so you get my confusion in this... if anything the IP address should work, and that totally messed up the tech from my ISP. The NAS lets me map with the D-Link Easy util. after say a fw upgrade/factory reset. But only for about 10 mins, then i get a cannot connect to share. by device name or IP Address. I can Ping, I can FTP into this. I cannot map the drive from any machine on my network.
Since starting from scratch all the time is no good and since ftp and ping works let us safely assume this is not a network problem, that is your nas device is successfully assigned to an ip address and is accessible throught the lan.
So, something is wrong with windows. Please, verify the following settings:
NAS -> Setup -> DeviceWorkgroup = THE SAME as the PC's workgroup
NAS -> Advanced -> Network AccessType = SMB
SMB LISTShare=Volume_1
Path=Volume_1
User/Group=ALL
Oplocks=No
Map archive=No
R/W=Yes
NAS -> Advanced -> DHCP ServerDHCP Server=Disable
NAS -> Advanced -> LLTDLLTD=Disable
NAS -> Advanced -> Users/GroupsFWIW, add a user with the same name as the PC user account you log in with.
Windows 7Computer -> (right click) -> Properties -> Computer workgroup -> Change settings
Make sure the computer and the NAS are in the same workgroup.
Windows 7 SAMBA Settings (BTW, what windows version are u running?)
Network and Sharing Center -> Advanced sharing settingsCurrent Profile=Home or Work
Network discovery=Turn on
File and printer sharing=Turn on
Public folder sharing=Turn off
Media streaming=off (turn it off even if you need it on, just to be sure about the set up. You can always activate it later).
File sharing connections=128bit
Password protected sharing=Turn on
HomeGroup connections=All Windows to manage homegroup connections (I assume you do not have a homegroup active. If you do please disable it for the time being).
Test #1.Open Windows Explorer -> Network.
The NAS device must be listed there.
Test #2.(Forget about the EasySearch tool.)
Open Windows Explorer -> Computer.
On the menu bar click -> Map network drive.
Try to map the Volume_1 to a drive letter.
If the above do not work then maybe the NAS device is defective.