If computers cannot see each other over the network, it could mean the TCP/IP settings are wrong on the computers.
Computers Can't See Each Other On The Network
Networking computers together is a great way to transfer files, share printers and access the Internet. It can be frustrating, however, if computers cannot see each other over the network. There are a few things you can do to troubleshoot this. Sometimes it can be a setting in the firewall or security program, a bad Ethernet cable, an incorrect TCP/IP setting, or an invalid IP address. Temporarily turing off firewalls and disabling security programs is a good place to start.
Turn on File and Print Sharing File and Print Sharing needs to be enabled for computers to share files. To do this, go to the Control Panel and open the Network Connections. Next, right-click your network adapter and select Properties. Make sure File and Print Sharing is checked.
Make Sure TCP/IP and IP Settings are Correct Depending on your network setup, you'll need to make sure all PCs are local to each other. If you use a router and have it set so that the router handles the IP addresses for the network (DHCP) then the computers probably already have the correct IP addresses. To check, go to Start>Run and type cmd and hit OK. At the command line, type ipconfig /all and hit enter. You should see an IP address similar to 192.168.1.2 or 10.1.1.1. Each PC on the L:AN will have a similar IP. If not, then the IP addresses are configured wrong.
Lastly, go back into your network adapter and right-click the TCP/IP protocol again and choose Properties. Click the Advanced button and under the WINS tab, make sure Netbios over TCP/IP is checked.
You can test the connections by going to Start>Run and type \\computername and hit OK. You should see a guest login for the computer you are trying to reach. For instance, if the PC you are trying to reach is named office you could type \\office and hit OK. Or if you know it's IP address you can type \\192.168.1.2 and hit OK.
To recap, make sure the folowing is done so you can view other computers on the network:
Turn on File and Print Sharing
Make sure firewalls are temporarily disabled for troubleshooting.
Confirm all PCs have a local IP address.
Make sure Netbios over TCP/IP is checked in the advanced TCP/IP settings.
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