Vista to Vista file sharing "Access is Denied"

Question

** Please read my section on ‘previous attempts’ before making posts **

PC 1: Vista Ultimate
PC 2: Vista Home Premium SP1
PC 3: Vista Business
Network: PC1/2 are wired, PC3 is wireless and connect via a Netgear DG834G wireless router with DHCP used to assign all IPs.
Sharing Settings on all 3 PCs: Network Discovery (ON), File sharing (ON), Public folder sharing (ON), Printer Sharing (OFF), Password Protect Sharing (OFF), Media Sharing (OFF).

I have spent 2 weeks on this now. I recently installed Vista Ultimate on my main pc (PC1), and using the default sharing wizard, shared a series of folders to the 'Everyone' group, as I allow my private home network to access my shares anonymously. Everything was working fine for the first few days, PC2 and PC3 where able to successfully access the shares, until one day it just stopped working and when PC2/PC3 attempted to access the shared folders via ‘Start > Network’ or UNC Path \\VISTA\ , it would say “Access is Denied”. Having said that, to make it more complex, the shares are accessible if you type the folder share name, ie \\VISTA\Movies\.

I spent the next few days researching, uninstalled all the hot fixes (inc SP1) I had applied, changed every security setting there is, and read over 30 related “access is denied” forum topics. Most of these related to vista sharing to xp, but mine is VISTA to VISTA, and I swear I have not made the comical errors others have. I ended up doing a fresh install, and everything was fine again, so I thought it was a once off. After a few days the same problem came back. I thought it must have been one of the hot fixes I installed, or SP1, or another application. It is important to note that file sharing works seamlessly between PC2 and PC3.

In an attempt to save your time and effort, here is a list of the things i have already tried (and yes I reboot after every change):
- Disabled Windows Firewall and Windows Defender on PC1, I have NO other firewall, virus, or antispyware products installed, until I figure out this problem.
- Ensured the network location was set to ‘Private’ under ‘Network and Sharing Centre’.
- I confirm the ‘Everyone’ group has been given full access under the ‘Sharing’ and ‘Security’ tabs for all shared folders.
- I have granted permissions using the advanced sharing window, no difference.
- Confirmed guest account is enabled, I can also confirm that the event viewer on PC1 does not display any denied errors, but instead all guest access is granted without a problem.
- Disabled/Enabled IPv6, no difference
- Checked that ‘NetBIOS’ is enabled in the network card settings
- Checked ‘File and Printer Sharing’ is enabled in the network card of all PC’s.
- Workgroup is set to the same as the other computers (ie. HOME)
- Using IP (ie. \\10.10.10.1 ) instead of computer name, no difference
- Previously modified a whole rang of Security policies, if anyone thinks its one of these, I will list the exact ones I changed (I always revert it to default if it had no effect after reboot).
- My concurrent connection limit is not being hit

Does it matter that I change the location for ALL of my original C:\users\username folders (ie. Pictures, Movies, Searches, Contacts etc) to another hdd (ie. F:\profiles\usernames\). I was thinking that maybe the default view when doing \\VISTA\ was corrupt, or needs permission? This is my only last thought to myself, before I reformat and go back to XP. Also to reiterate the shares are accessible if you type the folder share name, ie \\VISTA\Movies\. Just not \\VISTA\

Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.

Permissions are given in 2 different places.
So check that permissions are granted as you wish to "everybody" in the security tab as in the share tab.

Hi Sidney thanks for the reply. As above, i have done this: "the ‘Everyone’ group has been given full access under the ‘Sharing’ and ‘Security’ tabs for all shared folders."

Before going further, did you try to disable the firewalls on all PCs (it is just to check a point)

Hi Brodier,

First lets enable Logon Auditing on the computers you are trying to access so we can get a good idea why you are getting Access Denied errors...Goto Control Panel\Administrative Tools\Local Security Policy\Local Policys\Audit Policy, then select "Audit Account Logon Events" and "Audit Logon Events" and enable the Failure Audit on both of them...(dont enable auditing of sucessful events because it will make the log very large and too long).
Reboot and try connecting to the machine you just enabled Auditing on...

After you get two or a few more Access Denied Errors check the Event-Viewer for the reason Vista Denied access... From the Start menu search box type Event Viewer and open it, then goto Windows Logs\Security and post a complete copy of each different type of report you find, not duplicates just all the others...

When you post them here we can identify the exact cause and why your getting the Access Denied message...

Steven

in vista u cannot share the whole drive if u r using 2 different OS. so directly share the folders u want to want to share on network.
just follow these simple tips on vista machine
1. right click on the folder to be shared and select the option share. or properties and share.
2. it will ask the option choose to share with. Write EVERYONE and hit enter
3. now grant the permission as co-owner.and click Share.
enjoy with sharing.