How to "force" refresh of network computers to see shared folders from Win machines?

[timidhermit]

My MacBook Air 2011 model is connected to my home network that are populated by Windows machines running Windows Vista or Windows 7.

The problem I have is that when I review Network on my Mac Finder, it takes a long time before those machines will appear. Once appear, I can access the shared folders normally.

However, I can't find a find to force a manual refresh of the Network on Finder so that the networked computers will show up immediately (like Refresh in Networks in Windows Explorer).

I read many thread on pre-Lion machines that pre-Lion systems have lots of trouble "discovering" NTFS based machines on a network. But I can't find any info on Lion systems.

How do I do this on Mac Lion?

 

[prisstratton]

I have a workaround that I use for the same situation.
Install LanScan from the app store and use it to obtain IP addresses for the computers on your network. Then in Finder >> Go >> Connect to server (or just use Command-K). Enter the IP address after the SMB://

For example: SMB://192.168.1.100

LanScan has a built in vendor listing that can identify the network cards in different computers and can help to point you at the one you wish to connect to.

 

[timidhermit]

What is the default timing (or timeout) that Lion uses to search for another computers on the network? Somehow, I have a suspicious feeling that NTFS machines are discovered far slower than Macs.

I have a workaround that I use for the same situation.
Install LanScan from the app store and use it to obtain IP addresses for the computers on your network. Then in Finder >> Go >> Connect to server (or just use Command-K). Enter the IP address after the SMB://

For example: SMB://192.168.1.100

LanScan has a built in vendor listing that can identify the network cards in different computers and can help to point you at the one you wish to connect to.

 

[prisstratton]

I did some reading and this appears to be an ongoing issue. I tried several tips and the following worked well for me. I made the change and then turned on a Windows PC on my network and it appeared in Finder almost instantly.

Go to System Preferences >> Sharing - check the file sharing box, then click options and check the box "Share files and folders using SMB".