How to Detect a Laptop or a Desktop

Detecting a desktop or laptop on your home network is made simple in Windows, as network discovery is enabled by default in most installations. If those settings are unchanged, you can find devices on your network through the "Network and Sharing Center" in the Control Panel. There, browse through any files these devices are sharing on the network. Depending on the security settings of those shared folders, however, you may need to enter an appropriate username and password first.

• 1

  Open your "Start" menu and select "Control Panel." If you don't see it, look under "Settings."

• 2

  Click the "Network and Sharing Center" icon.

• 3

  Click "See full map" and then wait for the window to load. It eventually displays a map of your entire network, complete with whatever specific device information it could find.

• 4

  Access shared files by clicking the "Back" button (an icon of an arrow pointing left) followed by the "Network" icon. You'll see icons of computers and shared folders; double click to open them. If no files are shared you'll receive an error message; if they're not public, you'll be asked to enter a username and password.