Shared file access

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  1. Posts : 24
    all kinds
       #1

    Shared file access


    I have a friend whom I just set up s network for. He runs a cafeteria business and has 5 machines that are all windows 7. I twas quite an upgrade since he was previously using windows 98 and quickbooks 98. Now he has windows 7 and quickbooks 2010 with 3 printers that are shared off of machines. All machines are connected wired via a central 10/100 hub.

    I got all of the machines to see each other and print. The issue is with file access. One of the machines is a "server" or at least a place where other machines can access data. The employees at the cafeteria access the central shared folder stored there to get recipes and such. The day I set it up we went to each machine and accessed the share, edited a file and saved without issue. Now he is telling me that 2 of the machines can't do this any longer but one can. Also, he says that the machines that can't don't let go of the file once closed and he has to reboot the server to allow access to the files again. Did I miss something?
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  2. Posts : 28,845
    Win 8 Release candidate 8400
       #2

    dallascisco said:
    I have a friend whom I just set up s network for. He runs a cafeteria business and has 5 machines that are all windows 7. I twas quite an upgrade since he was previously using windows 98 and quickbooks 98. Now he has windows 7 and quickbooks 2010 with 3 printers that are shared off of machines. All machines are connected wired via a central 10/100 hub.

    I got all of the machines to see each other and print. The issue is with file access. One of the machines is a "server" or at least a place where other machines can access data. The employees at the cafeteria access the central shared folder stored there to get recipes and such. The day I set it up we went to each machine and accessed the share, edited a file and saved without issue. Now he is telling me that 2 of the machines can't do this any longer but one can. Also, he says that the machines that can't don't let go of the file once closed and he has to reboot the server to allow access to the files again. Did I miss something?
    Unfortunately Unlike a true server, file sharing can be problematic. If a file is open on one it is by nature unavailable to the others until it is closed.

    I wonder if the sharing problem is being caused by using "homegroup" Are You?

    ken
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  3. Posts : 24
    all kinds
    Thread Starter
       #3

    No, I'm using classic file shares.

    I understand that if one machine has a file open others can't access it. The problem is that when one machine closes it nobody else can open it until the "server" is rebooted.
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  4. Posts : 1,170
    XP Pro SP3 X86 / Win7 Pro X86
       #4

    dallascisco said:
    No, I'm using classic file shares.

    I understand that if one machine has a file open others can't access it. The problem is that when one machine closes it nobody else can open it until the "server" is rebooted.
    This could actually be a software problem... What software is being used to access these files?

    What happens when software opens a file (local or remote) is that it places a lock on that file, saying "Don't mess with this" but then it doesn't release the lock when the file is saved... A common programmer's error, actually... I've made it myself.

    Rather than rebooting the server next time this happens, go around to each machine and see if the program used to access the files is still running on one of them... close the program and see what happens....

    If I'm right, it's not a networking problem at all.
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  5. Posts : 28,845
    Win 8 Release candidate 8400
       #5

    dallascisco said:
    No, I'm using classic file shares.

    I understand that if one machine has a file open others can't access it. The problem is that when one machine closes it nobody else can open it until the "server" is rebooted.
    I understand that. Desktop/client machines often dont "release" files till rebooted. I have seen that in other win 7 installs. Is there any way you can run true server software on that machine?

    Ken
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 24
    all kinds
    Thread Starter
       #6

    commontater-

    The software being used is MS office. I'll see if they are still running next time.

    Zigzag-

    If it were my call he would.
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  7. Posts : 2,737
    Windows 7 Enterprise (x64); Windows Server 2008 R2 (x64)
       #7

    What version of MS Office? I have seen issues with MS Office 2007 locking files, even in a true server/client environment.
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  8. Posts : 24
    all kinds
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Office 2007 is what he is using.



    WindowsStar said:
    What version of MS Office? I have seen issues with MS Office 2007 locking files, even in a true server/client environment.
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  9. Posts : 28,845
    Win 8 Release candidate 8400
       #9

    dallascisco said:
    commontater-

    The software being used is MS office. I'll see if they are still running next time.

    Zigzag-

    If it were my call he would.
    Figured. Office does allow access but I am not sure if that will fix the problem

    Ken
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 2,737
    Windows 7 Enterprise (x64); Windows Server 2008 R2 (x64)
       #10

    zigzag3143 said:
    dallascisco said:
    commontater-

    The software being used is MS office. I'll see if they are still running next time.

    Zigzag-

    If it were my call he would.
    Figured. Office does allow access but I am not sure if that will fix the problem

    Ken
    We have not figured out a work around. Once the file is locked typically a reboot is the only way to fix it. We only have one server that is used this way and we have is scheduled to reboot each night. Everything else has been converted to a true server/client database.
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