How to share folders across network?

Chimp Paradox

Chimp Paradox

Chimp Paradox

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17 Sep 2014
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I have done this before but now its not working.

I have shared relevant folders of computer A, opening up permissions.

When I try to map the network drives on computer B the folders do not appear.

What do I have to do?
 
Quickest way to test..

Note the computernames of each pc.

Share a folder on each pc. IE..

C:\Shared\

Go to other pc, Start, Run (Winkey + R)

Type in..

\\nameOfOtherPC


This should list the shared folder.
 
Remove any 3rd party firewalls you have, just use Windows firewall.

Check they're both set to 'Home' network type and not public.
 
Yes that's the correct screen and it shouldn't be set to public on your own network as that setting turns file sharing off as it's intended for public network connections, such as in a coffee shop, airport etc.

If you're on Windows 8.x then click on the network connection icon next to the clock in the lower right corner, when the networks charms menu comes out from the right then right click on your network and select 'Turn sharing on or off'.

When you first connect to a network it asks you whether it is public or a home/work network, if you choose public it keeps file sharing turned off and sets the network to public in the screen shot you posted.

Whilst you're in Network and Sharing Center you might want to review the settings in 'Change advanced sharing settings' to satisfy yourself that these are how you want them to be too.
 
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Not sure why that is like that on Computer B.

You appear to be connected via Ethernet on both computers so can I check these are both in the same property connected to the same router or switch?

I don't have Ethernet here at the moment so I'm guessing a bit here that you could still left click on the network connection in the bottom right corner next to the clock on Computer B to bring out the Networks charm bar? If so, right click then on your network in the charms bar and it will give the option to forget network.

Then I would go to Computer A and click the link in Network and Sharing Center that says 'Ready to create' next to where it says 'HomeGroup'.

Then go back to Computer B and click the same link to create a HomeGroup and enter the code that Computer A I think will have given you.

Hopefully you should then have a Network and Sharing Center that shows the same network on both computers and as Private.

You should probably then be able share files and folders between both PC's but you should also check the advanced sharing settings in the Network and Sharing Center on both machines to make sure those settings are how you would want them.

These may be defaulted by the HomeGroup set up but I would check the following;
Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings;

then, Private (current profile)

Network discovery
Turn on network discovery [checked]
Turn on automatic setup of network-connected devices. [checked]

File and printer sharing
Turn on file and printer sharing [checked]

HomeGroup connections
Allow Windows to manage HomeGroup connections (recommended) [checked]


All networks profile

Public folder sharing
Turn off Public folder sharing [checked]

File sharing connections
Use 128-bit encryption to help protect file sharing connections [checked]

Password-protected sharing
Turn on password-protected sharing [checked]


I'd reboot both PC's now just to ensure both are picking up the latest options that have been set.
 
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What do you see when you browse to the PC sharing the folders?

When you try to connect to ComputerA, do you get prompted for credentials? If so, remember to use the form ComputerA\username, not just username.

Thirdly, in PC networking, there are two separate sets of permissions: share-level permissions and file-level permissions. Both need to be set correctly.
 
You appear to be connected via Ethernet on both computers so can I check these are both in the same property connected to the same router or switch?
Click to expand...

Yes. the exact wiring is. WAN into Modem. Modem into Router. Router into Computer B. Router into Powerline. Powerline into Computer A.

Then I would go to Computer A and click the link in Network and Sharing Center that says 'Ready to create' next to where it says 'HomeGroup'.
Click to expand...

My understanding was that this is an annoying method. And that you can avoid this just by sharing folders? Don't want to get involved with homegroup.
 
Quartz said:
What do you see when you browse to the PC sharing the folders?

When you try to connect to ComputerA, do you get prompted for credentials? If so, remember to use the form ComputerA\username, not just username.

Thirdly, in PC networking, there are two separate sets of permissions: share-level permissions and file-level permissions. Both need to be set correctly.
Click to expand...

Oddly I never got prompted for credentials. When I did this once in the past though I did, and I remember doing that.

I did share level permissions by selecting relevant folder and changing advanced permissions. Where are file level permissions?

One final thing to bear in mind. Despite not appearing part of same network, I am about to read files across it. I watched a whole hour long tv show last night. Its just intermittent in the way it shows up as a shared folder - sometimes there, sometimes not. I always see the other computer on the network - its just when I click on it it sometimes says network path does not exist.
 
(1) Remove all user passwords / accounts other than admin.
(2) Leave any Homegroups
(3) Vital services that must be enabled: Computer Browser, Server, Workstation, Network Location Awareness, Network List Service, Disable: Homegroups in Services
(4) Turn on Network Discovery, File and printer Sharing, Password sharing
(5) Share relevant folders to read/write for "Everyone"
 
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Chimp Paradox said:
Yes. the exact wiring is. WAN into Modem. Modem into Router. Router into Computer B. Router into Powerline. Powerline into Computer A.



My understanding was that this is an annoying method. And that you can avoid this just by sharing folders? Don't want to get involved with homegroup.
Click to expand...


The Powerline adapters may be the thing which is causing you some grief. Bledd suggested testing Computer B also being attached directly to the router which would help clarify whether the problem is one of configuration with your network settings or the Powerline adapters.

If you're using Windows 7 or above then the MS recommended method I believe would be using HomeGroup. Sometimes sharing folders doesn't work as something conflicts with what your trying to achieve. I had the same issue recently at a relatives home as they had just bought a W7 machine and wanted to transfer files from all over their old XP machine. Some folders it worked fine but others it would say access denied. Seemed to depend whether they were folders beneath a system folder such as Program Files or folders that had been created within My Documents or off of the root of the drive. It seems to depend on where it has inherited file based permissions from.

Anyway, prior to doing anything with HomeGroup I would just test both PC's being attached directly to the router. If that works then you won't need HomeGroup. Also, ensure both PC's have the same WorkGroup name set. This isn't defaulted to the same thing across different versions of Windows. Open 'File Explorer' and right click 'Computer' or 'My Computer' and choose 'properties' or in Windows 8, right click the start menu and choose System. Then choose 'Advanced system settings' > 'Computer Name' tab. Here you can confirm what name is set for the WorkGroup name and change if necessary so that both PC's share the same WorkGroup name.
 
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