Expert: Michael Tedeschi - 10/14/2009

Question
QUESTION: If I open Windows Explorer and look at My Network Places, Entire Network, Microsoft Windows Network. I see the workgroup and a list of computers. Below the entire network I see the list of shared folders.

What I see is not accurate as computer have left.

How can I force the information to be updated so that My Network Places actually shows which computer are actually on the network and which shares are really available?


ANSWER: What does "What I see is not accurate as computer have left. " mean?

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QUESTION: 2nd try
If I open Windows Explorer and select My Network Places, Entire Network, Microsoft Windows Network, Mshome, I see all the computers currently on the network. Then I turn on my laptop also wired to the network. If I close and open Windows Explorer and repeat the steps to get to the computers, I see the original computers, the laptop workgroup. Clicking on the laptop workgroup shows the laptop. Next I turn off the laptop. If I close and open Windows Explorer and repeat the steps to get to the computers, I see the original computers, the laptop workgroup and the laptop. What I am seeing is not accurate because I know the laptop is not present since I turned it off.

Answer
This happens sometimes.  You can try pressing the F5 button to refresh the screen.  Even if you see it, which happens sometimes due to the LAN card being active (for Wake on LAN purposes), you cannot access it unless it is actually on, which I am sure you know.

Its just one of those things.  Don't let it bother you....I don't really know of any program that will tell you up to the second information like that.