share an entire drive in workgroup

Hi all,

I had the same problem as benellard, then I found out that you should also set Security (found on security tab) permission for the user you want to set sharing for.
Open My Computer -> right click Local Disk D -> 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. Try to connect to your drive through your XP machines and you should get the content of your win7 shared drive (Naturally you need to set the sharing options for the same user as well, from your post I get you've done it so I will not go into details on how to do this).

Hope I helped,
Best regards

P.S. thanks rsvr85 for the useful tip on fsmgmt.msc it is much easier way to control your sharing permissions.

Thank you, ivankirov24. Adding "Everyone" as a user in Security for each drive was the answer for me. I had gone around in circles trying to solve this. I've run into network permissions issues before, but this was the most perplexing. I thought I'd gone wrong somewhere in creating the partitions or file systems. It seems odd that "Everyone" isn't included along with the other users offered by default. It could easily have been listed, even with diminished permissions.

I have the same problem. Cannot access any drive on my Win 7 PC. I have tried all of the above suggestions. fsmgmt.msc in the start search box shows 'no item to match your search! Next suggestion please!!

Thank you ivankirov24. It did work. Windows 7 should have had the everyone option available... that's just ridiculous. I mean I don't think I would think about actually typing "everyone." Good job and thanks again!

I'm just learning to hate Windows 7 too. I have put an extra HDD in my Windows 7 machine, and was having similar troubles to those others posting on this thread.

All the advice is good - but - in the advanced sharing section of the drive properties, you must add "NETWORK" as a Group or User Name, and specify the permissions.

Then you're cooking with gas!

Hi! I have tried above methods. still doesn't work. can't add the "groupname" in my dirve properties. any help is appreciated. thanks!

In order to share an entire drive you need to go into the "Security tab" of the drive itself and then add "Everyone" to the permissions share with list. You do not need a password on the machine sharing the drive.

Do this by right clicking the drive and then choose "Properties" click on the "Security" tab. After that click on the "Edit" button which will bring up the Permissions Security window. Click the "Add" button. Type "Everyone" where it says..."Enter the objects name to select" then click ok. This will take you back to the permissions window where you add check marks for full permissions Second picture. After that hit "Apply" you will be able to share that drive with Everyone now.

This is not a very secure method of sharing because it exposes the shared drives to everyone on your network. You would be better off sharing the entire "User name" folder instead.

Hey Chev65! it works! thanks and appreciate. On the other hand, how do i locate/find the user name of the other PC?

restarted computer. When I went to access the drive, I was entering the homegroup password and was denied access. Finally I tried logging in as the user and used that password and was suddenly allowed access to the drives again.