File sharing problem with 64 bit windows

My goal is to have file sharing enabled (without requiring passwords!) for all the computers on my home network (which include a mix of Windows XP, Vista, and windows 7).

I've found that Windows 7 (32 bit) makes it quite difficult to accomplish this. After much searching the forums for advise and much experimentation I found an incredible recipe that I have followed with success on 3 different computers. The recipe is as follows:

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Run gpedit.msc
- GO to Windows Settings, Security Settings, Local Policies, Security Options
- Disable: Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only Under Vista, or some editions of Windows 7 you may not have the group policy editor, so as an alternative you can manually add or modify this registry key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa]
"LimitBlankPasswordUse"=dword:00000000

Right click on the drive to be shared, and click "Properties".
- On the Sharing tab, click "Advanced Sharing" and check "Share this folder"
- Click Permissions, and give the desired permissions to "Everyone"
- Go the Security page (of the Disk properties)
- If "Everyone" doesn't exist in the Group or user name box you must add it:
- Click "Edit"
- Click "Add"
- In the box labeled "Enter the object names to select, type the word "Everyone".
Or you can click on "Advanced", then "Find Now", and then pick "Everyone".
- Highlight "Everyone" and check "Allow" after Full Control & Modify if you want that.

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I know it sounds bizarre that such a long procedure would actually work or be required, but I have found it so.

Now however I got a new computer which has the 64 bit version of Windows 7 (Home Premium). I tried this same procedure (using the registry method, since Home Premium does not include gpedit), but despite trying it twice very carefully, when I try to access this computer from anywhere else on the network a window appears which says "Connecting to NEWCOMPUTER" with a space below for entering a user name and password.

Does anybody know a method for making this work on windows 7, 64bit?

Also if someone could let me know if what I am trying to do is misguided. It it hard for me to think that Microsoft really intended for me to use the above procedure. It was so easy to do in Windows ME and 95, then it slowly but surely got harder in every OS release since then until today we are left with the above monstrosity. Is what I am trying to do really so evil that Microsoft would go to such extremes to make it so difficult? Perhaps using passwords is really the way to go and there is some way to make it painless? I really do trust every computer user in my household not to abuse the file sharing mechanism and I really don't want to be entering passwords every time a computer is booted.

If anyone can rescue me from my extreme state of bafflement that I've had about windows file sharing for many years now I would be grateful. If that is not possible, I would be most appreciative even if you could only offer a way out of my current file sharing predicament with the 64 bit OS.

Thanks.
~Paul

Many thanks Roderunner! Indeed that link helped. I had 99% of those settings correct. Unfortunately it seems that one has to get to 100% before you get even a hint that it might work. So I guess windows networking is really that crazy. Unbelievable!

~Paul

thanks roadrunner it worked dude

I'm changing a small business network to windows 7. Sharing has been a problem. Thanks to you and Roderunner for explaining how. Whether or not sharing will be via disc drive or folder I don't know yet. But I want the choice!

Thanks


Glenn Folland
gfolland