Sharing with selected computers in network.

Punxnotdead · 24 Jan 2010

Hello, I'm new here and I don't think I've saw anything on this specifically, furthermore I'm not even 100% positive this is where this should be posted. I've poured over these and similar forums to try to find a simple solution to my situation.

Ok, I have 5 computers, 3 desktops and 2 laptops. We will say PC 1 is the one I use as my home network and PC 2 is my personal machine. Both are running Windows 7 Ult. There are 2 drives on the network machine (PC 1) one of which I want to share with everyone (and currently am), and allow them to add and modify as it contains general family stuff. This includes people who come over and bring their laptops to connect to the wireless.

The other drive on PC 1 I want to share with ONLY PC 2 where PC 2 can add/modify files. The network (PC 1) machine no one physically uses and seldom even is seen as it's on most if not all the time and is used exclusively for my home network. The drive I share with PC 2 would preferrably not be visible to other systems in my network but not entirely necessary given none have access to it except PC 2. It wouldn't matter to me if it's password protected or not just so nobody can use it or view the files on it except for PC 2. The problem is people bring their laptops here with various operating systems and I still want to make sure that ONLY PC 2 has access. I'm looking for a solution even if I have to purchase 3rd party software to achieve this that of which I'm totally comfortable doing. Any help is greatly appreciated.

aem · 24 Jan 2010

You could use hidden share property...ie put a $ at the end of the sharename.

Punxnotdead · 24 Jan 2010

I tried that and it's hidden to PC 2 also

aem · 24 Jan 2010

I see. What can be so bad if others can "see" (but not access)? Just change it from "Porns" to "XXX" and you'll be fine.

Punxnotdead · 24 Jan 2010

You lost me. It doesn't matter if they can "see" it I can name it something abstract as long as they cannot access it. The issue is allowing one and only one computer in the network to access it.

aem · 24 Jan 2010

Oh so you just want to block other users from accessing the share? What would happen if you remove the Everyone group, and just add the user account from the machine you only want access to the share? I'm sure there are other permissions method you can try also.

Punxnotdead · 24 Jan 2010

Well, it sounds like it would work. I tried removing "everyone" but when I add the name of PC 2 it says "name not found."

aem · 24 Jan 2010

On PC1 and the share you want to share with PC2 only, put in the useraccount (say the account you used to log onto PC1 with), give this account full control. Then from PC2, you connect to the share using that account name (maybe you need to put in the username as pc1\username).

Punxnotdead · 24 Jan 2010

I'm not totally understanding you here, I have PC1's account set to administrator but not password protected. Are you saying to create a new account on PC1 and set it to administrator and share the drive that way? When I tried that it's no different than the account thats on it now which is currently set to administrator.

aem · 24 Jan 2010

You want to connect from PC2 to PC1 right? In the share permission/security on PC1, you add the account with which you log onto PC1 with (in this case the PC1's administratr account). Then from PC2, you connect to PC1, using the account you have put in the share. Btw, if you do not have a password on the account, i don't know if you can get authenticated. Put password back.