windows 7 network drive share?

pongool · Mar 19, 2012

I've searched high and low for a fix and I am at my wits end!!
Ok, so I have 3 pc's on my home lan...two are 7 ultimate and one is 7 home.
All I want to be able to do is share the hard drives to make moving files from one to another easy and quick instead of using thumb drives. That's all i want to do...was so easy and nice in XP but I cannot get it to work in 7. I do NOT like that Homegroup thing either as that is not working for me.
None of the pc's have log in's or passwords...they boot directly into windows 7.
When i share out a drive and then try to connect it tells me the drive is not available and I'm about to lose my mind.
Can anyone help me out with this? Like I said, it was SO easy in XP....
Thanks!

pongool · Mar 19, 2012

Ok..got it to the point where it is asking for a username and password if I check the credentials box, but I don't use a password for that laptop. Do I HAVE to use a password to get a connection? Or is that just masking the inevitable error of "windows cannot access \\pcname\drive?

Dave Atkin · Mar 19, 2012

Hello,

Windows 7 sharing is really irritating. You will need a password on the pc sharing the files.

An easy way to do it of you don't want to authenticate every time is to add multiple user accounts on the share PC using the same username and passwords on your other PCs.

Dave

Badgersmy · Mar 19, 2012

Dont know whether your problem is similar to mine or not. Main computer is on xp connected via cable to wireless router and hard wired to printer. I wanted to be able to share printer with wireless laptops operating on windows 7. Set up network as workgroup (advised elsewhere not to use homegroup as xp will not recognise). Was able to see xp computer via win 7 laptop but unable to connect to it. windows just kept coming up saying that the drive was not accessible. Frustrating as files via media player were showing and were accessible so knew the network was there. Finally resolved that my firewall was blocking. I use Kaspersky and as soon as I went into firewall network settings and changed connection type to local rather than public....voila problem solved. now have full acces to shared files and can finally print. hope this helps someone out there

aem · Mar 20, 2012

IIf you have no issues with XP machine, don't know why you have issues with W7. The bacis networking rules haven't changed.

See if this help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/53830-file-sharing-between-xp-w7-vice-versa.html

chev65 · Mar 20, 2012

pongool said:
I've searched high and low for a fix and I am at my wits end!!
Ok, so I have 3 pc's on my home lan...two are 7 ultimate and one is 7 home.
All I want to be able to do is share the hard drives to make moving files from one to another easy and quick instead of using thumb drives. That's all i want to do...was so easy and nice in XP but I cannot get it to work in 7. I do NOT like that Homegroup thing either as that is not working for me.
None of the pc's have log in's or passwords...they boot directly into windows 7.
When i share out a drive and then try to connect it tells me the drive is not available and I'm about to lose my mind.
Can anyone help me out with this? Like I said, it was SO easy in XP....
Thanks!

In order to share an entire drive you need to go into the "Security tab" of the drive itself and then add "Everyone" to the permissions share with list. You do not need a password on the machine sharing the drive.

Do this by right clicking the drive and then choose "Properties" click on the "Security" tab. After that click on the "Edit" button which will bring up the Permissions Security window. Click the "Add" button. Type "Everyone" where it says..."Enter the objects name to select" then click ok. This will take you back to the permissions window where you add check marks for full permissions Second picture. After that hit "Apply" you will be able to share that drive with Everyone now.

This is not a very secure method of sharing because it exposes the shared drives to everyone on your network.

pongool · Mar 26, 2012

Dave Atkin said:
Hello,

Windows 7 sharing is really irritating. You will need a password on the pc sharing the files.

An easy way to do it of you don't want to authenticate every time is to add multiple user accounts on the share PC using the same username and passwords on your other PCs.

Dave

Thank you, Dave. I really don't want to use any passwords at all as I have younger kids who use both machines. Any other way to share?

pongool · Mar 26, 2012

aem said:
IIf you have no issues with XP machine, don't know why you have issues with W7. The bacis networking rules haven't changed.

See if this help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/53830-file-sharing-between-xp-w7-vice-versa.html

These are two windows 7 machines that I put in the original thread.
I want to just use //computername/drive name but can't in 7...or do you know of a way?
Thanks.

chev65 · Mar 26, 2012

pongool said:
Dave Atkin said:

Hello,

Windows 7 sharing is really irritating. You will need a password on the pc sharing the files.

An easy way to do it of you don't want to authenticate every time is to add multiple user accounts on the share PC using the same username and passwords on your other PCs.

Dave

Click to expand...

Thank you, Dave. I really don't want to use any passwords at all as I have younger kids who use both machines. Any other way to share?

Dave's statement is absolutely not true by the way. No passwords are required on any of the machines for sharing to work.

You need to set up sharing permissions and Security permission settings to share things these days. It's easy once you know how.

pongool · Mar 26, 2012

chev65 said:
pongool said:

I've searched high and low for a fix and I am at my wits end!!
Ok, so I have 3 pc's on my home lan...two are 7 ultimate and one is 7 home.
All I want to be able to do is share the hard drives to make moving files from one to another easy and quick instead of using thumb drives. That's all i want to do...was so easy and nice in XP but I cannot get it to work in 7. I do NOT like that Homegroup thing either as that is not working for me.
None of the pc's have log in's or passwords...they boot directly into windows 7.
When i share out a drive and then try to connect it tells me the drive is not available and I'm about to lose my mind.
Can anyone help me out with this? Like I said, it was SO easy in XP....
Thanks!

Click to expand...

In order to share an entire drive you need to go into the "Security tab" of the drive itself and then add "Everyone" to the permissions share with list. You do not need a password on the machine sharing the drive.

Do this by right clicking the drive and then choose "Properties" click on the "Security" tab. After that click on the "Edit" button which will bring up the Permissions Security window. Click the "Add" button. Type "Everyone" where it says..."Enter the objects name to select" then click ok. This will take you back to the permissions window where you add check marks for full permissions Second picture. After that hit "Apply" you will be able to share that drive with Everyone now.

This is not a very secure method of sharing because it exposes the shared drives to everyone on your network.

Thanks for the help. My problem is with going from a laptop (the sharee) to the desktop (sharer). It always says that the network connection cannot be found...any ideas?
Thanks!

pongool · Mar 26, 2012

The share box is greyed out. How would I have it accessible so that I can share it?
Thanks!

pongool · Mar 26, 2012

Geez this is sooooo frustrating!! I cannot connect to my desktop from my laptop...error message keeps saying cannot connect.

chev65 · Mar 27, 2012

Have you gone into the Advanced sharing options in the network and sharing center?

You will want to turn off password protected sharing, turn on network discovery, turn on file and print sharing. And leave the Home groups option on even if you aren't using it.

You will need to do this on all of your Windows 7 machines.

I showed you how to share the entire drive, have you done that yet?

You can't do these shares the old fashioned way anymore, you need to follow the steps please.

bipro · Apr 1, 2012

Network and Sharing with Windows 7

Dear all ,

Networking and sharing also needs proper security related options and Microsoft Windows 7 has advanced security and permission options both for the local users and the network users. It has a client server environment where users on a professional Operating System can apply settings to its personal computer just like a server to its client. However, the standalone server mode has a limited directory and security criteria as compared to pure server Operating Systems. There are three categories of network in Windows 7 (i.e. Home Network, Business Network, and Public Network). The details regarding network and sharing options in Microsoft Windows 7 are further elaborated with detailed please click here Network and Sharing with Windows 7

Bipro jit

pongool · Apr 3, 2012

chev65 said:
Have you gone into the Advanced sharing options in the network and sharing center?

You will want to turn off password protected sharing, turn on network discovery, turn on file and print sharing. And leave the Home groups option on even if you aren't using it.

You will need to do this on all of your Windows 7 machines.

I showed you how to share the entire drive, have you done that yet?

You can't do these shares the old fashioned way anymore, you need to follow the steps please.

I followed the steps. I can see the folders on the main machine who's folders and drive I want to share out, but when I click on it I get a box with (network error) and it says I cannot connect to the drive. If it shows the folders in the view, why can I not connect to it? I have opened up the drive to everyone with full access. The computer that I want to share out is hardwired and the others are wireless...is that the problem?
Thanks.

chev65 · Apr 3, 2012

Is this network with all Windows 7 machines?

If so set up a Home group after ensuring that all machines are using the same work group name and that the time/date settings are in sync on all machines. If there are machines other than Windows 7 in this network then do not set up a Home group, set up a Work group instead.

You need to allow for sharing on both the Security tab and also the Sharing tab of the drive itself or the sub folders, but if you set up a Home group you shouldn't need to mess with the Security or Sharing tabs which makes it easier to set up a Home group in the long run.

pongool · Apr 4, 2012

chev65 said:
Is this network with all Windows 7 machines?

If so set up a Home group after ensuring that all machines are using the same work group name and that the time/date settings are in sync on all machines. If there are machines other than Windows 7 in this network then do not set up a Home group, set up a Work group instead.

You need to allow for sharing on both the Security tab and also the Sharing tab of the drive itself or the sub folders, but if you set up a Home group you shouldn't need to mess with the Security or Sharing tabs which makes it easier to set up a Home group in the long run.

All Windows 7 machines.
It has become more irritating because i can see the folders on the main pc in the homegroup...but when i click to look inside the folders it does nothing and shows nothing in the folders when there is certainly something in the folder...

chev65 · Apr 4, 2012

So all machines are part of the Homegroup, and you can see the files like , Pictures, Videos, Documents but you can't access any of the files?

In the link below check out Option 2 for levels of access to ensure that you have set read/write permissions on those files you intend to share.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/44464-homegroup-change-file-folder-sharing-settings.html

Do you have A/V software or a third party firewall installed?

Besides the obvious read/write settings this problem is usually caused from the time/date being out of sync on your networked machines but I'm sure you have checked that by now?

zarker99 · Jan 9, 2014

I feel for you. I had the same problem a year or so ago and fixed it, but now I want to add a new drive and I forgot how I did it. I can already access two drives on my win7 pc, but not the new one.

I remember the problem was that the permissions for the drive weren't being inherited by any of the folders on that drive so you had to force it - I just cant remember how. XP did it all by its little self, but wonderful win7 seems to be just too dumb to work it out. Even so-called experts dont seem able to twig it.

If I remember how I did it I'll post again here.

I remembered:
share the drive (like you already did).
then click on the SECURITY tab (under drive properties)
add a new user called EVERYBODY
give it full permissions
click apply
it will now start applying the permissions to all folders and files.

hope this helped

windows 7 network drive share?

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

. .

My Computer

Closed

Attachments

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Closed

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Closed

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Closed

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Closed

My Computer

New member

My Computer