Solved networking and sharing between two computers issue

[Ridgerunner]

I have a brand new Alienware desktop with Win7 home. Hooked to it is a netgear router. Upstairs I have a 2-yr old Dell Studio 15 running Win7 Pro. I have designated shared folders on each computer. When I open the Network library? on each computer both machines show up. I can look into the Studio and grab files from shared folders but not the other way around; I get an error message saying I need administrator permission. Both machines show the same password for the network but I have disabled password required network sharing. This has to be simple. I need to be able to swap files back and forth between them and could do so freely and simply when I had an older XP machine downstairs. I am the owner of both machines and the only one using them. I have no trouble getting on the internet from the Studio upstairs.

Help would be much appreciated. I see some similar threads have come up below. I will look a these...

 

[chev65]

I have a brand new Alienware desktop with Win7 home. Hooked to it is a netgear router. Upstairs I have a 2-yr old Dell Studio 15 running Win7 Pro. I have designated shared folders on each computer. When I open the Network library? on each computer both machines show up. I can look into the Studio and grab files from shared folders but not the other way around; I get an error message saying I need administrator permission. Both machines show the same password for the network but I have disabled password required network sharing. This has to be simple. I need to be able to swap files back and forth between them and could do so freely and simply when I had an older XP machine downstairs. I am the owner of both machines and the only one using them. I have no trouble getting on the internet from the Studio upstairs.

Help would be much appreciated. I see some similar threads have come up below. I will look a these...

You didn't mention if you set up a Homegroup between those two Windows 7 machines or not?

Setting up a Homegroup would ease up the file restrictions although you still need to ensure that the C:>Users folder is shared out with Everyone through the Sharing tab.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43961-homegroup-create.html

 

[Ridgerunner]

I do seem to have somehow created a homegroup, though it was not by knowing how I did it. Both computers say they have joined a homegroup. Both computers show up on each machine when I click "network" in explorer. I can access the laptop upstairs from this desktop downstairs and do whatever I please but I'm told I "don't have permission to access" this machine from the laptop upstairs. I can't find anything anywhere that gives a homegroup name; maybe I have two homegroups somehow.

 

[chev65]

I do seem to have somehow created a homegroup, though it was not by knowing how I did it. Both computers say they have joined a homegroup. Both computers show up on each machine when I click "network" in explorer. I can access the laptop upstairs from this desktop downstairs and do whatever I please but I'm told I "don't have permission to access" this machine from the laptop upstairs. I can't find anything anywhere that gives a homegroup name; maybe I have two homegroups somehow.

Do you remember typing in a security code when you joined the Homegroup?

If not you should leave the Homegroup on both machines then set up a new one, then join the new Homegroup using the Homegroup password.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43961-homegroup-create.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43980-homegroup-leave.html

 

[Ridgerunner]

Security code?? There's a password and it shows on both machines. I just ran some kind of troubleshooter on the laptop upstairs and now this desktop doesn't show at all on that one. This sure is getting costly in lost income.

When I go through what's shown under 'create a homegroup' it seems I've done all that.

 

[chev65]

Maybe I should ask if you have any type of third party anti virus software or firewall installed on these machines?

Are you certain that the C:>Users folder is shared out on both machines. Sharing individual folders won't work unless this folder is shared out.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The user folders are both shared. I have AVG Free on both machines. I must have something right or I wouldn't have full access to the machine upstairs from this one. They both say they belong to a homegroup and both show the same password. I just can't get into this machine from upstairs. When I had an XP desktop hooked up here I had access in both directions with no problems. Whatever the issue it has to be something in this machine not letting me in from elsewhere. When you install these anti virus software who knows what the hell they do to firewall settings and such. They're all getting increasingly intrusive and they all want to do everything for you. The error message I get says I don't have permission to access this computer and to talk to the administrator. I'm stumped.

 

[chev65]

The user folders are both shared. I have AVG Free on both machines. I must have something right or I wouldn't have full access to the machine upstairs from this one. They both say they belong to a homegroup and both show the same password. I just can't get into this machine from upstairs. When I had an XP desktop hooked up here I had access in both directions with no problems. Whatever the issue it has to be something in this machine not letting me in from elsewhere. When you install these anti virus software who knows what the hell they do to firewall settings and such. They're all getting increasingly intrusive and they all want to do everything for you. The error message I get says I don't have permission to access this computer and to talk to the administrator. I'm stumped.

You are correct, there is no telling what these third party A/V's are doing and I can tell you that they cause countless problems with sharing and also network connections on a regular basis, therefore Disabling or uninstalling AVG would be my first move.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hmm, I have a very hard time believing that AVG is my problem. I have used it for many years with no issues in networking whatsoever. I can't imagine it's a good idea to run the machine with no virus protection either. I've looked at the components and find no firewall in it. Both machines have identical AVG protection. I'm sure you know at least 1000x more than I about these things but I don't think I'll uninstall my virus protection. I did go to both machines and 'left the homegroup' on both then rejoined, which worked fast and smoothly on both but I still can't access this machine. It says I don't have permission. I went into some of the advanced sharing settings and set some permssions to 'full' for 'everyone'... no help, unfortunately, and access was denied on some of that anyway. Password protected sharing is turned off on both machines. I can't help but think it's some simple setting somewhere.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hmmm, I just booted up my Alienware laptop running win7 Ultimate from the upstairs location where the Dell Studio normally is. This machine easily joined the homegroup and can access the Alienware desktop downstairs. Seems the issue is with the Dell Studio somehow. Won't be here for 10 days to work on it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Well,I'll be! I just downloaded and ran an AVG PC cleanup program and suddenly I can network fine with the computer downstairs. I can even access the networked printer. I am suddenly a happy guy. Who knows what kind of crap the cleanup program eliminated but whatever it did it worked. This problem is definitely solved for now....

 

[Ridgerunner]

I somehow brought up an AVG FREE 2013 page. I updated from AVG 2011 yesterday. Maybe just clicked on the desktop icon. It offered some additional services that each required a download and install. The PC Cleaner was 56 mb, which took a while. I was very hesitant to try it but took the chance and it supposedly repaired something like 1000 problems in this machine. It seems to run fine now so I guess it didn't eat it alive as programs like that can do sometimes. I'd bet if you google AVG FREE 2013 you'll find some way to get it. Of course it tried to get me to buy a more thorough version once it was done. It sure enough fixed my networking issue though so I am happy. I don't remember the 2011 version ever offering this option.

I just checked and the option is called "PC tuneup" and is on the page that comes up from clicking the icon once you have AVG Free 2013 installed. If you activate it it will check the machine and tell you that you have thousands of issues they can fix and when I looked at the details of what they considered an issue, they were right. Thousands of unnecessary files. Now they're gone.

 

[chev65]

That's good then, maybe something was blocking the connection on the one machine.

Around here we use CCleaner to clean out temp files and the registry, it's about the only I trust but maybe the AVG one cleaned out the right stuff.