Win 7 Pro Sharing problems

I recently set up a network of three brand new, identical computers all running Win 7 pro. 1 computer serves as the main computer with files that are shared by one other computer.

I copied the shared folders and files from, a now unused (and disconnected) XP computer. I put these folders/files into the shared documents of the main computer. I can see and open any or all of these documents from the #2 computer, but it will not let me make changes to any of the excel or word docs. The only folder that I can open files, modify and save from Computer #2 is my Quickbooks data.

All the folders reside in the same location (shared folders) on main computer. I have checked the sharing properties, the security properties and I can not find anything different between the folders/files that I can't open from the ones that I can.

When you try to save the document it says that I don't have permission to access those folders, then asks to save a copy, but then it won't let me save the copy back to the original folder location. It might let me save a copy to the local drive (which I do not want to do as that is pointless). I need to be able to modify the file from either computer and don't ant to risk having multiple copies with different data.

I read somewhere about Win 7 having an issue with sharing, this came from a thread on Microsoft's forum....

To make a long story short, what I found out after a long time was that, when you set up sharing, Windows 7 does not change sharing attributes of existing folders. For example, if you have an existing partition that you want to share and you set up sharing for that partition, all existing folders will NOT be shared - new folders will be. Now you have 2 options;
- set up sharing for each folder in the root directory of that partition
- create a new folder, move contents of folder X to the new folder, delete X, rename new folder to X

Does this sound plausible? I actually have setup the sharing of each and every folder. I've even tried to change individual files. But still get the same message when i try to save.

Thank you in advance for any help.

An additional item, I have all permissions set so that "Everybody" has full control of all these folders and files. Not sure that I made that clear in the previous post.

I am unsure if you are using Homegroup Sharing or Workgroup Sharing. (Or a combo of each)

Try, on the computer you are using to house/share the files, to right click on the folder housing the files then click "Share with" then click "Homegroup (Read/Write).

Thank you for responding. Do I do this for each and every folder or do I only do this with the Shared Documents folder? I'll give it a try.

You may have to do it for each one. This is actually for Homegroup sharing to change from read only to read/write permissions. Let me know what comes of it.

Toms01 said:

I recently set up a network of three brand new, identical computers all running Win 7 pro. 1 computer serves as the main computer with files that are shared by one other computer.

I copied the shared folders and files from, a now unused (and disconnected) XP computer. I put these folders/files into the shared documents of the main computer. I can see and open any or all of these documents from the #2 computer, but it will not let me make changes to any of the excel or word docs. The only folder that I can open files, modify and save from Computer #2 is my Quickbooks data.

All the folders reside in the same location (shared folders) on main computer. I have checked the sharing properties, the security properties and I can not find anything different between the folders/files that I can't open from the ones that I can.

When you try to save the document it says that I don't have permission to access those folders, then asks to save a copy, but then it won't let me save the copy back to the original folder location. It might let me save a copy to the local drive (which I do not want to do as that is pointless). I need to be able to modify the file from either computer and don't ant to risk having multiple copies with different data.

I read somewhere about Win 7 having an issue with sharing, this came from a thread on Microsoft's forum....

To make a long story short, what I found out after a long time was that, when you set up sharing, Windows 7 does not change sharing attributes of existing folders. For example, if you have an existing partition that you want to share and you set up sharing for that partition, all existing folders will NOT be shared - new folders will be. Now you have 2 options;
- set up sharing for each folder in the root directory of that partition
- create a new folder, move contents of folder X to the new folder, delete X, rename new folder to X

Does this sound plausible? I actually have setup the sharing of each and every folder. I've even tried to change individual files. But still get the same message when i try to save.

Thank you in advance for any help.

With documents that were created under a different User name you sometimes need to take ownership of those files in order to gain write access. The link below shows you how to do this. :)

Take Ownership Shortcut