Vista - Network sharing permissions

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

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?

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

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?

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?

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/l.../bb727037.aspx

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?