network workgroup name not accessible AGAIN

A couple of months ago, my workgroup name used for many years (let's call it
ABC) stopped working. I could access my networked computers by using their
paths \\mylaptop\downloads but not their network name. I rebooted but it did
not help.

So I changed the workgroup name to ABC2 and it worked for 2 months up to
today at 4 PM, when workgroup names were last used to share some files.

Suddenly, again, I could use the paths but not the workgroup. I rebooted but
it did not help. I changed the workgroup on 4 of my computers to ABC3,
rebooted, and I see the networks again.

What could be ruining my workgroups while allowing paths to still work? Any
suggestions for the future (since I've changed workgroup names for now)?

Thanks.

Hi
If you maintain one cohesive peer-to-peer network all computers should be
configured to the same Network /Work Group name and each one should have a
unique name.
Within this Network/Workgroup you do not need to use the Network name just
the \\computer name\drive\older.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)

"AB" <asb@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
news:%23gnmRAXYJHA.1184@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>A couple of months ago, my workgroup name used for many years (let's call
>it ABC) stopped working. I could access my networked computers by using
>their paths \\mylaptop\downloads but not their network name. I rebooted but
>it did not help.
>
> So I changed the workgroup name to ABC2 and it worked for 2 months up to
> today at 4 PM, when workgroup names were last used to share some files.
>
> Suddenly, again, I could use the paths but not the workgroup. I rebooted
> but it did not help. I changed the workgroup on 4 of my computers to ABC3,
> rebooted, and I see the networks again.
>
> What could be ruining my workgroups while allowing paths to still work?
> Any suggestions for the future (since I've changed workgroup names for
> now)?
>
> Thanks.