Can't see windows computers on network

Add another location using the "Duplicate Location" option in the Network Settings. In the WINS tab add your workgroup name and hit apply. It will stick this time.

Unfortunately, I am still unable to see my windows pcs or access the shared windows printer.

i have the same problems on 2 Mac's .. i have mac pro and mac book and both can see each other but they can't see the PC's any of 'em .. with or without firewall. PC's can see the Mac's and can put files/delete/etc.

and Yes it happened to me also .. sometimes i just keep the finder open
and I'll start watching all the PC's pap up in the finder in MAC Pro ..
then wait few more moments .. then they'll go away

the PC's are collection of Vista and Vista 64bit and XP Pro and Server 2008 and some with firewall ON and some OFF ..

i can connect though SMB://192.168. ./
but even this doesn't work all the time and only after connecting in this way,
it will show the PC name in finder

this is some weird bug right there. please fix it Apple

if you guys found any fix please let me know

Try doing this.

1. Open the Terminal

2. Type the following command:

sudo pico /etc/smb.conf

Enter your password and a terminal-based text editor will open with the "smb.conf" loaded.

3. Go down to the line that says "name resolve order = ..." and change it to the following (reordering items after the "="):

name resolve order = lmhosts bcast host wins

4. If that does not work, remove the "WINS" option from the line altogether, as such:

name resolve order = lmhosts bcast host

5. Press "ctrl-o" followed by the enter key to save the file, and press "ctrl-x" to exit the editor.

6. Close all programs and restart the computer. Then see if the computer automatically recognizes windows computers on the network and lists them properly.

Hello,

I did exactly what you told me to do,

I did try those 2 lines but they didn't work with me
I still can't see any Windows Computer, i only see the Other MAC BOOK

and only through SMB that i can connect to PC's

btw, after connecting to a PC through SMB and the IP Address the finder will
give me the IP address of the PC not the name .. for example

i used to see Owey-PC
now i see 192.168.1.103

i tried those on both mac's and both didn't work.

sorry for my English
Any other Idea's or things to try

Do you have a windows workgroup defined in your network preferences? Go to the "Network" system preferences and select your network adaptor. Then click the "Advanced" button and over in the "WINS" tab you should see the option to add a WINS server and enter a workgroup. Try entering a workgroup name in the appropriate field. You may need to define a new network location in order for these settings to stick, if you're using "Automatic". Just go to the "Locations" drop-down menu and select "Edit", and then duplicate the "Automatic" location and call it "test" or something else you'd like. Then go to the WINS tab and enter the information there.

Additionally, go to the terminal and type this command:

nmblookup -M WORKGROUP

(Where "WORKGROUP" is the name of the windows workgroup containing all the computers you're trying to see)

This will try to find the windows master browser on the network. You might also try entering the broadcast IP address for the network instead of "WORKGROUP", which should be something like 192.168.1.1, or 192.168.1.254.

yes all the PC's are set to "MSHOME" workgroup and all can see and share each others files.

both MAC's set to MSHOME it saved itself from the first time i didnt have to copy the setting and make another one

and the "nmblookup -M MSHOME" didn't give me anything except that 1 IP's that
i entered in the SMB manually, (entered many IP's manually)

192.168.1.103 Vista Ultimate

In my network i have 7 PC's connected (same workgroup "MSHOME")
all to the same router and all to the internet through that router.
some are wireless and some wired

my firewall in both MAC's are set to
Allow all incoming connections, if that's correct

And under sharing and file sharing/options i have selected
Share files and folders using SMB

only this one is checked and the others are OFF

Message was edited by: timeXway

still no fix for this from apple? or any other program

We really need a fix for this problem, it is very frustrating.

Apple please do something...