Sharing permissions problem

thecakeisafake

New member
Local time
11:20 PM
Messages
9
Hi!

I have 3 computers on my network, 2 running Windows 7, one running XP SP3. Basic sharing bewteen all PCs works, however I can't seem to setup any more specific permissions.

What I want to do is share a number of folders between the two windows 7 PCs, and a different set of folders with the XP PC.

Now I thought I could use the handy homegroup feature to do that, use regular sharing options to allow access for the XP PC and all...but I can't make either windows 7 PC recognize the other's homegroup.

I've tried to create one on each, the other wouldn't find it. I've tried to create one on each at the same time with the same pass, they still would not find each other.
All despite the fact that regular sharing works.

Are there any other (better) options to specifiy which folders are to be visible to which PC?


I'd like to resort to creating an account on my PC which the others can use to access their specific files only if there is no other way, as I'd like to keep the whole thing password free.


I'd appreciate any help :)
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
custom built
OS
Windows 7..duh!
CPU
C2Q 9450 3,6GHz
Motherboard
Asus Maximus Formula
Memory
4GB DDR2-1066
Graphics Card(s)
8800 GTX
Sound Card
Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music
Monitor(s) Displays
2x BenQ G2400W
Hard Drives
Seagate 750GB SATA 32MB,
Samsung 1000GB SATA 32MB,
Samsung 1500GB SATA 32MB,
PSU
Enermax Infiniti 720W
Case
Antec 900
Cooling
Zalman CNPS 9700
Mouse
Logitech MX Revolution
Internet Speed
16/1 Mbit down/up
Hi!

I have 3 computers on my network, 2 running Windows 7, one running XP SP3. Basic sharing bewteen all PCs works, however I can't seem to setup any more specific permissions.

What I want to do is share a number of folders between the two windows 7 PCs, and a different set of folders with the XP PC.

Now I thought I could use the handy homegroup feature to do that, use regular sharing options to allow access for the XP PC and all...but I can't make either windows 7 PC recognize the other's homegroup.

I've tried to create one on each, the other wouldn't find it. I've tried to create one on each at the same time with the same pass, they still would not find each other.
All despite the fact that regular sharing works.

Are there any other (better) options to specifiy which folders are to be visible to which PC?


I'd like to resort to creating an account on my PC which the others can use to access their specific files only if there is no other way, as I'd like to keep the whole thing password free.


I'd appreciate any help :)
Some things to think about that you may already know about ... "Homegroup" is for windows 7 computers only, XP cannot join. Each computer needs to have the same user account name created, for example a user account named "cake" with identical passwords.

You can manually create/select folders to share through the "Workgroup" settings including XP, just make sure each computer's workgroup name is the same, then right click on a folder, select properties, sharing.

I have shared 7, XP, K2, 98, and linux on my home network including printers. Here is my advanced sharing settings for 7 for you to compare with yours:

picture.php


picture.php


Hope this gets you started!

Robert
 

My Computer

OS
...
In addition to the above excellent post, when sharing make shure you only use advanced sharing to set the share permissions and also ensure that the correct NTFS file permissions are set, as both are required for successful sharing
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    ChillBlast - Custom to my design
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5950X, 3.8 - 5.2 MHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime X570-Pro
    Memory
    64GB [2 x 32GB] DDR4 3200MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    4GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1650 Ti
    Sound Card
    On-board SPDIF to 5.1 System + HDMI [5.1 system]
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32" UHD 32 Bit HDR Monitor + 43" UHD 4K 32Bit HDR TV
    Screen Resolution
    2 x 3840 x 2160 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    1TB M2 SSD OS, 500GB Fast Access SSD, 2 x 8TB Data + Various Externals from 1TB to 4TB, 10TB NAS
    PSU
    NZXT C750 80 PLUS Gold 750W Modular PSU
    Case
    Workstation Case [Matt Black]
    Cooling
    NZXT Kraken X63 280mm CPU Cooler +2x Quiet Case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless MX Keys & K400 + others
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless MX Master 3S
    Internet Speed
    920 MB Down 50 MB Up
    Antivirus
    BitDefender Total Security Pro
    Browser
    Chrome (always run latest Non-Beta)
    Other Info
    Also run ...
    Laptop - Quad 8GB - Windows 10 Pro x64
    Nexus 7 Android tablet x2
    Samsung 10.2" tablet
    Blackview TAB 8 4G Android Tablet c/w Keyboard
    Wacom Intuos Pro Medium Pen Pad
    Wacom Intuos Pro Small Pen Pad
    Wacom Expresskeys Remote
    Loopdeck+ Graphics Controller
    Shuttle Pro v2 Control
  • Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Dell XPS 17 10750H
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Latest RP
    CPU
    Intel I7 10750H 5.0GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell XPS
    Memory
    32GB [2x16GB] DDR4 2933 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX1650Ti 4 GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    Stock [Realtek] 4 Speaker
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" IPS UHD+ Infinity Edge Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2400
    Hard Drives
    2TB M2 NVMe, 4TB External + various 500GB & 1TB External NVMe (also have access to spinner HDD from
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Stock XPS Aluminium & Carbon Fibre
    Cooling
    Stock - Active Fan Control
    Keyboard
    Backlit + Various Logitech
    Mouse
    Stock Track Pad + Logitech MX Trackball
    Internet Speed
    72 MB Down 18MB Up
    Browser
    Chrome
    Other Info
    Also run ...
    Laptop - Quad 8GB - Windows 10 Pro x64
    Nexus 7 Android tablet x2
    10.2" tablet
    Sony Z3 Android Smartphone
    Wacom Intuos Pro Medium Pen Pad
    Wacom Intuos Pro Small Pen Pad
    Wacom Expresskeys Remote
    Loopdeck+ Graphics Controller
    Shuttle Pro v2 Control Pad
    10TB NAS
Thanks for the replies, but I think you misunderstood.


I have 3 PCs on the network...my own(win7), my mom's(win7), and my little brother's(XP).

I want to share all my media with my mom, my mom wants to share all her media with me, but my little brother should only be able to view a selected few folders.


Now I could create a user on my computer called "mom" and "brother" with NTFS permissions for the specific folders, which they would use to gain network access,
but this method would require me to turn on password protected sharing.

I'd like to keep it password free as this is just a home network.


So, in order to keep it password free I was counting on the homegroup feature to share folders between my moms pc and my own, and the regular sharing for my little brothers PC.

Regular sharing works, homegroups don't. Neither windows 7 PC detects a homegroup if the other creates one.


Each computer needs to have the same user account name created, for example a user account named "cake" with identical passwords.

Is this required using HomeGroups? Just asking because I see no mention of it anywhere in the instructions for using the feature..

By the way: in your settings you have network discovery disabled, this would prevent any other computer from seeing your computer on the network? And according to the windows help, it would also prevent homegroups from working. ???
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
custom built
OS
Windows 7..duh!
CPU
C2Q 9450 3,6GHz
Motherboard
Asus Maximus Formula
Memory
4GB DDR2-1066
Graphics Card(s)
8800 GTX
Sound Card
Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music
Monitor(s) Displays
2x BenQ G2400W
Hard Drives
Seagate 750GB SATA 32MB,
Samsung 1000GB SATA 32MB,
Samsung 1500GB SATA 32MB,
PSU
Enermax Infiniti 720W
Case
Antec 900
Cooling
Zalman CNPS 9700
Mouse
Logitech MX Revolution
Internet Speed
16/1 Mbit down/up
First off to run your network as stated above you will require a few things set up.

I will use the users Cake = You, Mum = Mum and Bro = your brother and the pc names of CakePC, MumPC & Bro PC :)


  • ensure that you are on the same TCP/IP subnet on all three machines eg. 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.3
  • Ensure that all three machines are in the same workgroup eg Home
  • Create users with a password on you machine Mum & Bro ( the users on their own machines will require passwords but these do not need to be the same as the users on your machine.)
  • Create a user "Cake" on your Mum's machine with a password
That should be basic setups you require

Ok for homegroups one thing that has to be considered is the time on the two machines (Your's and your Mum's ), if the time on machines are not synchronized the homegroup will fail.

To set up the home group first go to your machine and set up a homegroup, share the libraries you wish to and I advise set your own password. then go to your Mum's machine and attempt to join the same homegroup if it fails run the troubleshooter and let that set up the parameters you need - if it still fails Post back the errors and I will see what I can suggest further.

On your machine give the Bro user the NNFS Access permissions to the files and or folders you wish to allow your brother to have access to ( you can also set the level of access - navigate, Read and execute should be enough, although settings files for games will need write access )
Once the permissions are set up share the folders and include "bro" in the permissions.

To remove the need for the passwords you can check out the tutorials section here to set up automatic logon - the passwords are an integral part of network sharing of non public folders but once set up need not be an annoyance. Once the shares and permissions are correctly set the system will not ask for passwords
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    ChillBlast - Custom to my design
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5950X, 3.8 - 5.2 MHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime X570-Pro
    Memory
    64GB [2 x 32GB] DDR4 3200MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    4GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1650 Ti
    Sound Card
    On-board SPDIF to 5.1 System + HDMI [5.1 system]
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32" UHD 32 Bit HDR Monitor + 43" UHD 4K 32Bit HDR TV
    Screen Resolution
    2 x 3840 x 2160 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    1TB M2 SSD OS, 500GB Fast Access SSD, 2 x 8TB Data + Various Externals from 1TB to 4TB, 10TB NAS
    PSU
    NZXT C750 80 PLUS Gold 750W Modular PSU
    Case
    Workstation Case [Matt Black]
    Cooling
    NZXT Kraken X63 280mm CPU Cooler +2x Quiet Case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless MX Keys & K400 + others
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless MX Master 3S
    Internet Speed
    920 MB Down 50 MB Up
    Antivirus
    BitDefender Total Security Pro
    Browser
    Chrome (always run latest Non-Beta)
    Other Info
    Also run ...
    Laptop - Quad 8GB - Windows 10 Pro x64
    Nexus 7 Android tablet x2
    Samsung 10.2" tablet
    Blackview TAB 8 4G Android Tablet c/w Keyboard
    Wacom Intuos Pro Medium Pen Pad
    Wacom Intuos Pro Small Pen Pad
    Wacom Expresskeys Remote
    Loopdeck+ Graphics Controller
    Shuttle Pro v2 Control
  • Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Dell XPS 17 10750H
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Latest RP
    CPU
    Intel I7 10750H 5.0GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell XPS
    Memory
    32GB [2x16GB] DDR4 2933 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX1650Ti 4 GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    Stock [Realtek] 4 Speaker
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" IPS UHD+ Infinity Edge Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2400
    Hard Drives
    2TB M2 NVMe, 4TB External + various 500GB & 1TB External NVMe (also have access to spinner HDD from
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Stock XPS Aluminium & Carbon Fibre
    Cooling
    Stock - Active Fan Control
    Keyboard
    Backlit + Various Logitech
    Mouse
    Stock Track Pad + Logitech MX Trackball
    Internet Speed
    72 MB Down 18MB Up
    Browser
    Chrome
    Other Info
    Also run ...
    Laptop - Quad 8GB - Windows 10 Pro x64
    Nexus 7 Android tablet x2
    10.2" tablet
    Sony Z3 Android Smartphone
    Wacom Intuos Pro Medium Pen Pad
    Wacom Intuos Pro Small Pen Pad
    Wacom Expresskeys Remote
    Loopdeck+ Graphics Controller
    Shuttle Pro v2 Control Pad
    10TB NAS
I want to share all my media with my mom, my mom wants to share all her media with me, but my little brother should only be able to view a selected few folders.
Let me concentrate on sharing with Little Bro. In the sharing properties of 7, you can limit who has access. I created a "Temp" folder and opened the share properties here:

picture.php


Instead of sharing a folder with "Everyone", you can share a folder with Mom and she with you, but not Lil' Bro. You would need to create another folder and include Lil' Bro, You, and/or Mom to give him a folder he can access while restricting access to the other shared folder. You would need to use the "Workgroup" not the "Homegroup" because of XP. Each computer that has folders you want to share this way will need 4 user accounts: Admin, You, Mom, Little Bro. Also Barman is correct in that once you authenticate the network connection with the password, it does not ask again.

By the way: in your settings you have network discovery disabled, this would prevent any other computer from seeing your computer on the network? And according to the windows help, it would also prevent homegroups from working. ???
Yes, that is correct. Actually, I have enabled "Network Discovery" but Windows keeps turning it off. Evidently at this point, it doesn't need it for my home network to function correctly.
 

My Computer

OS
...
Ok thanks again. For now I'll try the "regular" way with users and passwords.

When I get HomeGroup to work, couldn't I use "share with -> homegroup" for both me and my mom, and "share with -> everyone" to share with my brother?

And I have another question...do I need to share my music library to be able to stream it to another PC? Because I really don't like the libraries and I'd prefer sharing the folders :p

Edit: Oh an another, semi-related question:
When I stop sharing folders, they get a little lock icon. Is there any way to get rid of this?
I find it quite annoying as these folders aren't "locked" - they just aren't shared, like thousands of other folders, and those don't have a lock.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
custom built
OS
Windows 7..duh!
CPU
C2Q 9450 3,6GHz
Motherboard
Asus Maximus Formula
Memory
4GB DDR2-1066
Graphics Card(s)
8800 GTX
Sound Card
Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music
Monitor(s) Displays
2x BenQ G2400W
Hard Drives
Seagate 750GB SATA 32MB,
Samsung 1000GB SATA 32MB,
Samsung 1500GB SATA 32MB,
PSU
Enermax Infiniti 720W
Case
Antec 900
Cooling
Zalman CNPS 9700
Mouse
Logitech MX Revolution
Internet Speed
16/1 Mbit down/up
Ok thanks again. For now I'll try the "regular" way with users and passwords. When I get HomeGroup to work, couldn't I use "share with -> homegroup" for both me and my mom, and "share with -> everyone" to share with my brother?
Hmmmm ..... Sharing with "Everyone" would allow everyone to see the folders, and I thought the plan was to limit what Bro had access to?
And I have another question...do I need to share my music library to be able to stream it to another PC? Because I really don't like the libraries and I'd prefer sharing the folders :p
Not really sure on this one. I am able to listen to mp3s on an external networked folder with Media Player. Same thing?
Edit: Oh an another, semi-related question:
When I stop sharing folders, they get a little lock icon. Is there any way to get rid of this?
I find it quite annoying as these folders aren't "locked" - they just aren't shared, like thousands of other folders, and those don't have a lock.
Looking into this.
 

My Computer

OS
...

My Computer

OS
...
Hmmmm ..... Sharing with "Everyone" would allow everyone to see the folders, and I thought the plan was to limit what Bro had access to?

Exactly. Got it all working now, including Homegroups, so if I share folder "Mum" with "HomeGroup" and folder "Bro" with "Everyone", "Bro" is visible on the XP based PC, and "Mum" is visible on my mums PC.

The lock thing, appears that if I add "Everyone" via the simple sharing menu the lock disappears.
If I then remove "Everyone"'s permissions via the Advanced Sharing menu, and stop sharing it there, the lock doesn't appear. pff.

Thanks for all the help everyone :)
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
custom built
OS
Windows 7..duh!
CPU
C2Q 9450 3,6GHz
Motherboard
Asus Maximus Formula
Memory
4GB DDR2-1066
Graphics Card(s)
8800 GTX
Sound Card
Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music
Monitor(s) Displays
2x BenQ G2400W
Hard Drives
Seagate 750GB SATA 32MB,
Samsung 1000GB SATA 32MB,
Samsung 1500GB SATA 32MB,
PSU
Enermax Infiniti 720W
Case
Antec 900
Cooling
Zalman CNPS 9700
Mouse
Logitech MX Revolution
Internet Speed
16/1 Mbit down/up
Exactly. Got it all working now, including Homegroups, so if I share folder "Mum" with "HomeGroup" and folder "Bro" with "Everyone", "Bro" is visible on the XP based PC, and "Mum" is visible on my mums PC.

The lock thing, appears that if I add "Everyone" via the simple sharing menu the lock disappears.
If I then remove "Everyone"'s permissions via the Advanced Sharing menu, and stop sharing it there, the lock doesn't appear. pff.

Thanks for all the help everyone :)
You are most welcome. Anytime.

Robert
 

My Computer

OS
...
Back
Top