Issues with streaming from Windows 7 Laptop

[Martynt74]

I've got an old laptop which was running Windows 7 that i figured i'd use as a home server and to run the Unifi Controller software for my network.

No matter what i seem to do i can't get other devices to access the music/video files on the laptop. If i have another laptop i can access network shares fine.

Things i've tried/checked

Media Streaming is turned on
Folders i want to share are within my music library
Various server programs like Subsonic and Serviio
"Sharing" for the folder in question is set to "Everyone"


My other devices can see the Home server and some can even see the "Flac Music" folder. But when i click on that it just says access error or shows as nothing within it.

I'm truly stumped!

 

[jpaul]

can you set up a client on the laptop itself and does it work ?
if there were a problem with the firewall being open on appropriate port, an on board client would be imapcted too i think.

 

[Martynt74]

Sorry if i'm being dumb but how would i do that?

If i set up a client on the laptop would it not just be looking directly at a local source rather than a network source?


I should add that i can use both VNC viewer and Remote desktop to access the server laptop remotely.

 

[agw_01]

Sounds like you've changed the share permissions, but perhaps not the permissions of the files themselves.

If you log into both laptops using the same username/pasword, this will authenticate you on the 'server' which is possibly why you can access the files from another laptop.

On the server, right click the folder you want to share, click Properties, Security and check to see whether you have 'Everyone' listed. If not, add it (or another user you specifically want to give access etc)

 

[Martynt74]

Come on Andy. That's in my list of things i said i've tried

"Sharing" for the folder in question is set to "Everyone"

Unless you mean something else, in which case i'll wind my neck in!



To add, if i use another laptop and open up the file explorer window and expand on the "Network" i can see the server and the folders within.

Issue seems to be more streaming from devices like my TV/Network music streamers

 

[agw_01]

Haha, I tried!

There are 2 tabs, sharing and security.

Sharing is for... well, sharing. Security relates to the actual NTFS file permissions. Pretty sure even if you set the sharing permissions, if the clients don't have permissions to read the actual files (via the secuity tab) you won't be able to access them.

Worth checking.

Do the 2 machines have at least one of the same user accounts on both?

 

[Martynt74]

Sounds like that could be it then. I'll have a look at the security tab when i get home tonight.

Other option is to sack it in and just buy a Networked hard drive enclosure rather than a half broken old laptop!

 

[jpaul]

can you set up a client on the laptop itself and does it work ?

if you access media through servioo server(I use plex), is it not, the local server ,its running account, and the local file rights that need to allow access/cooperate ?
and then, the media client just neeeds permission to speak with the server.
afaik the servioo interface allows you to see, and verify media it has access to, and if that works should be good to go.
Running a media client locally would access the data via the server and checking that, might reveal server comm/auth issues .