Why can’t I connect to other computers?

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Three machines, two of them hard-wired to the router, one on wi-fi. All Win 7, two home one pro. Second hard-wired machine is being built for sister-in-law (called new). Either No permission to access shared folders / drives or “Network path was not found”.

Why can’t I connect to other computers? Here are the answers to Help and support’s questions

No homegroup, all have the same workgroup name.

Drives and folders have been shared, everything for everybody under advanced share, and their names show up when I can expand the network under a computer name.

Network discovery is most assuredly ON.

Password protect is disabled on all machines.

I have never told any of my computers about the router or its updates, wouldn’t know how or where.

Wi-fi can see me (pro) and get access to Public folders, no permission for shared folders/drives.

The new build cannot see wi-fi, and has sporadically had access to public folders on pro but, now no access, “The network path was not found. Troubleshooting cannot find….”

The network map shows pro and new connected to a switch on both of those computers. The path is found on the map but not when trying to connect. The map on wi-fi shows everybody with a big ? between wi-fi and the switch.

Network in windows explorer shows pro and wi-fi but not new. I suspect it’s a switch set wrong but i don’t know which one.

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Dear stonecherub,

are you a Dr Who fan? or have I misunderstood something?

it has been a loooong time since admining networks, but I hated windows network management so much that I purchased a network management interface, and it was a wonderful.

you have my sympathies

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You could give this a try but as always before making any changes, create a restore point first.

You may get a pop up to say that this file could be harmful but have downloaded it myself first without any problems.

Download/run http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/win-services/vista/SharedAccess.reg

Go Start – type regedit – press enter and accept the UAC then navigate –

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetservicesSharedAccess

Right click on SharedAccess and select Permissions

Click on Add then type Everyone and select Full control – OK

NB – Not sure why services appears as service es but have seen this present this way before when posting a similar key – there’s obviously no gap.

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The lack of password protection when sharing may be an issue. I would advise making sure passwords are configured to be used.

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See if THIS thread is helpful. Quite a number of solutions are listed there.

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Here is an existential question. Why am I (why are we, considering the other posts I have seen) having network problems with Windows 7 on two or three computers at home while millions of people use it networked without problems in corporate settings?

Only Ruirib’s suggestion to me is simple, Sodo15’s requires a huge registry hack and I don’t yet understand the Microsoft forum. XP was simple (or, at least, I made it work so didn’t notice the complexity).

This makes no sense to me.

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Try just giving Full Control to Everyone for Shared Access – that’s straight forward enough and if you are worried about screwing up, create a restore point first.

But if you are transferring files between computers then have a look at Windows Easy Transfer.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/products/features/windows-easy-transfer

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/transfer-files-settings-from-another-computer#1TC=windows-7

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Try just giving Full Control to Everyone for Shared Access – that’s straight forward enough and if you are worried about screwing up, create a restore point first.

I have already done this in advanced sharing; everything for everybody.

When I started today (Sunday) none of the computers can see anything except the wireless printer.

Ruirib’s suggestion to go the password route solves nothing.

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Ruirib’s suggestion to go the password route solves nothing.

Have you added passwords? Have you created one account with the same username and password in each computer and tried accessing the shared assets with it?

And finally it’s always easier to help when we know as much as we possibly can, what is happening in each computer. So, what have you done, what error messages do you get?

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Curiouser and curiouser.

The workgroup is MAYO having three computers on a Linksys E900 router:
deskstone is primary, hardwired to the router, Windows 7 pro
patdow is new, is hardwired to the router, Win 7 home
elaines is in my wife’s office, wi-fi, win 7 home

All have shared folders or drives, sharing is everything for everybody
Password is off.

In Windows explorer under network:
Elaines can see deskstone but not itself, can access public folders, no permission for shared
patdow can see deskstone but not itself, can access public folders, no permission for shared
deskstone can see itself, not elaines or patdow

In Network and sharing network map:
Elaines (wi-fi) shows all three computers.
Patdow shows itself and deskstone (both wired)
deskstone shows itself and patdow

I cannot see either remote computer from the master but yesterday, when I could, I did not have permission to access shared drives.

Both secondary computers can see and access public folders on deskstone but have no permission to access shared drives or folders.

Rui, I set-up the separate account “test” on all three machines giving them identical passwords.

In windows explorer under network:
deskstone can see itself, same as before
elaines can see deskstone and access ONE shared folder but not the others or the shared drive.
patdow (wired) can see deskstone AND can access most but not all of the shared folders and drives.

I’m going back to sneaker-net, at least it was reliable.

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There appears to be a full tutorial in Post #7 of http://www.eightforums.com/network-sharing/22511-all-computers-same-network-each-cant-see-others.html but when setting up a reserved (static IP) address in the router for each computer, you will also need their Wireless MAC (Physical) addresses.

This can be found by opening a command prompt and entering ipconfig /all in each computer.

You can set their reserved IP addresses as the ones the router’s DHCP normally assigns each for Preferred IPv4, but have all of the machines switched on when you do this.

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Dan,

Check the permissions on the shared folders / drives and make sure test has read / write permissions to all of them (or a different set, depending on what you want to be able to do).

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`
Dear Stonecherub – your solution is wonderful.
(-: sneaker-net is a brilliant solution in a day where family members text each other while in the same house instead of interacting face to face! This will be a much healthier family solution and more secure.

Though, if the inconveniences force you back here … sometimes purchasing a “friendly” windows network management interface tool can take away the high blood pressure and headaches that is frequently Windows home network management. Years ago, when in your situation, that is what I did and it was worth every cent in the long run and much more secure then the settings I had been using.

So curious … what is stonecherub? Are you a Dr Who fan?

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See post 2 at Troubleshooting file shares on a home network. It is old but has much good information and links that may help. Some of the links which specify XP will still apply to Windows 7.

Joe

--Joe

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Thank you all for your help. This issue has exceeded the time available so it’s over.

Nothing I have done makes any sense, conditions change by the day. Yesterday, the network map on all three machines showed all of the computers, different from the day before. I still had partial permission, some shared folders were accessable while others were still forbidden.

To a scientist like me, magic means something I don’t yet understand and, for this, I no longer care.

OS2_87_Dinosaur: Been there, done that, lost the war just like you.

My hobby is gravestones and I once lived in New England. One of the common decorative motifs of the 17-18th centuries was the winged cherub carved in slate – hence, stonecherub.

One of my wife’s colleagues is a therapist with mother-daughter clients who got into an intractable fight texting between the kitchen and bedroom of the same house.

I digress – thanks, again, all who tried to help me.

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`
… wait a second … don’t leave yet … you didn’t answer the most important question:

are you a Dr Who fan?

(please forgive me … since you probably have already considered this … but it sounds like you were trying to do a lot of things at the same time … hence the increased chances for confounding “side effects”, though with networking doing a lot of things at the same time is supposed to be the status quo … ha ha … but did you try doing just one thing at a time? and save the wireless for last?)

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Sorry, I am not a Dr Who fan.

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Sorry, I am not a Dr Who fan.

That’s OK … Dr Who is smarter than those who love him … that is why we love him! Those who are not one of his fans are either a Dalek, an unfriendly evil Timelord, or are of a far more advanced Alien species then the Timelords … therefore, I am certain you are the latter!

By the way, the network interface tool I used long ago (sadly it is no longer in existence because they decided to go into the “smart” Router business) did solve all of my problems and I used it for years.

Plus, it taught me so much, especially initially, as I previously mentioned, because I immediately learned how unsecure my network settings had been. It is hard wearing a lot of hats and sometimes it pays to pay for certain services that take too much time out of our lives … and since you say you have been there, done that … then you obviously are of the same opinion!

I wish I had time to research about tools that may be available now, but I just don’t have time, sorry.

I vote for your sneaker.net and happy family interactions.

God Bless you and yours.

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I did one thing at a time with the two boxes hard-wired to the router and also running back and forth to my wife’s office to try the wi-fi. I was thinking about mutual back-ups, mine to hers and hers to mine but I have backblaze and a removable one T drive I keep in her studio a block away.

I’m still miffed that networking is such a common thing but I have been locked out for reasons I cannot fathom.

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`
P.S.
to others reading this … years ago I received the
GIZMO Tech Newsletter.
He later merged with this forum’s Windows Secrets Newsletter.

He was the one who solved my Home Windows Networking problems by recommending a ‘Freeware’ program (he was an expert about Freeware & Shareware). It worked so beautifully (and super secure network settings) that I wound up being a paying customer and used it for years. They stopped supporting it when they decided to go into the Smart Router business. By then I had learned so much and it had everything all set up, that I was able to manage on my own from then on.

THANK YOU GIZMO for the countless things you helped me with and taught me through the years, including all of the help with my son’s various gaming systems, and myriad other issues on so many topics. I have missed GIZMO’s newsletters. (-:

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stonecherub I hope you get to resolve your issues.

In case you’d like to reconsider getting what you want to do, I have attempted to summarize what’s going on. I might have some things improperly interpreted but please understand that the basic setup and issues can be somewhat challenging to someone coming in late

Subject: Why can’t I connect to other computers?

You have 3 machines

Machine 1: Yours (deskstone) – Win7 HP, hard wired to the router
— Wi-fi can see me (pro) and get access to Public folders, no permission for shared folders/drives
— “no permission for shared folders/drives” needs to be addressed
In Windows explorer under network: deskstone can see itself, not elaines or patdow
I cannot see either remote computer from the master but yesterday, when I could, I did not have permission to access shared drives

Machine 2: Sister-in-law’s (patdow) – Win 7 Pro being built (called new), hard wired to the router
— The new build cannot see wi-fi, and has sporadically had access to public folders on pro but, now no access, “The network path was not found. Troubleshooting cannot find….”
In Windows explorer under network:
— patdow can see deskstone but not itself, can access public folders, no permission for shared
Both secondary computers can see and access public folders on deskstone but have no permission to access shared drives or folders

Machine 3: elaines is in my wife’s office – Win 7 HP, works wirelessly
— In Windows explorer under network:
—— Elaines can see deskstone but not itself, can access public folders, no permission for shared
Both secondary computers can see and access public folders on deskstone but have no permission to access shared drives or folders

Issues
Either No permission to access shared folders / drives or “Network path was not found”
I have never told any of my computers about the router or its updates, wouldn’t know how or where
The network map shows pro and new connected to a switch on both of those computers.
— The path is found on the map but not when trying to connect.
— The map on wi-fi shows everybody with a big ? between wi-fi and the switch
Network in windows explorer shows pro and wi-fi but not new.
— I suspect it’s a switch set wrong but i don’t know which one
Try just giving Full Control to Everyone for Shared Access
— I have already done this in advanced sharing; everything for everybody
— When I started today (Sunday) none of the computers can see anything except the wireless printer
— Ruirib’s suggestion to go the password route solves nothing

Actions
You mention “To a scientist like me, magic means something”; as a retired engineering technician, I can certainly relate to that
Being networked as Homegroup: MAYO
Router: Linksys E900
Drives and folders have been shared, everything for everybody under advanced share, and their names show up when I can expand the network under a computer name.
Network discovery is ON.
Password protect is disabled on all machines.
All have shared folders or drives, sharing is everything for everybody. Password is off
Rui, I set-up the separate account “test” on all three machines giving them identical passwords
— In windows explorer under network: deskstone can see itself, same as before
— patdow (wired) can see deskstone AND can access most but not all of the shared folders and drives
— elaines can see deskstone and access ONE shared folder but not the others or the shared drive.
I did one thing at a time with the two boxes hard-wired to the router and also running back and forth to my wife’s office to try the wi-fi.
— I was thinking about mutual back-ups, mine to hers and hers to mine but I have backblaze and a removable one T drive I keep in her studio a block away

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

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`
Quoting cmptrgy,
” stonecherub I hope you get to resolve your issues to your satisfaction. I’d like to let you know that I’m a retired engineer and I have a Design of Experiments mindset when a project becomes involved especially since in your case we can’t see what’s going. You are a scientist and I would imagine that solving problems immediately can be very challenging. I have ideas on your issues but they would involve a few days of troubleshooting but if “This makes no sense to me” vs. it doesn’t make sense to me comes into the picture; please understand that it adds to the difficulty of going through the process of elimination alone. As I said though I hope you get to resolve your issues ”

Dear stonecherub – I am a scientist too! raised by an engineer and worked with engineers … I know exactly what cmptrgy means Design of Experiments mindset (and so do you!)

and if I were you, take the time to let him help you because it will save you tons of time in the long run

… though … on the other hand …. even though your sneaker.net extends a block away to your wife’s office … sneaker.net allows you to visit your wife more often …

p.s. you didn’t ask … so you didn’t want to know … and are not interested that Dr Who has Stone Angels that are alien time manipulators and if you BLINK you get zapped to another time … the writer’s likely got the idea from you stonecherub and you are missing out on the royalties

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When some other pressing matters are out of the way, I am going to sit down with the troubleshooting plans that were recommended to me here and try to resolve this networking mess. The fact that it doesn’t work when it should is vexing.

I can’t imagine not having my computer with all of the image processing and data bases that I use. But i fear what we have done with them. My networking problems are a small symptom of the general fact that computing is so complex that no human understands it completely. Because we don’t understand, criminals are able to exploit the system and steal from us with impunity.

As far as I can tell, NOBODY has picked up on the real implications of the naked celebrity pictures – NO DATA IS SAFE! NONE. NOWHERE! What hasn’t been stolen will be because we really don’t know how to protect it. Everybody is going to general quarters because some savages have cut off a few heads. Once they figure out how to cut off the electricity, they will and we won’t know it’s going to happen until the lights go out.

I’ve got my volcanoes, a rock hammer, and an old geologist’s knowledge of aerial photographs. I’ll get along.

About stone cherubs and stone angels: most graves in colonial New England were marked with wooden boards or field stones with crudely inscribed letters and dates before about 1675. Artisans discovered that slate could be cleaved into slabs and sanded smooth on one side using glacier sand (lots of that). Figures and whole words could be carved into the soft rock using iron tools. Winged cherubs (putti, but not exactly) were among the earliest motifs.

Slate persisted until around 1820 when the wire saw was invented and slabs of pure, white marble became cheaply available. The next flowering of art came in Victorian times after 1860 when that white marble was carved into elaborate statuary by Welsh and Italian carvers. Some of the angels are 9 feet tall.

My first website on gravestones, stonecherubs.org is still up although I haven’t even looked at it in years much less worked on it. Maybe when I can no longer walk up the sides of the volcanoes …..

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