Vista - Cannot Share Root In Vista

Hey All,

I'm having a problem with one of my computers running Vista. I used to be
able to share a root directory (such as my USB drive) no problem; did the
usual Right-Click thing and select "Share...". Well, I noticed a day or two
ago that I am no longer able to do that, for any of my drives. I can share
individual folders, but the option to share a drive does not even come up
anymore when I right-click!

The odd part is that I can still do this on my laptop, which also runs
Vista. The network settings are identical, and I even tried to transfer my
settings, but still nothing.

Here's what I've tried to tinker with, but with no success:
Windows Firewall
Windows Defender
Network and Sharing Centre
System Restore
Easy Transfer

I'm close to just reinstalling Vista, but as this is a real pain in the rear
to do (and then having to reinstall all of my programs), I really don't want
to.

Any suggestions?

What do you receive if you using this command: net use \\remotepcipaddress?

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"the metaphysician" <the metaphysician@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:AAD7D8C9-A8C5-42B1-93AF-019ECE5C3CDA@microsoft.com...
Hey All,

I'm having a problem with one of my computers running Vista. I used to be
able to share a root directory (such as my USB drive) no problem; did the
usual Right-Click thing and select "Share...". Well, I noticed a day or two
ago that I am no longer able to do that, for any of my drives. I can share
individual folders, but the option to share a drive does not even come up
anymore when I right-click!

The odd part is that I can still do this on my laptop, which also runs
Vista. The network settings are identical, and I even tried to transfer my
settings, but still nothing.

Here's what I've tried to tinker with, but with no success:
Windows Firewall
Windows Defender
Network and Sharing Centre
System Restore
Easy Transfer

I'm close to just reinstalling Vista, but as this is a real pain in the rear
to do (and then having to reinstall all of my programs), I really don't want
to.

Any suggestions?

Robert,

I receive "System error 53 has occurred. The network path was not found."

--metaphysician

"Robert L [MVP - Networking]" wrote:

> What do you receive if you using this command: net use \\remotepcipaddress?
>
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> "the metaphysician" <the metaphysician@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:AAD7D8C9-A8C5-42B1-93AF-019ECE5C3CDA@microsoft.com...
> Hey All,
>
> I'm having a problem with one of my computers running Vista. I used to be
> able to share a root directory (such as my USB drive) no problem; did the
> usual Right-Click thing and select "Share...". Well, I noticed a day or two
> ago that I am no longer able to do that, for any of my drives. I can share
> individual folders, but the option to share a drive does not even come up
> anymore when I right-click!
>
> The odd part is that I can still do this on my laptop, which also runs
> Vista. The network settings are identical, and I even tried to transfer my
> settings, but still nothing.
>
> Here's what I've tried to tinker with, but with no success:
> Windows Firewall
> Windows Defender
> Network and Sharing Centre
> System Restore
> Easy Transfer
>
> I'm close to just reinstalling Vista, but as this is a real pain in the rear
> to do (and then having to reinstall all of my programs), I really don't want
> to.
>
> Any suggestions?

Or was I supposed to put in a value for remotepcipaddress? If so, which
address is my remote pcip address?

"Robert L [MVP - Networking]" wrote:

> What do you receive if you using this command: net use \\remotepcipaddress?
>
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> "the metaphysician" <the metaphysician@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:AAD7D8C9-A8C5-42B1-93AF-019ECE5C3CDA@microsoft.com...
> Hey All,
>
> I'm having a problem with one of my computers running Vista. I used to be
> able to share a root directory (such as my USB drive) no problem; did the
> usual Right-Click thing and select "Share...". Well, I noticed a day or two
> ago that I am no longer able to do that, for any of my drives. I can share
> individual folders, but the option to share a drive does not even come up
> anymore when I right-click!
>
> The odd part is that I can still do this on my laptop, which also runs
> Vista. The network settings are identical, and I even tried to transfer my
> settings, but still nothing.
>
> Here's what I've tried to tinker with, but with no success:
> Windows Firewall
> Windows Defender
> Network and Sharing Centre
> System Restore
> Easy Transfer
>
> I'm close to just reinstalling Vista, but as this is a real pain in the rear
> to do (and then having to reinstall all of my programs), I really don't want
> to.
>
> Any suggestions?

Try this registry fix.

http://www.jimmah.com/vista/Networking/filtertoken.aspx

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca


"the metaphysician" <the metaphysician@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:AAD7D8C9-A8C5-42B1-93AF-019ECE5C3CDA@microsoft.com...
> Hey All,
>
> I'm having a problem with one of my computers running Vista. I used to be
> able to share a root directory (such as my USB drive) no problem; did the
> usual Right-Click thing and select "Share...". Well, I noticed a day or
> two
> ago that I am no longer able to do that, for any of my drives. I can
> share
> individual folders, but the option to share a drive does not even come up
> anymore when I right-click!
>
> The odd part is that I can still do this on my laptop, which also runs
> Vista. The network settings are identical, and I even tried to transfer
> my
> settings, but still nothing.
>
> Here's what I've tried to tinker with, but with no success:
> Windows Firewall
> Windows Defender
> Network and Sharing Centre
> System Restore
> Easy Transfer
>
> I'm close to just reinstalling Vista, but as this is a real pain in the
> rear
> to do (and then having to reinstall all of my programs), I really don't
> want
> to.
>
> Any suggestions?

Yes it should be the remote computer IP. "System error 53 has occurred" could be name resolution issue or firewall. If you net use ip only, then we know it is firewall if you still receive System error 53 has occurred. This search result may help too,

System error 53System Error 53 - The network path was not found. Access Denied. Situation: There are 5 windows 2003 servers in the LAN. The users can access all servers ...
http://www.chicagotech.net/troublesh...temerror53.htm


Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"the metaphysician" <themetaphysician@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:B4ADF623-5E6D-414A-85D2-E9690B340547@microsoft.com...
Or was I supposed to put in a value for remotepcipaddress? If so, which
address is my remote pcip address?

"Robert L [MVP - Networking]" wrote:

> What do you receive if you using this command: net use \\remotepcipaddress?
>
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> "the metaphysician" <the metaphysician@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:AAD7D8C9-A8C5-42B1-93AF-019ECE5C3CDA@microsoft.com...
> Hey All,
>
> I'm having a problem with one of my computers running Vista. I used to be
> able to share a root directory (such as my USB drive) no problem; did the
> usual Right-Click thing and select "Share...". Well, I noticed a day or two
> ago that I am no longer able to do that, for any of my drives. I can share
> individual folders, but the option to share a drive does not even come up
> anymore when I right-click!
>
> The odd part is that I can still do this on my laptop, which also runs
> Vista. The network settings are identical, and I even tried to transfer my
> settings, but still nothing.
>
> Here's what I've tried to tinker with, but with no success:
> Windows Firewall
> Windows Defender
> Network and Sharing Centre
> System Restore
> Easy Transfer
>
> I'm close to just reinstalling Vista, but as this is a real pain in the rear
> to do (and then having to reinstall all of my programs), I really don't want
> to.
>
> Any suggestions?

This fixed the problem right away! Thank you!

"Kerry Brown" wrote:

> Try this registry fix.
>
> http://www.jimmah.com/vista/Networking/filtertoken.aspx
>
> --
> Kerry Brown
> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
> http://www.vistahelp.ca
>
>
> "the metaphysician" <the metaphysician@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> message news:AAD7D8C9-A8C5-42B1-93AF-019ECE5C3CDA@microsoft.com...
> > Hey All,
> >
> > I'm having a problem with one of my computers running Vista. I used to be
> > able to share a root directory (such as my USB drive) no problem; did the
> > usual Right-Click thing and select "Share...". Well, I noticed a day or
> > two
> > ago that I am no longer able to do that, for any of my drives. I can
> > share
> > individual folders, but the option to share a drive does not even come up
> > anymore when I right-click!
> >
> > The odd part is that I can still do this on my laptop, which also runs
> > Vista. The network settings are identical, and I even tried to transfer
> > my
> > settings, but still nothing.
> >
> > Here's what I've tried to tinker with, but with no success:
> > Windows Firewall
> > Windows Defender
> > Network and Sharing Centre
> > System Restore
> > Easy Transfer
> >
> > I'm close to just reinstalling Vista, but as this is a real pain in the
> > rear
> > to do (and then having to reinstall all of my programs), I really don't
> > want
> > to.
> >
> > Any suggestions?
>
>

I put the remote computer IP in and it was able to access it fine. This did
not solve the problem, though I thank you for the effort.

"Robert L [MVP - Networking]" wrote:

> Yes it should be the remote computer IP. "System error 53 has occurred" could be name resolution issue or firewall. If you net use ip only, then we know it is firewall if you still receive System error 53 has occurred. This search result may help too,
>
> System error 53System Error 53 - The network path was not found. Access Denied. Situation: There are 5 windows 2003 servers in the LAN. The users can access all servers ...
> http://www.chicagotech.net/troublesh...temerror53.htm
>
>
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> "the metaphysician" <themetaphysician@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:B4ADF623-5E6D-414A-85D2-E9690B340547@microsoft.com...
> Or was I supposed to put in a value for remotepcipaddress? If so, which
> address is my remote pcip address?
>
> "Robert L [MVP - Networking]" wrote:
>
> > What do you receive if you using this command: net use \\remotepcipaddress?
> >
> > Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> > Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> > How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> > "the metaphysician" <the metaphysician@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:AAD7D8C9-A8C5-42B1-93AF-019ECE5C3CDA@microsoft.com...
> > Hey All,
> >
> > I'm having a problem with one of my computers running Vista. I used to be
> > able to share a root directory (such as my USB drive) no problem; did the
> > usual Right-Click thing and select "Share...". Well, I noticed a day or two
> > ago that I am no longer able to do that, for any of my drives. I can share
> > individual folders, but the option to share a drive does not even come up
> > anymore when I right-click!
> >
> > The odd part is that I can still do this on my laptop, which also runs
> > Vista. The network settings are identical, and I even tried to transfer my
> > settings, but still nothing.
> >
> > Here's what I've tried to tinker with, but with no success:
> > Windows Firewall
> > Windows Defender
> > Network and Sharing Centre
> > System Restore
> > Easy Transfer
> >
> > I'm close to just reinstalling Vista, but as this is a real pain in the rear
> > to do (and then having to reinstall all of my programs), I really don't want
> > to.
> >
> > Any suggestions?

"the metaphysician" <themetaphysician@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:8F6E8655-8788-4E9E-ACCF-912EA596F4C8@microsoft.com...
> This fixed the problem right away! Thank you!
>


Thank Jimmy. I don't know where he finds all his tips but they are great.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca