Network sharing permissions

TeamanFL · Mar 8, 2009

I posted this in general, but it does not appear there so I am posting it here too.

I have a desktop PC with VISTA and a laptop with VISTA. The DT is connected to a router via a cable. The laptop is connected to the router via wireless. I have set all permissions that I can find and share wherever I can find. I can't access files on either PC from either PC. I get the message "Windows can not access \\Lu-PC\C" or what ever folder I try to access. I can get into the folder called "public", but my files are not in that folder on either PC. The permissions for Lu-PC\C is everyone full control, change and read. Please help, TeamanFL

john_cena · Mar 9, 2009

hi eamanFL,

Can you please provide with more information as to on the laptop and pcs what is the ip address range your using. also make sure you can ping from the laptop to the pc. can you please first tell me this information ping the pc from the laptop. If the ping doesnt not ive u a reply then you need to check your setting on the router and the pcs and laptop.

Hope this helps

Cheers !!!!

TeamanFL · Mar 9, 2009

john_cena said:
hi eamanFL,

Can you please provide with more information as to on the laptop and pcs what is the ip address range your using. also make sure you can ping from the laptop to the pc. can you please first tell me this information ping the pc from the laptop. If the ping doesnt not ive u a reply then you need to check your setting on the router and the pcs and laptop.

Hope this helps

Cheers !!!!

I have a netgear router model WGR614 v7. It sees attached devices:
192.168.1.2 printer
192.168.1.3 LU-PC
192.168.1.5 JOHN-PC

LAN IP range is 192.168.1.2 through 192.168.1.51

When I ping each of the IP addresses, they all come back OK (4 times).

I went to JOHN-PC Share. I see C:\ shared and \\JOHN-PC\c-john
Also at advanced sharing permissions it shows Everyone allow full change read are all checked

I did this with the C drive on LU-PC also. I also did this with JOHN-PC users and with LU-PC users. Also with John user and Lu user.

If I open windows explorer and click on networks, I see JOHN-PC and LU-PC listed. When I click on LU-PC, I see:
c[\\Lu-pc]
Public [\\LU-PC]
Users [\\LU-PC]
Lu user [\\LU-PC]
Printers [LU-PC]

When I click on c[\\Lu-pc], I get the message “Windows cannot access \\LU-PC\c”. I get the same message when I click c[\\John-pc] from the other PC (JOHN). Even though users is shown on the network, it only shows the public folder. I do not use the public folder. I use the JOHN folder on the JOHN pc and the LU folder on the LU pc. I tried to click on Lu user [\\Lu-pc], but I get the same message.

Also, the firewall is OFF on both PC’s. I use WPA-PSK for the wireless security on the Netgear router. No one can get in unless they have the user name and password for the router.

What else can I do?

TeamanFL · Mar 11, 2009

OK
Since no one can help me with access to my documents (JOHN) over the network the normal way... Is it possible to redirect all of my stuff to public? I can access public on the network, but nothing else. Right now when I go to save stuff it goes to John documents or some such. Also when I go to windows explorer, it shows JOHN as a folder at the top of the list (even before my computer). Can I have it show public instead? If I can do all of those things, I can work this with the PUBLIC folder instead of the JOHN folder. Is there a disadvantage with using the public folder for all of my files? Thanks in advance, TeamanFL

AstaLaVista · Mar 11, 2009

Are both pc's on the same Workgroup Network? meaning, do they have the same Workgroup name?

TeamanFL · Mar 11, 2009

AstaLaVista said:
Are both pc's on the same Workgroup Network? meaning, do they have the same Workgroup name?

Yes. If I go to system the workgroup is called "WORKGROUP" on both PC's. If I go to network properties the network is called "Brooks (private network)" on both PC's. Brooks is what I told my router to call the secure network. Is there someplace else I should check?

Barman58 · Mar 11, 2009

Hello TeamanFL,

Can you confirm that you have identical User names on both 192.168.1.3 LU-PC and
192.168.1.5 JOHN-PC, Also this user is at the same level - eg. Standard User or administrator.

Also you are using the advanced sharing on both machines.

TeamanFL · Mar 11, 2009

barman58 said:
Hello TeamanFL,

Can you confirm that you have identical User names on both 192.168.1.3 LU-PC and
192.168.1.5 JOHN-PC, Also this user is at the same level - eg. Standard User or administrator.

Also you are using the advanced sharing on both machines.

NO, I do not. Both are administrator. Lu's PC name is LU. John's PC name is JOHN. I am using advanced sharing. I went to C:, did a right click, selected share, then clicked on advance, clicked on permissions, set "everyone" at full control-change-and read (all checked).
What else should I have done?

Barman58 · Mar 11, 2009

Ok without the same user names , at the same level, on both pc's, the automatic sharing will fail in a Workgroup, as the user FILE permissions as opposed to SHARE permissions will not be present, If you create an identical user on each machine sharing should then work correctly, athough you may need to add file & and folder access to the shared files to allow write access.

MS's full explanation is here ...

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx

If you want to try this and if further permissions are needed I will try to point you in the correct direction

TeamanFL · Mar 11, 2009

barman58 said:
Ok without the same user names , at the same level, on both pc's, the automatic sharing will fail in a Workgroup, as the user FILE permissions as opposed to SHARE permissions will not be present, If you create an identical user on each machine sharing should then work correctly, athough you may need to add file & and folder access to the shared files to allow write access.

If you want to try this and if further permissions are needed I will try to point you in the correct direction

The purpose of having shared files is to make copies of these files on each PC so that there is a backup of those files available in case one PC is not usable. If I name the user the same on each PC, How will I backup JOHN to JOHN? I do not want Lu's documents to be merged with John's documents. Also if both users are called JOHN, will the PC names be the same too? Also, how will I know I am looking at the correct JOHN folder on the network? That will be confusing to everyone!

I am willing to try what you suggest, but need answers to the above questions first. Also, what is the best way to rename the user?

Barman58 · Mar 11, 2009

Hi,

the identical users are needed only to sort out the actual sharing, it will not change the computer name and you can set up your share names to read whatever you like.

Eg on LU-PC you can set-up a share called "LU's Docs on John PC" which can actually point to something like c:\users\john\documents\lu's backup on John-PC.

once you get the sharing working there is no need to actually use the John user on LU-PC and vice-versa.

It sounds complicated but once working it is quite intuitive

TeamanFL · Mar 11, 2009

barman58 said:
Hi,

the identical users are needed only to sort out the actual sharing, it will not change the computer name and you can set up your share names to read whatever you like.

Eg on LU-PC you can set-up a share called "LU's Docs on John PC" which can actually point to something like c:\users\john\documents\lu's backup on John-PC.

once you get the sharing working there is no need to actually use the John user on LU-PC and vice-versa.

It sounds complicated but once working it is quite intuitive

I don't know how to set-up a share name such as Lu's docs on John-PC.
Also, the PC user name is where everything is automatically stored, such as favorites, contacts, documents, etc. How would I get the PC to save those things in any folder other than the user name (JOHN on both PC's)?
Also, I DO NOT use passwords to do anything on my PC, neither does Lu on her PC. I do not want to start now.

Barman58 · Mar 11, 2009

Ok

for the purpose of example will work on John-PC as John.
other user on Both PC's is "Lu"

what I would do is

In the documents, (john's documents), folder right click and create a folder called "LU's Documents backup", or similar,

If you wish this folder may be created directly of the c:\ point of the drive as this will keep these files completely away from John's files

Once created right click the new folder and select properties then the sharing tab, then advanced sharing, click on share this folder and enter as suitable name in the share as box eg "LU's docs on John-PC". Set the share permissions to John = Full and Lu=Full. OK out of dialog.

Now right click on the folder again select permissions and on the security tab add LU to have full permissions on the folder. This sets the file and folder permissions required for NTFS file systems.

On LU-PC, when Lu is logged in, in the network view the folder "LU's docs on John-PC" should now be available, This folder may be mapped to show as a drive in the computer view on LU-PC

Hope this is clear, it would take a fraction of the time to do than explain.

Barman58 · Mar 11, 2009

Oh additionally to log on automatically once two users are set up follow the instructions here ...

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66966-logon-automatically.html

TeamanFL · Mar 11, 2009

barman58 said:
Ok

for the purpose of example will work on John-PC as John.
other user on Both PC's is "Lu"

what I would do is

In the documents, (john's documents), folder right click and create a folder called "LU's Documents backup", or similar,

If you wish this folder may be created directly of the c:\ point of the drive as this will keep these files completely away from John's files

Once created right click the new folder and select properties then the sharing tab, then advanced sharing, click on share this folder and enter as suitable name in the share as box eg "LU's docs on John-PC". Set the share permissions to John = Full and Lu=Full. OK out of dialog.

Now right click on the folder again select permissions and on the security tab add LU to have full permissions on the folder. This sets the file and folder permissions required for NTFS file systems.

On LU-PC, when Lu is logged in, in the network view the folder "LU's docs on John-PC" should now be available, This folder may be mapped to show as a drive in the computer view on LU-PC

Hope this is clear, it would take a fraction of the time to do than explain.

I created a folder called Lu's BU in the user JOHN documents folder on JOHN PC. When I went to share the folder, I found that only the location JOHN-PC was available. If I try to allow LU to access it how would the location JOHN-PC do me any good? That is my PC, not hers? I must be missing something.

When I tried to do that, it said that LU could not be found.

Barman58 · Mar 11, 2009

OK, I'm obviously not explaining things to well here

the easiest thin to try as a temporary measure is to create the folder discussed in my last post in the public folder on JOHN-PC and a similar folder in the public folder in LU-PC. These folders should be accessible without any additional permissions

I have to go out for a while but am willing to continue to attempt sorting this later if you wish.

From the original post ed link to MS this may better explain the workings of file sharing ...

If you are new to file and printer sharing, see the following Windows Vista help topics:

File sharing essentials

Share files with someone

Sharing files with the Public folder

Share a printer

TeamanFL · Mar 11, 2009

barman58 said:
OK, I'm obviously not explaining things to well here

the easiest thin to try as a temporary measure is to create the folder discussed in my last post in the public folder on JOHN-PC and a similar folder in the public folder in LU-PC. These folders should be accessible without any additional permissions

I have to go out for a while but am willing to continue to attempt sorting this later if you wish.

From the original post ed link to MS this may better explain the workings of file sharing ...

If you are new to file and printer sharing, see the following Windows Vista help topics:

File sharing essentials

Share files with someone

Sharing files with the Public folder

Share a printer

Click to expand...

If I understand, you want me to create folders in PUBLIC on both PC's. In each PC, you want me to duplicate all of the files, including the sub-folders in the PUBLIC folder. EG PUBLIC\Lu's Documents; and; PUBLIC\Lu's pictures; and; PUBLIC\Lu's music, etc. and do that on both PC's. That way I can copy My files to hers via the PUBLIC folder on her PC and do the same for her files on my PC.
That is logical, but it uses twice the storage space on each PC. It also makes me copy files two times, once to the duplicate folder in PUBLIC and once from the PUBLIC folder to my PC (opposite PC on the network).

I read through each of the links you had above. I have done what they say and still have a problem sharing folders on the network. There are some things I can't do. EG: I can't see what permissions I have on LU-PC because my name does not show up on that folder.

Are you suggesting that I create 2 users on each PC? If I do, can I NOT have a password for either of the 2 users? Also, does than mean I have to select the user each time I turn on my PC One more step to slow me down)? That does not sound like a practical solution to what should be a simple problem.

When I had XP on LU's PC and VISTA on John's PC, I had a network that allowed me to share files accross the network. It worked great. I fail to see where VISTA on both PC's was an improvement. Who at Microsoft can I ask about this (make it more simple to share accross a network)?

I appreciate all of the help here! Don't assume I am ungrateful. I am frustrated though!!! Teaman

Barman58 · Mar 11, 2009

Hi TeamanFL,

I can well understand that this is frustrating. A lot of things were changed to "improve security" in Vista over XP, but that does not help when the simple things become more complicated

To do what you are wanting to do you do need two users (John & Lu), on each computer. With this done you should, by following the instructions on the Microsoft site I linked to, be able to share the actual user files tree on each machine, without having to copy files into the public area.

The need to log in on each machine caused by the presence of two users is easily solved by using this tutorial ...

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66...matically.html

Once you have the sharing working you can use this free tool from Microsoft to keep the shared items in sync with copies kept on the other machine ...

http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/...36-98E0-4EE9-A7C5-98D0592D8C52&displaylang=en

I have used this tool myself for a similar purpose and find it to be very effective

TeamanFL · Mar 13, 2009

barman58 said:
Hi TeamanFL,

I can well understand that this is frustrating. A lot of things were changed to "improve security" in Vista over XP, but that does not help when the simple things become more complicated

To do what you are wanting to do you do need two users (John & Lu), on each computer. With this done you should, by following the instructions on the Microsoft site I linked to, be able to share the actual user files tree on each machine, without having to copy files into the public area.

The need to log in on each machine caused by the presence of two users is easily solved by using this tutorial ...

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66...matically.html

Once you have the sharing working you can use this free tool from Microsoft to keep the shared items in sync with copies kept on the other machine ...

Download details: SyncToy v2.0

I have used this tool myself for a similar purpose and find it to be very effective

Thank you so much, you have been a great help. TeamanFL

andrew simonds · Mar 14, 2009

try to ping both the computers.

share the folder/file and give it to the full permission.

shared as right click on the folder/file select the sharing and security , click ok

type the ip address of the share file computer on the second computer as

\\ip address

and you get all the shared files and folder in the network copy the file from the share folder and paste it anywhere.

[Commercial links removed]

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