One-way traffic on home network

I have a laptop and a desktop networked through a router. The laptop is attached to a domain (running Win7 Enterprise 32-bit), the desktop is not (running Win7 Professional 32-bit).

• In the "Network" folder on the desktop, I can see the desktop and the laptop, and I can access both. Same on the "Network Map".
• But on the laptop, in the "Network" folder, I can only see the laptop. Any attempts to access the desktop by IP address or UNC path are met with a network error ("Windows cannot access \\desktop"). The desktop appears in the "Network Map" but it cannot be clicked or otherwise interacted with.

I have a homegroup set up on the desktop but I cannot join it from the laptop.

What do you think I can do to allow the laptop to see the desktop?

Hi atlight, Welcome to Seven Forums.

This is what I did. File sharing.pdf

atlight said:

I have a laptop and a desktop networked through a router. The laptop is attached to a domain (running Win7 Enterprise 32-bit), the desktop is not (running Win7 Professional 32-bit).

• In the "Network" folder on the desktop, I can see the desktop and the laptop, and I can access both. Same on the "Network Map".
• But on the laptop, in the "Network" folder, I can only see the laptop. Any attempts to access the desktop by IP address or UNC path are met with a network error ("Windows cannot access \\desktop"). The desktop appears in the "Network Map" but it cannot be clicked or otherwise interacted with.

I have a homegroup set up on the desktop but I cannot join it from the laptop.

What do you think I can do to allow the laptop to see the desktop?

________

This could become a bit complicated to fix over emails...

In the non accessible computer turn off the firewall if it is turned on. Make sure the folders are set to share. In the share permissions, set it to everyone to make it easy for sharing. You will have to also set up the parameters for allowing to read, and or write to the files.

In the system network policy in the computer settings for sharing, you have to have it set to not require a share password if you want simple sharing.

This is only a start.

I found Windows 7 can be tricky for sharing. Then when mixing 32 with 64 bit systems in sharing it adds to the complexity.

:)