my computers don't show up in network

Guys, a question for both of you. Can you connect to your shared computers if you do a manual connection - i.e. command+K and smb://computername.local or IP address?

#1 Make sure Finder isn't configured to not display the other computers.

In Finder, go Preferences -> Sidebar and check to see what's enabled in the "Shared" section. If "Bonjour Computers" is not enabled then they wont show up. They can still be used, they just wont show up in the Sidebar. You could do (from the Finder menu) "Go" -> "Network" and it will display the remote computers in the main area of the Finder window.

#2 Assuming "Bonjour Computers" is enabled, have you checked your network connectivity?

Is the Mac still on the same network after you performed the upgrade? (e.g. if you were using Airport then you might need to manually join the same network and enter the network's airport password (if one is required.) You can also use the 'ping' command to verify you have at least basic network connectivity to the other Macs (or use the "Network Utility" -> "Ping" application found in the "Utilities" folder. You will need to know either the name or IP address of the other systems. All systems have a Bonjour ".local" host name as well. You can find that name by going into the "System Preferences" -> "Sharing" interface and read the text below the "Computer Name:" field -- for example if your Computer's name is "My MacBook Pro" then it'll have a network name of "My-MacBook-Pro.local" (any spaces in the name are converted to dashes) and you can "ping" the other computers using this name as well. (NOTE: If "System Preferences" -> "Security" -> "Firewall" -> "Advanced..." panel has "Enable Stealth Mode" box checked then that Mac will not respond to a ping request -- it will ignore them.

Assuming there's no basic networking issue, the other systems will still only show up if sharing is enabled and assuming the firewall isn't blocking them.

#3 Are the computers on your network actually sharing out network services?

On each Mac that you've upgraded, go into "System Preferences" -> "Sharing" and make sure the services are enabled that you'd like to use (e.g. File Sharing and/or Screen Sharing, etc.) If a remote computer is not "sharing" any of it's services then it wont show up in the "SHARED" section of the Finder sidebar.

File Sharing only enables Apple's "AFP" file sharing protocol by default. It does not enable Windows "SMB" file sharing (although it can if you want it to). If your Mac can't be seen by Windows users for purposes of file sharing then you'd need to enable it (it's in the "Options..." menu you can find if you highlight "File Sharing" in the left column of the "Sharing" preferences.

Note that "Sharing" controls what you are willing to share out to others -- not the other way round. If you do not have "Sharing" of any services enabled, you will still be able to view other computers which are sharing services to the network.

#4 Is the built-in Firewall blocking you?

Also, go into the "System Preferences" -> "Security" -> "Firewall" of each of your Macs and check the settings there as well. I use "Set access for specific services and applications". If you use that choice, then you'll notice that as you enable or disable services such as "File Sharing" they will automatically be added or removed from the list (you don't need to manually edit these rules). Whenever you use a new application that wants to allow incomming connections, you'll be prompted by the Mac OS X security to select whether or not you want to allow it. If you DO allow it then it'll be added to the list you see here in this panel (and if you change your mind, this is where you go to remove it from the firewall list.)

Message was edited by: Tim Campbell1

I have the exact same problem! I have multiple macs and pc laptop on my home network. My older dual G4 mac running OS 10.2.8 has absolutely no problem recognizing all the computers on the network. My other G4 never had any trouble either until I updated to Leopard. Now it won't recognize the PC but will recognize the other macs. I also have a new MacBook Pro 13" with OS 10.6 and it also will not recognize the PC even with SMB enabled.

So now if I want to access my PC I have to do it from my older G4 running 10.2.8 and then transfer the file to the computer I need it on! Absolutely friggin' ridiculous. I've been using Mac networks since 1996....and I have never encountered an issue like this.

Same thing here - Macs only; the older PowerBook G4 sees the others but 2008 iMac and MBPro see the others but never connect - have enabled users and connections in SysPrefs, but still no connection. All since most recent Leopard (not Snow Leopard) updates. Any advice?

hi - no, the smb command results in Connection Failed msg for me.

btw, it's error code -43

I am suspectiing some problem created by the new iTunes Home Sharing - I turned on this in both machines, then the network share problem began.

Also, when I click Done in Home Sharing set up, the Home Share triangle and name disappear in iTunes.