[Solved] Homegroup file sharing

[RonCo]

Hi

Hope you can help with a homegroup problem. I have a PC running Windows 7 Home Premium and have just bought a new laptop running Windows 8, which I’m still getting used to so that might be part of my problem.

Anyway, the intention is to keep the PC as the main computer but access files from the laptop and save back to the PC, ie use the PC as a PC and as a file server. I thought homegroup would do that for me – but not so far!

Homegroup was set up on the PC (although not used) so I had the laptop join the homegroup. On Windows Explorer both computers showed the other under Homegroup but I couldn’t access the files from the laptop – “..PC .. denying access to your pc ..” I have user names and passwords switched off, network discovery switched on and marked the My Docs folder on the PC as able to be shared by anyone. No luck.

I have now removed both computers from the homegroup and set up a new one. Both computers say they are in a homegroup but both say that no other computers are currently available. Both have the same password. In Windows Explorer no other computer is shown under Homegroup on either machine.

I am a computer user and not an IT expert. I’m also retired so would welcome simple help if anyone can advise what I am doing wrong. I believe there may be software options available but these seem more about business sharing over the internet rather than sharing over a private network.

Thanks

[KenB]

Hi Ron - good to see that you were finally able to post your problem.

 

I have a Win7 desktop and Win 8.1 laptop and tried to create a homegroup to test.

Strangely - I am getting exactly the same problems that you are - and I have not managed to solve this problem yet.

 

So I too would be interested to hear of any possible solutions :)

[RandyL]

I think that if you are using different versions of Windows you may have to use Workgroup instead. I have used Workgroup with Vista/7, Vista/XP and 7/XP. Take a look at this article.

Networking home computers running different versions of Windows

[RonCo]

Thanks Randy. Thats a helpful article but looks to be written for Windows 7 users networking with older versions of Windows. I've changed my Windows 7 pc to work group but the Windows 8 laptop Network & Sharing Centre shows Private network with no option to change. I'll research a bit more on the Microsoft website.

[RandyL]

Your two options are Private and Public. Private is what you want so don't change it. There are a number of things that might be causing issues.

 

1. First, if you have a third party firewall temporarily disable it.

 

2. Leave passwording off.

 

3. Make sure both computers have the same Workgroup name.

 

4. In the folder you are sharing add the group Everyone under sharing.

 

5. Go to Advanced Sharing and tic the box Share this folder then click Permissions.

 

6. Add the group Everyone then select the permission levels.

 

7. Go back and select the Security tab. If the group Everyone is not listed click Edit then click Add and add Everyone.

 

8. Select Everyone while in Security and set the permission levels.

 

9. For special permissions use the Advanced security settings.

 

Usually when one computer can't access the other it's the Security setting that is wrong if the group name is the same. However as one of your computers is new it may have come bundled with an antivirus suite that includes a firewall and networking protection that is blocking it.

 

As a precaution if you're afraid of getting in too deep set system restore points first. That way a couple clicks get you back to the start and you don't have to remember all the changes you made.

[RonCo]

Thanks RandyL. SUCCESS!

 

You are correct in that the new laptop came bundled with McAfee antivirus software but disabling their firewall didn't seem to make any difference. On the PC, I disabled Norton firewall and went through your list. The only new thing really was at steps 7 and 8. And I now have access via the laptop - even with Norton firewall back on.

 

However, on the laptop I'm getting access via 'Network' in Windows Explorer. The PC is shown there and clicking on that brings up a 'd' drive, 'users' and 'my docs' and the latter gives me full access to my files. I've opened a couple and resaved and all seems to work perfectly. I don't know if this is a Windows 8 thing or not but the Homegroup still doesn't work and I still can't track down 'workgroup' on the laptop. But hey-ho! I have access to files via the laptop which is what I wanted. Problem solved. Many thanks for your help.

[RandyL]

That's good to hear Ron. At least you have access in one direction.

 

If you do try to get access both ways both computers need to have the same settings. It seems one does not. Again it's probably the security settings on one.

 

In any case I'll mark this as solved for now. Good luck Ron.