Yet another case of can't share folders or files - Windows 11 Pro

Ztruker · Jul 20, 2023

Win 11 Pro 22H2 Build 22621.192 - Clean Install

I've been trying for a week now to set this system up so I can share it's folders and files with another Win 11 Pro system on the same network, sitting right next to it.
I've tried every suggestion I could find, including Denis's A consolidated network setup checklist for Windows 10 and 11 - my post #4 - TenForums, but that referenced some of Brink's tutorials which had steps that didn't work for me (Access denied).

I can do a dir using the \\ip-address but not the \\name, gets Access denied as above.
It shows in Network but can't be accessed, a typical Computer Browser problem.

This system can see all files and folders on the other system.

This is driving me crazy.

Fabler2 · Jul 20, 2023

Maybe share a drive? Don't know if any different to other tutorials.

How to share a Drive in Windows 11: Everything you need to know

Collaborating with others requires access to shared resources, regardless of whether you are the one who’s doing the sharing or others. Sharing files and folders is a quick and easy process o…

nerdschalk.com

glasskuter · Jul 20, 2023

I feel your pain. It's an issue that has raised it's head more than once for me with my sharing between 10 and 11 and I resorted to the same thing as you, accessing by ip address. Out of the blue, the other system would magically appear in my network map from time to time, but would then disappear again. I finally gave up and access it now with a shortcut to its ip address pinned to quick access rather than depending on the network map even though currently it is appearing there.

Winuser · Jul 20, 2023

A problem that has been going on for years. It happens to some and not for the others. But fear not, I'm sure MS will come out with a Network Failed Emoji.

MisterEd · Jul 20, 2023

glasskuter said:
I feel your pain. It's an issue that has raised it's head more than once for me with my sharing between 10 and 11 and I resorted to the same thing as you, accessing by ip address. Out of the blue, the other system would magically appear in my network map from time to time, but would then disappear again. I finally gave up and access it now with a shortcut to its ip address pinned to quick access rather than depending on the network map even though currently it is appearing there.

Why not simply make a shortcuts to the network names? That way you don't even have to know what the IP addresses are. I have been doing it this way for years. Note my IP addresses don't change very often so I have configured static IP addresses so I don't have to worry about them changing. For example, the shortcut to the computer named Spartan is \\Spartan.

glasskuter · Jul 20, 2023

MisterEd said:
Why not simply make a shortcuts to the network names?

Because as the OP said, access by computer name doesn't always work, probably because the computer doesn't show up in the network map.. I have static ip addresses, made shortcut to ip address, and named my shortcuts as computer name.

Ztruker · Jul 21, 2023

Fabler2 said:
Maybe share a drive? Don't know if any different to other tutorials.

How to share a Drive in Windows 11: Everything you need to know

Collaborating with others requires access to shared resources, regardless of whether you are the one who’s doing the sharing or others. Sharing files and folders is a quick and easy process o…

nerdschalk.com

The drives are shared but I cannot access them by name, only IP address. I've tried multiple tutorials from multiple sites, including ones by Try3 and Brink here.

For example: dir of C:

Code:

>>dir \\ascthrifter1\er1_c
The network path was not found.

dir \\172.16.103.192\er1_c
 Volume in drive \\172.16.103.192\er1_c is ER1_C
 Volume Serial Number is C456-6D97


 Directory of \\172.16.103.192\er1_c


07/14/2023  03:19 PM    <DIR>          boot
07/14/2023  02:49 PM    <DIR>          Intel
05/07/2022  01:24 AM    <DIR>          PerfLogs
07/15/2023  12:35 PM    <DIR>          Program Files
07/18/2023  04:42 PM    <DIR>          Program Files (x86)
07/14/2023  03:19 PM           272,354 Reflect_Install.log
07/14/2023  03:02 PM    <DIR>          Users
07/18/2023  04:36 PM    <DIR>          Windows
               1 File(s)        272,354 bytes
               7 Dir(s)  974,844,604,416 bytes free

I get the same result using Google DNS or router DNS (172.16.103.1) as Primary DNS.

Fabler2 · Jul 21, 2023

By following the link I've got PC A connected to PC B. Although having issues vice vera. Checking PC A I found that under Advanced sharing settings in PC A, Public Folder sharing was off. I've turned that on again and as it's late will carry on tomorrow. Although I have Password protected sharing set to off I still needed to input PC B's log in credentials to connect to its drive from PC A.
We'll see how it goes tomorrow as I haven't much hair left!!
This is showing in PC A File Explorer.

MisterEd · Jul 21, 2023

glasskuter said:
Because as the OP said, access by computer name doesn't always work, probably because the computer doesn't show up in the network map.. I have static ip addresses, made shortcut to ip address, and named my shortcuts as computer name.

The OP must be doing something wrong then. Shortcuts using computer names always works for me. If I can access the computer by IP address then the accessing by computer name automatically works. Note this has nothing to do with what I see in File Explorer > Network. That is flaky at best. I normally just use the shortcuts because they always work.

Everybody needs to stop what they are doing. You are making this way too hard.

I have a folder on my desktop called My Network

In that folder I have shortcuts to all the computer on my network. Note these shortcuts are just to the computers. It is a waste to make shortcuts to the shares themselves.

It is easy to create a network shortcut. Here is how I created the one to computer DarkMatter.

Note these computers in my home network are a mix of computers with Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 10 and Windows 11. The shorcuts \\ComputerName works with all of the them.

In the following I am accessing the shares on one of my Windows XP desktops (Palomino) from my Windows 11 laptop (Starship).

MisterEd · Jul 21, 2023

Ztruker said:

The drives are shared but I cannot access them by name, only IP address. I've tried multiple tutorials from multiple sites, including ones by Try3 and Brink here.

For example: dir of C:

Code:

>>dir \\ascthrifter1\er1_c
The network path was not found.

dir \\172.16.103.192\er1_c
 Volume in drive \\172.16.103.192\er1_c is ER1_C
 Volume Serial Number is C456-6D97


 Directory of \\172.16.103.192\er1_c


07/14/2023  03:19 PM    <DIR>          boot
07/14/2023  02:49 PM    <DIR>          Intel
05/07/2022  01:24 AM    <DIR>          PerfLogs
07/15/2023  12:35 PM    <DIR>          Program Files
07/18/2023  04:42 PM    <DIR>          Program Files (x86)
07/14/2023  03:19 PM           272,354 Reflect_Install.log
07/14/2023  03:02 PM    <DIR>          Users
07/18/2023  04:36 PM    <DIR>          Windows
               1 File(s)        272,354 bytes
               7 Dir(s)  974,844,604,416 bytes free

I get the same result using Google DNS or router DNS (172.16.103.1) as Primary DNS.

It doesn't work because you can't access network computers that way. However you can do it from the commandline using a Remote Desktop Connection. That is a subject for another thread.

JAM83 · Jul 22, 2023

Do you have File & Print Sharing enabled on BOTH computers, an both Private/Public Networks?

Fabler2 · Jul 22, 2023

It worked a treat,

Both drives connecting to laptops. One strange issue I had trying to connect from PC B to A was getting the continual message that the credentials were wrong. Always keep Microsoft account info safely and knew the password was correct. Having used PIN for years decided to try and log-in to PC A via password rather that PIN. Couldn't log in

So in system, accounts, sign-in options, password change, using PIN to prove it was me, typed the old (non working password supposedly) in and typed a new password. That sorted it. Just wondering why this issue with Windows apparently forgetting a password in one situation and not another.

DzigiBau · Jul 22, 2023

Guys,

I will try to help you here, it is not so difficult issue, but allow me to do that without reading tutorials you offer here, which means that I could repeat something from them.

Please follow these steps as precise as you can.

1. Authentication - you need to have both PCs with Local Account (meaning user name and password). Disable temporarily signing in with Microsoft account in Settings/Accounts/Your Info which will switch automatically to your Local Account. If you do not have Local account, create one on both PCs and put user name and password and then turn off signing in with Microsoft Account. It will help you if you put Static IP on both PCs there.

2. Open Registry Editor and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters and look for AllowInsecureGuestAuth there and put value 1 to it. If you do not have that, create one.

3. In Settings/Network & Internet/Ethernet (or Wifi) enable Private Network.

4. Go to Settings/Network & Internet/Advance Network Settings/Advanced Sharing Settings, find Private Networks and enable Network Discovery, Set up Network Connected Devices Authomatically and File and Printer Sharing.

5. Open Windows Features (type it in search), you will have window saying Turn Windows Feature On or Off and look for SMB 1.0/CIFS File sharing support and check (enable) first two options Automatic Removal and Client. This one will not disable SMB 3 protocols nor SMB Direct which depend on your hardware capabilities.

6. Turn off your PCs, not restarting, just turn them off.

7. Unplugged from electricity your router and switch if you have one, to turn them off too.

8. Wait some time (minutes) and then start turning on your equipment in following order.

9. Router to full full initialization

10. Switch

11. Computers

Open File Explorer, go to Network and you will see your devices there. When you double click on them, you will be asked for username and password, which is the name of your Local Account and password you set up there. Check Remember Credentials if you want.

Hopefully It will help you.

Ztruker · Jul 31, 2023

Sorry, did not see you post @DzigiBau. I'll walk through the steps tomorrow when I get to work and let you know how it goes but I believe I already have done all you mentioned. Will see tomorrow, thanks.

Ztruker · Aug 1, 2023

4. Go to Settings/Network & Internet/Advance Network Settings/Advanced Sharing Settings, find Private Networks and enable Network Discovery, Set up Network Connected Devices Authomatically and File and Printer Sharing.

Cannot find Advanced Sharing Settings

MisterEd · Aug 1, 2023

It is there for me.

DzigiBau · Aug 1, 2023

@Ztruker

It is there or you need to make an update of your Windows 11 to newer versions.

Anyway, you can try opening Control Panel/Network and Sharing Center/Change Advanced Sharing Settings and it will bring you to to window I was talking about. If not, you should find same options in a previous manner/style inside of Control Panel/Network and Sharing Center.

Ztruker · Aug 2, 2023

I have two Windows 11 systems, side by side, Ascthrifter1 and Ascthrifter2. er1 is the one I can't access, er2 I can access from any computer I connect to the network.

Checking WINVER, I see they are at two different levels.

Ascthrifter1: Ascthrifter1 is at 22H2 and does have the Advanced Sharing Settings option.

Ascthrifter2: This one is at 21H2 and does not have the Advanced Sharing Settings option. I just realized this is Home,
the other one is Pro. Shouldn't matter though. When I check for updates on this one it says Up to date so I have to figure out how to get to 22H2. Any suggestions?

Ztruker · Aug 2, 2023

Interesting. I just fixed the problem by changing the fixed IP address of Ascthrifter1 to 172.16.103.190 from 172.16.103.190 to match what ipconfig /displaydns showed me.

I also set DNS servers to 192.16.103.1 and 8.8.8.8.

Prior to this, no matter how many time I ran ipconfig /flushdns the local DNS server at 172.16.103.1 never returned the correct IP for Ascthrifter1 which was set to 172.16.103.192. Changing it to .190 has resolved the problem, at least for now.

MisterEd · Aug 2, 2023

I just checked a VM with Windows 11 Pro 21H2. Advanced Sharing Settings is not available on a computer with 21H2. You need 22H2 for that. What are the specs for your computers? Are they both fully compatible with Windows 11?