lan setup on windows 7 professional

[Chip1957]

I just purchased 3 new dell desk tops w/windows 7 one has professional. I want to set them up in a closed Local area network using the 7 pro as server. FYI , I am replacing my old dell desk tops with XP that have served with no problems for 8 years.
I have transferred the software with no problems but can not get the server and file sharing going

 

[WebMattR]

When you say you transferred the software no problem, what exactly do you mean? Did you simply copy it from the old machine to new, or did you install it?

Also, what are you using for file sharing? Just shared directories, FTP, or something else?

Lastly, what version of windows 7 do the other two have?

Sorry for all the questions, but I try to be precise when answering things, which means gathering info, usually.

 

[Chip1957]

When you say you transferred the software no problem, what exactly do you mean? Did you simply copy it from the old machine to new, or did you install it?

Also, what are you using for file sharing? Just shared directories, FTP, or something else?

Lastly, what version of windows 7 do the other two have?

Sorry for all the questions, but I try to be precise when answering things, which means gathering info, usually.

Windows Home premium on the other two, all three new Dells were Home Premium at purchase. After working with them I bought a 7 professional upgrade when I found out that home premium has a block in place so you can not set up as a server.

The software is an industry specific program that I purchased w/5 user license and have run for 13 years. starting on 2 486s in 1998, in 2003 I replaced the old 486s with dells w/XP OS. I used my backup key to put it on the new Dell w/7 professional machine. The software seems to work fine but my other computers can not use it.

On the old XPs I just used a shortcut to the servers c:drive as a F:drive that has worked well with just 2 computers, In the new set up I have an 8 port switch.
I have tried to used the windows 7 file sharing, in a workgroup and homegroup

 

[WebMattR]

The software is an industry specific program that I purchased w/5 user license and have run for 13 years. starting on 2 486s in 1998, in 2003 I replaced the old 486s with dells w/XP OS. I used my backup key to put it on the new Dell w/7 professional machine. The software seems to work fine but my other computers can not use it.

On the old XPs I just used a shortcut to the servers c:drive as a F:drive that has worked well with just 2 computers, In the new set up I have an 8 port switch.
I have tried to used the windows 7 file sharing, in a workgroup and homegroup

What software is it? (more for curiosity than actual need-to-know, but I support a lot of strange legacy stuff, so it's always interesting to hear what else others "can't live without.")

When you set up the share, did you give the Windows 7 Home machines access to it? You need to specifically add them to permissions some how (test of my theory: add "everyone" full control, and see if it works). I'm not sure if you can specifically state those machines/accounts since they aren't on the same machine, but perhaps you could create local accounts on the professional machine with access to that share, connect to it once while the user is logged in on the W7 Home Machine, and then set it to save the settings so they won't have to reautheticate.

Sorry for the confusing solution. Things like this get difficult when you aren't running a domain, so fixes get a bit creative.