Windows 7: DXtreme set top box on network can't open shared folders on pc

I have a 'Home' network with two pcs running win7 home premium 64 bit and a DXtreme set top box connected by cat5 cables. The two pcs can share and open folders and can ping each other and the set top box ok. The set top box can log on to the network and access the shared folders on each computer but can't open them without network username and password.I am using Homegroup on the network. The set top box does not show up on the network map or 'other devices'.I am running the main computer as administrator. The set top box can access the internet ok, I want to use it to play stored videos on the computers thru the tv.One solution I found advised using secpol.msc to disable username requirements but it isn't available on this version of win 7. Any advice would be much appreciated

Thanks Bill Hanley

So you require access to folders on the Homegroup machines from the DXtreme so you can play the video's etc. And you can't access the Homegroup shares from the DX without typing in a User name and password from one of the machines.

Have you tried turning off password protected sharing in the Advanced Sharing Settings at the Network and Sharing Center?

This might work better if you add the Everyone share + read/write to the Library you need to access.

Hi Chev65
Thanks for the reply. Yes password protected sharing is turned off and all the folder permissions are set to 'everyone'. It must be a setting on the pcs because the set top box logs on to the pcs and shows all the shared folders but when I try to open a folder I get the username request. The pcs can interact ok so the pcs aren't seeing the set top box as a device which they can talk to.Anyway as everything else works ok this seems to be the thing to concentrate on.

Thanks for trying Bill Hanley

Okay I'm a dummy. What is a (top box)?

If you require unimpeded access to those drives from the set top box then follow the directions in the link which shows permissions adjustments on the Security tab of the Users folder.

HDD sharing

Hi Chev 65 I pressed the problem solved button before I posted My reply to your last suggestion. Using the Users folder instead of the C drive solved the problem for me and I can now open files from the set top box. Many thanks for your help

Bill Hanley

Figured that would do it.

In Windows, the default permissions are set up through the Users folder rather than the C: drive.

Much safer to share this way.