Windows 8.1 File Explorer problem

[Salamander]

All of a sudden, when I open the File Explorer, the Network Icon shows my desktop and laptop, but no longer shows my router nor either of my external hard drives. I can still access all of them - the shared library files that are stored on one of the external hard drives are still accessible from This PC. I can also access the external hard drive content from icons on my desktop.

Any ideas why they no longer show under the Network Icon in File Explorer?

 

[inachu]

All of a sudden, when I open the File Explorer, the Network Icon shows my desktop and laptop, but no longer shows my router nor either of my external hard drives. I can still access all of them - the shared library files that are stored on one of the external hard drives are still accessible from This PC. I can also access the external hard drive content from icons on my desktop.

Any ideas why they no longer show under the Network Icon in File Explorer?

The view was changed?

 

[Salamander]

The view has not been changed. I tried changing it to see it that would bring them back. That didn't help.

 

[Salamander]

Ok, after a number of steps, including doing system restore (twice), I've discovered it's caused by a new wireless printer. After restoring my computer, as soon as I turn on the new printer and it is discovered by my computer, the router and external hard drive icons disappear from File Explorer.

Update: the driver for the printer was the culprit. I was letting Windows discover the printer and install the driver automatically. Instead, I downloaded the latest one from the website, and that did the trick.