Suddenly unable to connect to network share

Daggers · 15 Aug 2014

Hi

This problem started with myself about a month ago and is plaguing me with problems, here are my machine specs.

Dell Poweredge 2550 server running Windows Server 2003 32 bit

Home built PC running Windows 7 64 bit

If you need any hardware specs I can provide them.

Up until about a month ago I was using both of these machines and they were quite happily sharing folders over a private network, I did some Windows 7 security updates and since then I can no longer access the shared folders on either machines except for the public folders on the Windows 7 machine from the Windows Server machine.

I have searched the internet for solutions and mostly I get the impression that Microsoft does not allow cross platform network shares from Windows 7 machines to older versions of it's OS anymore. I also found various workarounds including the one listed above but no matter what I do I cannot get the 2 machines to share any folders other than the public ones on the Windows 7 Machine.

What I have is a 10 TB raid array on the Windows server machine that I need to access over the network as if it is a shared drive, but every time I try to access the server I get asked for a user name and password from within the Windows 7 environment, The server PC username is \\SERVER\Administrator and then the password but this does not work, I get no error messages just the login screen constantly.

If I try and do a network search from the Server 2003 machine I get the error message saying \\Daggers-PC\ is not accessible and I do not have permission to access the folders. Access Denied. \\Daggers-PC\ is the network name of my Windows 7 PC.

This is now driving me mad, if I use the remote desktop feature that does not work either but if I install a program like Team Viewer which is a remote desktop app then it works but works at a very reduced network transfer speed.

Any help with this problem would be greatly appreciated.

2xg · 15 Aug 2014

Welcome to Seven Forums,

Instead of accessing the shared computer/folder from your network using this method: \\Daggers-PC\, try using the IP Address of Daggers computer i.e. \\192.168.1.6-PC\. If it works using the IP Address and not the Computer Name, you may conveniently create a shortcut or a mapped network drive on your computer's desktop to easily access the shared files.

Please let us know the outcome.

Daggers · 16 Aug 2014

Hi

Thanks for the reply, the method you have suggested I seem to be only able to try from the Windows 7 PC as this is the only one that asks for a username and password when trying to access the shared folder on the server, I did as you said and in putted the name as follows \\192.168.1.13\Administrator and then the password. This time I got the error message saying that access was denied because the username does not exist on the server.

From the Windows Server 2003 machine I cannot try this method at all, when I try to access one of the shared folders I just get the do not have permission error message straight away.

2xg · 17 Aug 2014

From the Windows Server 2003 and the problem computer, did you create identical User Name and Passwords?
What type of security/permission do you have assigned from the shared folder?

What type of Anti-Virus or Security software do you have installed?

Daggers · 18 Aug 2014

The two machines have different user names, but the passwords are the same, I have just tried to change my username on the Win 7 PC to Administrator but it won't let me as it says that the username is already in use. In the Win 2003 machine I cannot find in the control panel the ability to create or change the users accounts, but in this machine the username is Administrator.

Has for security on my win 7 machine I use the standard windows firewall as I have a separate hardware firewall on the outgoing/incoming connections through a router, I also use Avast Professional, Malwarebytes Anti Malware Professional and Malwarebytes Anti-exploit.

On the Win server machine I again use the default firewall, Avast Anti Virus, but seeing as I don't use the server to access the internet I have not installed any other protection software on to it. anything that is transferred to the server comes from my windows 7 PC and as already been scanned.

In the folder shares I have security/permissions set to Everyone, Full Control, Change and Read.

I can access the public folders if I search using the Win Server machine to the Win 7 machine but not the other way round, I also connected my laptop to the network yesterday and it can access the Windows Server machine no problem but as the same restrictions trying to access the Windows 7 machine.

Has stated before all this occurred after I did a Windows 7 security update, whatever the update was for seems to have locked down network access to the Windows 7 machine except for public folder access. I do not have Home Group feature activated as I know this can only share folders with other Windows 7 machine, so this feature is turned off.

I have considered update the server machine to Windows 7 which I assume would solve this problem but unfortunately I am using a SCSI Raid array which is not recognised by Windows 7 and will not load the drivers for the cards, so that option is out.

I am completely confused as to why this is happening, is this something Microsoft as done to try and force people to upgrade to a newer version of windows by removing network compatibility.

Suddenly unable to connect to network share

Suddenly unable to connect to network share

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