Network computers are not seeing each other as computers

[imcarlhall]

I have a network with three computers.  Suddenly, they cannot communicate with one another.  A new laptop, running Norton's can see the and communicate with the other two, seeing the devices by their computer names.  The two devices, both running Avast, see the IP addresses of the other in the network scan but apparently not as computers.  One lists the device as EliteGroups while being seen by its counterpart as Azureware.  I am supposing that is the reason they will not connect to one another.  Any suggestions? 

[DavidR]

Is anything showing up in the Avast Firewall and Network Inspector Shields settings that might block them  ?

Typically this might be untrusted network

[imcarlhall]

There is nothing that I see which seems out of the ordinary but my knowledge of what is ordinary is very limited.  I have set both computers to trust the network.  One is connected via an Ethernet cable, but I have told the laptop to forget the network several times, hoping when it came back on, it would be recognized by its true identity, but it does not.  Is there a way to flush the IP addresses or tell Avast that the device is a computer?

[DavidR]

I currently don't have the Firewall component installed, so I can't really check.

In the Network Inspector does it show your visited networks and are the external devices listed there ?

In my network it shows my Router connection and WiFi function of the router and I have no issues there and they are set to Public Network and no issues there.  Check the Firewall and see what is there and is it a Public or Trusted connection.

[imcarlhall]

And this is where I get confused. 

Issue 1 - The desktop shows five additional networks which are untrusted.  They are not named, and I have no idea where they have come from.  In desperation, I attempted to trust them all to see if the computers would connect.  It only allowed me to trust one.  Every time I trust the other four, the setting bounces back.  Neither will Avast allow me to untrust the one.  When I do, the setting bounces back.  Not sure what is going on.

Issue 2 - I have all my settings set for private networks only.  I am not allowed any public networks.   I thought public made the network open to the world and public kept my information only on the three computers.  Am I wrong?

[DavidR]

I honestly don't know - as effectively I only have a single network working to my Router/Modem.

The only other connections (on the list of Monitored Networks - Visited Networks) are WiFi to that hub and they are named and those are considered Untrusted, even though they have to actually connect to the Router/Modem (hub).

I suspect that because I'm not using the Avast Firewall mine will differ.
I also don't know how avast would interact with other systems when they have other antivirus solutions installed, e.g. would they be blocking interaction with Avast.

[imcarlhall]

I appreciate your help.  I finally took Avast off and the computers immediately saw each other.  While I would have preferred to use Avast because I was more experienced with it, I installed Norton's and have had no issues with it.  Maybe I will try Avast again in the future.

[DavidR]

you're welcome.