Unable to share disk drive

Hi all.

I originally posted this on the Vista forums connected to this site, but i was recommended to post here. The original thread is posted here:

Unable to share disk drive - Vista Forums

I will copy and paste the original post here:

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"Hello all.

I have recently purchased a new netbook running a Windows 7 Starter 32bit operating system. As it's a netbook, you probably know it doesn't have a disk drive. So this is where the problem starts... I'm not the best with computers so excuse me if i don't understand some things, such as the registry editor, but i should be okay with most things.

So you know, i am trying to share my disk drive (DVD RW drive) from my desktop computer to my netbook over the local network. My desktop computer is running a Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit operating system. My router is a Netgear WNDR3700 if that makes any difference... I am also an administrator on both machines.

I have set up printer sharing and sharing other media files between my new netbook and my desktop computer fine without any problems. I just seem unable to share the disk drive. When i try to access it from my netbook, i am greeted with an error message saying i do not have permission and to contact my network administrator. I have tried disabling the firewall on both machines but this doesn't make a difference. The permissions on my desktop computer are set to 'full controll' for 'everybody'. I have tried several things i have read online but nothing has worked. I read somewhere that i need to use the 'Security Policy Editor' to enable permission, but if you didn't already know, Vista Home Premium doesn't have the editor. I have read some things about the registry, but i'd prefer not to mess with that unless i have no choice.

If there's no solution to the problem then i'll simply buy an external drive, but it would be helpful if i could get this working.

Thanks for the help, and if you need anymore information, just let me know."

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Any thoughts from anybody?

Thanks for the reply...

I checked the permissions and they're set to full control for 'everybody'.

Do i need to add any permissions?

Anak said:

Okay....But.

Did you check to make sure the Folder (D: drive) or whatever drive your DVD is designated has been set (checked) to be shared as I show above step #5 in the Advanced Sharing dialog box?

Yes, i made sure...

EvilEmpire said:

Hi all.

I originally posted this on the Vista forums connected to this site, but i was recommended to post here. The original thread is posted here:

Unable to share disk drive - Vista Forums

I will copy and paste the original post here:

---

"Hello all.

I have recently purchased a new netbook running a Windows 7 Starter 32bit operating system. As it's a netbook, you probably know it doesn't have a disk drive. So this is where the problem starts... I'm not the best with computers so excuse me if i don't understand some things, such as the registry editor, but i should be okay with most things.

So you know, i am trying to share my disk drive (DVD RW drive) from my desktop computer to my netbook over the local network. My desktop computer is running a Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit operating system. My router is a Netgear WNDR3700 if that makes any difference... I am also an administrator on both machines.

I have set up printer sharing and sharing other media files between my new netbook and my desktop computer fine without any problems. I just seem unable to share the disk drive. When i try to access it from my netbook, i am greeted with an error message saying i do not have permission and to contact my network administrator. I have tried disabling the firewall on both machines but this doesn't make a difference. The permissions on my desktop computer are set to 'full controll' for 'everybody'. I have tried several things i have read online but nothing has worked. I read somewhere that i need to use the 'Security Policy Editor' to enable permission, but if you didn't already know, Vista Home Premium doesn't have the editor. I have read some things about the registry, but i'd prefer not to mess with that unless i have no choice.

If there's no solution to the problem then i'll simply buy an external drive, but it would be helpful if i could get this working.

Thanks for the help, and if you need anymore information, just let me know."

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To share an entire drive you need to go into the Security tab of the drive and allow for permissions for "Everyone" to access the drive. You actually need to type in Everyone when you get to the place where you can type it in.

Open My Computer -> right click Local Disk D or which ever drive you need to share -> select Properties -> select Security tab -> click Edit button -> click Add button -> enter the name of the User you want to set Security permissions (it is the same user name you've set the sharing permissions for, ex. Everyone will set the read permissions to every user which will attempt to connect to your shared drive) -> click OK -> select the desired permissions -> click OK -> wait while permissions are set -> and your Done.

From a security stand point you would be much better off sharing the entire User folder instead of the entire drive.