'share with...' specific people aren't listed

ballzac · 11 Jan 2010

I have recently upgraded from XP SP3 to Windows 7, and have spent the last few days trying to figure out how to get the 'share with...' function to work. I have been searching for a solution and have seen that a lot of people have had trouble setting up sharing, but haven't found anyone who is having EXACTLY the same problems that I'm having. There are four computers on the network. All except mine are running XP SP3.

I have joined the workgroup, and can access the internet via the workgroup. I can access the shared folders and files that are on the other computers. If I set up the homegroup on my machine, I can select 'share with--->homegroup' or 'share with--->specific people--->everyone', and these files can be seen on the other computers. However, opening up the dialogue box for 'specific people', I cannot see other computers, or user accounts on other machines in the drop down menu. If I type the name of a user account or machine, it says that it cannot be found.

I read in one of the threads here about setting up a network with both xp and 7 machines that you cannot use a homegroup if there is one or more machine on the network not running Windows 7. I have turned off the homegroup, but this has not helped.

If worst comes to worst, I can still use sharing in the same manner that I used it on xp, but I would really like to use the 'share with...' ability, as there are things that I would like to share with my girlfriend that I don't want to share with everyone. But I still want to be able to share my printer and some music and stuff.

Hopefully there is something basic that I'm missing and can easily fix. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. While I'm reasonably savvy with xp, I am totally new to 7, so don't be afraid to patronize me. Looking forward to responses. :) Thanks.

aem · 11 Jan 2010

Ok i might as well get the ball rolling on this.

I have joined the workgroup, and can access the internet via the workgroup. I can access the shared folders and files that are on the other computers. If I set up the homegroup on my machine, I can select 'share with--->homegroup' or 'share with--->specific people--->everyone', and these files can be seen on the other computers. However, opening up the dialogue box for 'specific people', I cannot see other computers, or user accounts on other machines in the drop down menu. If I type the name of a user account or machine, it says that it cannot be found.

Don't quote me on this, but the machines might need to be configured to be part of a domain in order for you to add "domain" users from location you specified.

I read in one of the threads here about setting up a network with both xp and 7 machines that you cannot use a homegroup if there is one or more machine on the network not running Windows 7. I have turned off the homegroup, but this has not helped.

W7 Homegroup is only for W7s only, that is correct.

Ch@n · 11 Jan 2010

I believe he is under workgroup and not in domain..

ballzac · 11 Jan 2010

dre@ms said:

I believe he is under workgroup and not in domain..

Yep. That is correct.

rsvr85 · 11 Jan 2010

Hi ballzac & welcome.

The easiest and best way to share folders across a network is to ditch all the context menus. Type fsmgmt.msc into the Start Menu and share your folders this way. I too had trouble sharing to and from XP > 7 but after using this method everything works hunkydory!

ballzac · 11 Jan 2010

Thanks heaps for that rsvr85. I had not come across that before and it looks much simpler than other ways to access the sharing capabilities.

I click on the properties for some of the things I have shared, and choose the 'share permissions' tab, and I can still only see 'everyone', and my own account, but cannot see the accounts on other computers. However, this has a tab entitled 'security', which wasn't there when I was trying using the context menus. This has (under group or user names) 'system', my account, 'administrator', 'WMPNetworkSvc', and three 'Account unknown'. Some of the things I have shared have only one or two of the 'account unknown' users listed. This makes me think that it may be the other accounts, because not all three computers have been on the whole time that I've been messing around trying to share things. Could these be the accounts on other computers? If so, how do I know which one's which? And why don't they show up in the 'share permissions' tab?

Thanks for your help.

chev65 · 11 Jan 2010

From what you said here > If I set up the homegroup on my machine, I can select 'share with--->homegroup' or 'share with--->specific people--->everyone', and these files can be seen on the other computers.

It seems like you did indeed join the Homegroup at some point with your Win 7 machine. If so you also need to leave the Homegroup from the Win 7 machine and then set up the Workgroup on the Win 7 machine. You should re-enable Homegroups first.

There should be no reason to disable Homegroups if you aren't using it. And I can assure you that the GUI works perfectly in Windows 7 for sharing.
Homegroup - Leave

After that you should run the network set up wizard on all the XP machines and then allow for sharing as you set go through the Wizard.

ballzac · 11 Jan 2010

I'm not sure, but it sounds like you're using the terms 'disable' and 'leave' to mean different things (with regard to homegroups). I have already 'left' the homegroup, but have not seen any mention of how to disable it...not that you say I need to anyway.

I just mentioned it because the sharing seemed to work a little more smoothly when I was on the homegroup, but seeing as people say it won't work with the xp machines on the network, I have left it and will not rejoin.

Why do I need to run the setup wizard on the xp machines? The network was working fine prior to my windows 7 upgrade, and I have joined that network on this machine. For the most part it seems to be working, except for not being able to see the xp machines in the 'share with...specific people' bit. I figured it must be something on MY machine that needs to be set differently.

Of course I'm happy to do it if it's definitely necessary, but do not want to mess with settings on other peoples computers while the network is currently working fine for them unless it is absolutely necessary.

Thanks for your help chev :)

chev65 · 11 Jan 2010

ballzac said:

I'm not sure, but it sounds like you're using the terms 'disable' and 'leave' to mean different things (with regard to homegroups). I have already 'left' the homegroup, but have not seen any mention of how to disable it...not that you say I need to anyway.

I just mentioned it because the sharing seemed to work a little more smoothly when I was on the homegroup, but seeing as people say it won't work with the xp machines on the network, I have left it and will not rejoin.

Why do I need to run the setup wizard on the xp machines? The network was working fine prior to my windows 7 upgrade, and I have joined that network on this machine. For the most part it seems to be working, except for not being able to see the xp machines in the 'share with...specific people' bit. I figured it must be something on MY machine that needs to be set differently.

Of course I'm happy to do it if it's definitely necessary, but do not want to mess with settings on other peoples computers while the network is currently working fine for them unless it is absolutely necessary.

Thanks for your help chev :)

That is just standard procedure on XP machines if you want to share properly with your Win 7 machine. Your old XP network is a thing of the past.

Think of it like this, the Win 7 machine is setting up a new network for all of your XP machines to join. Joining this new Workgroup from the XP machines will work better after you run the network set up wizard on the XP machines. If you can already share files don't worrie about it.

As for the "Share with" problem. The one you were using was for Homegroup sharing. For the workgroup these permissions settings work best for that.

This tutorial will help you get there.
https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...ns.html?filter

ballzac · 11 Jan 2010

Yes, I should have mentioned that I have set up the advanced settings properly. What you are saying about the workgroup on the w7 machine being a new network makes sense. Should I change the name of the workgroup so that each xp machine will join the right one? Or does the analogy break down there and I can leave it the same? I will try it on one machine as is, and see if I am seeing it. Thanks again.