[SOLVED] File sharing in home network

[dotas1]

Hi guys!

I have a home network that has 2 PC(let's call them PC 1 and PC 2) and 2 laptops (Laptop 1 and Laptop 2) connected with cables through my router. The 2 PCs have latest Windows 10 PRO 1909 version and the 2 laptops latest Windows 7 Home with all the latest updates installed.

My problem is that the 2 PCs can not share any files as it asks for a username and password everytime I try to exchange files yet both of them can exchange whatever file with the 2 laptops. It's a bit frustrating having to send the file form the PC 1 to Laptop 1 and then to PC 2, instead straight to PC 2. The problem started when I made a clean install of windows in PC 1 and before that everything was working properly. I am not that good with networking so I might have messed something up.

Do you know what might be the issue? Is there a guide to follow to solve these kind of problems? I did search on Google and tried a few things with services and permissions and users but nothing has worked so far.

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[Ralston18]

The clean install (PC1) probably removed the necessary folder/file shares and/or access rights.

You will need to reestablish those rights.

Here are some websites to help:

https://lifehacker.com/how-to-share-a-folder-over-your-network-5808814

https://pureinfotech.com/setup-network-file-sharing-windows-10/

And you probably need to enable file sharing again:

https://www.guidingtech.com/fix-window-10-file-sharing-not-working/

Double check the configurations and correct/reconfigure as necessary.

You should not need to make any changes on the laptops. Focus on getting PC1 and PC2 sharing again.

 

[jojesa]

Hi guys!

I have a home network that has 2 PC(let's call them PC 1 and PC 2) and 2 laptops (Laptop 1 and Laptop 2) connected with cables through my router. The 2 PCs have latest Windows 10 PRO 1909 version and the 2 laptops latest Windows 7 Home with all the latest updates installed.

My problem is that the 2 PCs can not share any files as it asks for a username and password everytime I try to exchange files yet both of them can exchange whatever file with the 2 laptops. It's a bit frustrating having to send the file form the PC 1 to Laptop 1 and then to PC 2, instead straight to PC 2. The problem started when I made a clean install of windows in PC 1 and before that everything was working properly. I am not that good with networking so I might have messed something up.

Do you know what might be the issue? Is there a guide to follow to solve these kind of problems? I did search on Google and tried a few things with services and permissions and users but nothing has worked so far.

Thanks in advance for any help

To make sharing easy between the computers on your network you need to create passwords for the users.
Then enable File & Printer sharing
Open Control Panel, click Network and Sharing Center, and then click on Advanced sharing settings on the left pane.
Expand the Private section, click Turn on network discovery, and then click Apply.
You might be prompted for an administrator password or confirmation.
Under File and printer sharing, click Turn on file and printer sharing, and then click Apply. You might be prompted for an administrator password or confirmation .
Click the Save changes button.

 

[dotas1]

The clean install (PC1) probably removed the necessary folder/file shares and/or access rights.

You will need to reestablish those rights.

Here are some websites to help:

https://lifehacker.com/how-to-share-a-folder-over-your-network-5808814

https://pureinfotech.com/setup-network-file-sharing-windows-10/

And you probably need to enable file sharing again:

https://www.guidingtech.com/fix-window-10-file-sharing-not-working/

Double check the configurations and correct/reconfigure as necessary.

You should not need to make any changes on the laptops. Focus on getting PC1 and PC2 sharing again.

To make sharing easy between the computers on your network you need to create passwords for the users.
Then enable File & Printer sharing
Open Control Panel, click Network and Sharing Center, and then click on Advanced sharing settings on the left pane.
Expand the Private section, click Turn on network discovery, and then click Apply.
You might be prompted for an administrator password or confirmation.
Under File and printer sharing, click Turn on file and printer sharing, and then click Apply. You might be prompted for an administrator password or confirmation .
Click the Save changes button.

Thank you for your replies, I will try them tomorrow when I will have more time and post the results here.

 

[dotas1]

OK, so although I had already done what you guys suggested, I have different result this time.

https://imgur.com/GlKD03r

View: https://imgur.com/GlKD03r


In the image you will see both PCs settings (teamviewer on the right to show they do have the same) and now PC 1 to the left can not see PC 2 on the right through network while PC 2 can see PC 1 and can have access to the Users shared folder and NOT to the one I gave permissions.
When I try to access the shared folder of PC 1 from PC 2, it says that I don't have permission to access it and to contact an administrator.

Any ideas?

EDIT:
I had the 2 laptops powered off while trying the settings and now that I opened Laptop 1, it can see PC 1 and not PC 2, same as PC 1 couldn't see PC 2. PC 1 does see Laptop 1 though. I am baffled.

 

[Ralston18]

On each computer (PC1, PC2 Laptop1, Laptop2) find the folders you wish to share and right click each folder.

Then select "Properties" at the bottom of the menu that appears.

5 tabs should be shown: General, Sharing, Security, Previous Versions, and Customize.

Look at the Type Location (Path name) to the share.

Then check the Sharing and Security Tabs. Also remember to click "Advanced Sharing" to verify the "Share this folder" configuration.

Pay close attention to "Group or user names" and "Permissions for SYSTEM".

Under the Security tab, at the bottom, is "Advanced" - Look at the permission entries and inheritance.

Do not immediately change anything - just verify how each computer and its share(s) are configured for sharing.

If you sketch out a diagram showing all four computers and the desired shared folders between them you will have a "plan" to work from.

Fill in the shares that are working as intended and then use that information (the properties) to reconfigure the shares that are not working.

Then selecting just one computer and one share on it focus on editing the permissions.

Key is to be methodical and careful. Make changes only in one place at a time and be ready to undue some change that makes things worse. I.e., some other share is lost.

 

[dotas1]

Update: I did a network reset on PC 2 and now all 4 systems can see each other. The problem now is that I had both folders and whole drives shared and each and every system can now access only the folders and not the drives. I did not change anything else beside network reset on PC 2.

Under the Security tab, at the bottom, is "Advanced" - Look at the permission entries and inheritance.

All of them has User: EVERYONE and Allow Full Control, as you can see also in the screenshot above.

 

[Ralston18]

Are any of the computer's mapped to the other computer's drives? Not noting any previous mention of that so I believe not. Please verify or correct my understanding.

The end network sharing plan being:

PC1 PC2 Laptop 1 Laptop2
Shares C: Shares C: Shares C: Shares C:
Shares FolderW Shares FolderX Shares FolderX Shares FolderZ


And/or other specifically designated folders on each computer.

And all shares on any given computer are to be accessible by every user on/from the other three computers - correct?

I would not share the C: drives per se not grant general C: access to other computer user's. If you want some control of all computers from one specific computer then remote access should be used.

https://www.tenforums.com/network-s...ermission-access-error-folders-work-fine.html

Note Post #3

What I have been trying to do is get a sense of the required/desired sharing and the network relationships between the four computers. Some way to methodically work through the configuration to fix what is not working without undoing what is working.

The following link provides an overview to work from.

https://techtalk.currys.co.uk/computing/windows-10/how-to-set-up-file-sharing-in-windows-10/

With all four computers now seeing each other again - that is progress.

Do not share C: drives. Instead focus on getting at least one shared folder on each computer visible to the other three computers. Use any working shares as a template to get the non-working shares working.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Computers hosting shares need to have local users defined (same users as on computers, that are accessing those shares).

So for example you're hosting share on PC1.
You want user laptop-user1 from Laptop1 to access this share on PC1.
Create local user "laptop-user1" on PC1. If password is specified correctly (when creating the user), accessing share will not ask for password.

 

[dotas1]

The end network sharing plan being:

PC1 PC2 Laptop 1 Laptop2
Shares C: Shares C: Shares C: Shares C:
Shares FolderW Shares FolderX Shares FolderX Shares FolderZ

Correct, except that I am not trying to share my C: drive, I have multiple HDDs that are being shared. So
on PC 1 I have the I: drive and 3 more folders,
on PC 2 I have the F: drive and 11 more folders,
on Laptop 1 I have D: drive and 1 folder,
on Laptop 2 I have 1 folder.

Are any of the computer's mapped to the other computer's drives?

I am not sure I understand what you mean here. If you mean this:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4026635/windows-map-a-network-drive
then no, I have not done that.

https://www.tenforums.com/network-s...ermission-access-error-folders-work-fine.html

That is EXACTLY the issue I was having today and the Security tab fixed the issue!

But, I restarted a couple of times PC 2 WITHOUT modifying anything and again it became undiscoverable to the rest of the systems. Although when I try to access it through \\PC 2 it does open the shared items.

 

[Ralston18]

What is the full path name you are using for \\PC2 ?

The format should be \\PC2\share_name_here

So does Drive F: on PC2 have a share name?

Reference (keeping in mind a mixed Windows 10 and 7 environment):

https://www.howtogeek.com/school/windows-network-sharing/lesson8/

https://www.howtogeek.com/school/windows-network-sharing/lesson9/

Lesson - 9: scroll down about halfway to the drive sharing section.

 

[dotas1]

What is the full path name you are using for \\PC2 ?

The format should be \\PC2\share_name_here

So does Drive F: on PC2 have a share name?

Reference (keeping in mind a mixed Windows 10 and 7 environment):

https://www.howtogeek.com/school/windows-network-sharing/lesson8/

https://www.howtogeek.com/school/windows-network-sharing/lesson9/

Lesson - 9: scroll down about halfway to the drive sharing section.

All of the problems are gone except that no system can see PC 2 every time. After multiple restarts of PC 2, I might be able to see it and afterwards when I restart again it does't show up.

The real path I am trying to enter for PC 2 is : \\Vasiliki-PC\f as I have named that drive with the letter it already has on the system. Another path is : \\Vasiliki-PC\movies .
Although the PC 2 does not show up to network computers, if I input the path, it does access the drive and folder. So, the problem now has been only why it does not show up. I should also mention that even PC 2 can not see it's self on network computers.

In the pic below you can see PC 1 and Laptop 1 although PC 2 is powered on. I will upload in a few what I see from PC 2.

https://imgur.com/lnPaO1U

Edit: Here is what I see from PC 2, the exact same thing without itself.

https://imgur.com/7GPqvVI

View: https://imgur.com/7GPqvVI

 

[Ralston18]

In File Explorer > File > View is "Hidden items" checked?

 

[dotas1]

In File Explorer > File > View is "Hidden items" checked?

Yes, it is. I don't understand why would sometimes show and others not (mostly not).

 

[dotas1]

I won't search for the reason why it shows sometimes anymore, I am happy that it works, thank you all for your responses!