Catalina won't network to Windows

[malcolmi]

I have upgraded my iMac to Catalina from Mojave and it now won't connect to my Windows 10 PC, with the message: 'There was a problem connecting to the server "dell-latitude" '.
I have
- checked the network - the iMac and my Macbook can see each other OK
- checked the workgroup name in System Preferences > Network > Advanced > WINS
- checked Sharing > 'Share files and folders using SMB'
- on Windows, I have checked network discovery is ON and file sharing enabled
- created a nsmb.conf file in /etc (suggested in another forum post)
but it still fails. The only thing changed since it last worked is the Catalina upgrade.
My MacBook (also upgraded to Catalina) won't connect to Windows either. How can I enable Windows networking?

 

[ferrarr]

When I had this issue, I had to select the folders/drives on the winOS PC and enable sharing in the Properties dialog box.

 

[malcolmi]

When I had this issue, I had to select the folders/drives on the winOS PC and enable sharing in the Properties dialog box.

Hi, thanks for the suggestion but I can't even get as far as a sign in prompt to the WinPC.

 

[ferrarr]

Have you restarted the winOS PC, since you upgraded the Mac?

 

[malcolmi]

Yes, WinPC has been restarted many times (in hope).

 

[malcolmi]

I contacted Apple Support and they solved the problem. Connection was failing using the PC's system name but I was able to connect to the PC using its IP address. The support guy thought it was possibly due to the DHCP entry having changed since last successful connection. I don't know whether the upgrade to Catalina had anything to do with it - maybe just a coincidence ..?

 

[IWT]

Thank you so much for posting back the solution. It will help others in the future.

Ian

 

[malcolmi]

Well, it's only a partial solution. I can connect by IP address with no trouble but can't connect by the WinPC server name, even though the name appears in the Network section of the Finder sidebar. 'Connect as..' appears but clicking it has no effect. If I use 'connect to server (⌘-K)' and give the server name it says "There was a problem connecting to the server dell-latitude". I have tried restarting the WinPC, and under System Preferences File Sharing 'Use SMB for file sharing' is checked.

 

[malcolmi]

I have a further update on this problem. I contacted Apple Support and they decided it's an issue with Catalina. The fix is to append ".local" to the Windows server name, e.g. Finder > Connect to Server > MyPC.local
I don't know why it seems to be just me getting this problem but it certainly works. Apple Support gave me to understand this should be patched in a future MacOS update.