Solved After clean install of win 7, network problems

[CleanInstall]

I have two Win 7 Pro 64-bit computers that used to be in a home network, but after a crash and reinstall of Win 7 on one of the computers, I can't connect well to the other computer. I can see the other computer in each of the computer's network windows, but when I double-click on the other computer's icon, it allows me to see "default" and "public" users, but not the user that I need to (this goes both ways). How can I change this? I am a real novice with networks and could really use your help. Thanks.

also: one computer says it is connected to "Local Area Connection" and the other one says it is connected to "Local Area Connection 2". And the one that says it is connected to "Local area connection 2" shows "Local Area Connection" with a red X (when I open up "change adapter settings") and says the network cable is unplugged, but I know it isn't unplugged.

also: One computer says it is part of "Network" and the other says it is a part of "Network 2".

 

[samuria]

Welcome to the forum. To connect you first need to setup shares as they will have been lost

 

[CleanInstall]

Hi - thanks for your quick response! I just tried that, and the drives I shared are appearing in the network window, but when I click on them, it says I don't have permission and need to contact network administrator.

 

[CleanInstall]

Never mind - I figured it out.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi CleanInstall,

I am glad you managed to sort out your network problems.
Perhaps you could post your solution so as to help anyone who comes across this thread looking for an answer to the same problem.

Thanks in advance.

 

[CleanInstall]

I changed the permissions to "Everyone" in the security settings.

 

[CleanInstall]

BTW: I have been trying to determine how far-reaching the "everyone" setting is, and trying to look online to find a concise, clear definition of what "everyone" means. I have a home network of two connected computers. How secure is it to set permissions to "everyone" on these computers?

 

[Barman58]

The everyone group contains a lot of other groups and individuals, It is the lowest security level you can set as it basically gives anyone who can see the files access.

I am assuming that the files you have given Everyone access are not anything related to windows itself, as these require lots of different permission sets to work properly. If you are the only one using the systems data files (which should be in the user folders, documents, pictures etc. then everything permissions on data is just about acceptable

Security on windows depends on two separate permissions. The first is the Share permissions which work similarly to those on older operating systems , the second levels are the file access permissions that control who can access the files from the local system as well as a network connection.

If you have set the share permissions to everyone then the local NTFS file permissions should protect the important system files if you have set the NTFS file permissions to everyone then the only way to correct this is to totally reinstall the OS on both systems

 

[CleanInstall]

I changed permissions to "everyone" by going to properties/security/edit/add/advanced/find now, and chose "everyone". Is this NTFS?

 

[Barman58]

Yep that would appear to be the menu for NTFS security tree - this is fine as long as you did not do this at the root of the system drive. which will likely require a reinstall before too long. If you did it on the Users tree then it fine althoug it does not give a great amount of security for the files

 

[CleanInstall]

Not sure what you mean by "root". I did it on the C Drive. I clicked on COMPUTER and then right-clicked on the C drive icon, and chose Properties and then security, etc. From my other computer, via network, I am able to access all folders on the C drive except PerfLogs, Program Files (regular and x86), ProgramData, and Windows folders. When I click on these folders, I am told that I do not have permission. Please tell me I didn't mess up my wife's computer. When I found this suggestion online, no one mentioned anything about it causing problems.

Also, if this is important info: The "everyone" access to the C drive is only for Read & Execute, List Folder Contents, and Read. The other boxes (Full Control, Modify, Special Permissions and Write) are unchecked.

But permissions for the other drive are not on the C drive, just for a secondary storage drive.

 

[CleanInstall]

Above I said "But permissions for the other drive are not on the C drive, just for a secondary storage drive." I meant to say "permissions for the other computer", not "drive".

And if the big concern is re: systems files, then maybe everything is OK, since I am not able to access the Windows folder on the C drive (which has the systems files in it) via network...

 

[CleanInstall]

If you have set the share permissions to everyone then the local NTFS file permissions should protect the important system files if you have set the NTFS file permissions to everyone then the only way to correct this is to totally reinstall the OS on both systems

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my posts. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me.

(1) If possible, could you give me some clarification concerning what you are saying here. As I mentioned above, I am not able to access the system files (in the Windows folder on the C drive) via the network, because I am told I do not have permission. Doesn't this mean that the system files are safe and a reinstall isn't necessary? I mean, nothing but the permissions have been changed. No system or other files have been changed or accessed. And everything presently seems to be working fine with the computer.

(2) And I guess I need more understanding about this whole issue. And sorry if I seem so unlearned, but why am I not able to just remove permissions that I have granted? Nothing has been done to the files concerned, has it? If I just go back into security settings, and remove "everyone" from the list, what will be damaged or hurt?

Thank you for any help you (or anyone else) can give me. This all is really troubling me and i could really use some guidance.

 

[CleanInstall]

Also, couldn't I just do a system restore to a date before I changed the permissions?

 

[Barman58]

I am currently dealing with a family emergency. Will reply when free later

 

[CleanInstall]

I totally understand. I look forward to hearing from you when you have time. And in the mean time, hopefully there are other knowledgeable people on this forum that will give me some feedback as well.

BTW: Is this a potentially good option? http://www.thewindowsclub.com/reset-ntfs-file-permission-windows

 

[Barman58]

The system restore only replaces damaged or changed files and not the NTFS level permissions to the best of my knowledge

The windows club method is a good system for those who are trialing various permission setups - It relies on your previously made backups of existing permissions

It can be done manually if you know exactly what the starting point was. This page here lists all the permissions on a completely new install of windows, without any additional personal application software which may add extra permissions

Windows 7 Default File System Permissions Listing Helge Klein it is not a short list and I would not trust myself to not miss a critical item so I would suggest that a clean install may be the brest option.

You cannot see the system areas of the one system from the other at present as they have not been shared. If however malware was to get access to the system it would have free access to all the system files.

The systems should still work for now but I would strongly recommend a re-install as soon as feasible

 

[CleanInstall]

OK.