got it working by disabling the firewall before and found out that the
"Registreringstjänst för Datornamn för Windows Collaboration" (thats swedish
- my attempt to translate it would be "Registrationsservice for computernames
for Windows Collaboration" (not a big fan of localized software)) exception
in the firewall resolved it.

Problem is I restored my computer using System Restore due to a faulty
driver and since then I haven't been able to get access to this again. Even
with the firewall completely off.
I have enabled file-sharing in the network properties and the \\ip do work
(and always had).

Don't know if something got messed up in the system restore but as said,
this is a common problem so there should atleast be some solution to it.

Thanks.
NetBIOS is enabled and haven't got to work yet.

My workaround is typing the computernames and the corresponding IPs in the
hosts file. An ugly "solution" that I really don't like but will have to do
until I can fix this.

Oh, and it's not on a VPN, just an open LAN with a disabled firewall (for
testing purposes). Still no go.

Post back with the result of ipconfig /all may help.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"tjoff" <tjoff@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:5A9F21BD-47B9-45CE-847C-38A2DA562469@microsoft.com...
Oh, and it's not on a VPN, just an open LAN with a disabled firewall (for
testing purposes). Still no go.