Have 2 HP laptops running windows 11, one I can share a folder, the other I can't

[bastropguy]

I have set up the  networking/sharing options on both of my HP laptops the same (all private, public, all network options are on except password protected sharing is off) and I can get my newest laptop to share a folder on the network (shows up on both the older and newer laptop network devices list) but I can't get the older laptop to show up on either laptops' network devices list. Wondering if there's some limitation with the older laptop's NIC under win 11.  Never tried it under win 10. I did a complete OS reset on the older laptop too. New laptop is a month old, old laptop is a couple of years old.

[Hawks_Eye · Accepted solution]

Hi @bastropguy 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thanks for the detailed rundown—this kind of issue can be maddening, especially when everything looks correctly configured. Based on your setup and the fact that both laptops are running Windows 11, the problem likely stems from a network discovery or service-level glitch on the older HP 17-c2000 laptop, rather than a hardware limitation with its NIC.

Here’s a deeper dive into what might be going on and how to fix it:

🧠 What’s Likely Causing the Issue

• Function Discovery services may not be running properly on the older laptop
• Network discovery might be blocked by firewall or disabled at the service level
• SMB protocol or guest access could be misconfigured
• Windows 11 23H2 update has caused similar issues on this exact model

🛠️ Step-by-Step Fixes to Try

Verify Required Services Are Running

• Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter
• Ensure these services are Running and set to Automatic:
  • Function Discovery Provider Host
  • Function Discovery Resource Publication
  • SSDP Discovery
  • UPnP Device Host
  • Network Location Awareness

Reset Network Stack

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator
• Run these commands one by one:netsh winsock reset netsh int ip reset ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew ipconfig /flushdns
• Restart the laptop afterward

Enable SMB 1.0 (if needed)

• Press Windows + R, type optionalfeatures, and hit Enter
• Scroll down and check SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support
• Restart the laptop

Disable IPv6 Temporarily

• Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings
• Right-click your active connection > Properties
• Uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)
• Click OK and restart

Check Firewall and Antivirus

• Temporarily disable third-party antivirus or firewall software
• Ensure File and Printer Sharing is allowed in Windows Defender Firewall

Try Direct Access via IP

• On the newer laptop, press Windows + R, type \\[IP address of older laptop], and hit Enter
• If it connects, the issue is with name resolution or network discovery

Let me know how it goes after trying these steps. If the older laptop still refuses to show up, I can help you dig into NIC-level diagnostics or explore alternate sharing methods. 

You’ve clearly done your homework—let’s get this network behaving like it should 💪🖧.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[bastropguy]

Yeah, it didn't have the required services running for whatever reason. Thanks

[Hawks_Eye]

@bastropguy 

Glad to hear you got it sorted! Sometimes those background services decide to take a little vacation without warning 😅—but once they’re back on duty, everything clicks into place.

A huge thank you for marking this post as the 'Accepted Solution'! We're thrilled that we could help resolve your issue. 

If you ever run into more quirks with sharing, networking, or permissions, feel free to reach out. You’re clearly on top of things, and I’m always here to help keep it smooth and simple! 💻🔗

Thanks again for your confirmation, and we wish you an amazing day ahead! 😊

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye