Home network

[ChiefZeke]

Have two systems; Win XP Pro w/SP3 on #1 and Win XP Pro w/SP3 and Win7 RC in a dual-boot configuration on #2.
 
Have both systems networked and in the same workgroup via a Linksys router.
 
When both are running XP Pro I can readily copy/move files between them. When #2 is running Win7 RC I cannot
copy/move files to it from within #1 system's XP Pro - message says access denied.
 
I'm thinking there is an issue with shares and how it's setup and/or permissions but I am unfamilier with how
Win7 manages things here so I have no idea how to fix things. I have never run Vista either so if Win7 has
something in common with it I'm clueless in this regard.
 
Can someone point to a valid readme or reference somewhere.

[couttsj]

I don't know anything about Win7, but I have the same problem with my wife's Vista system. I have my own account set up on it with administrative privileges, and I can copy files FROM the other 2 systems, but  I cannot copy files to her system from either XP or my own Vista system without getting the message that you do. The only difference between the 2 Vista systems is that mine was set up from day one with a single administrative account and UAP disabled, and her's was set up using UAP and several normal accounts. With difficulty, I managed to add my own adminstrative account later. Disabling UAP and using my adminstrative account, or using the built-in adminstrative account (which bypasses UAP) does not help. I have fooled around with the permissions, but essentially I have given up trying.

J.A. Coutts

[Black Viper]

I will have to check into this in the next few days (I hope).
I do have a mixed network, but all of my shares that I access are on XP systems and I do not share anything on my Vista systems.
I also use "simple" file and print sharing when ever possible.

[Josh780]

As far as sharing files on an XP system and then copying to a Vista system via the network, I ran through the Network Setup Wizard and made sure both were designated to be in the same workgroup. Didn't have the opportunity to try from Vista to XP.

[Spawn]

I had this issue.  It may not work for everyone, but in my situation it did.  I created an account on all the PC's...each one the same as my account used on Win 7=same user name; same password.  Now when I would try to copy files etc it would actually ask for a username and password.  I enter it in, and then I have unfiltered access.  YMMV.

Spawn

[ChiefZeke]

More information and aggravation.
 
Besides the two systems mentioned my home network also includes a Western Digital 500Gb My Book Essential Edition external drive connected to a Linksys NSLU2 (Network Storage Link Unit) which is then connected to the Linksys router. This setup allows both systems to readily see the external drive on the network.
 
When both systems are booted into XP Pro they can readily copy or move files between each other and/or the external drive. Either system can easily run videos stored on the external drive. In XP on system #2 three partitions are shared and readily seen from system #1.
 
A reboot of system #2 into Win7 RC results in a different world all together. Opening Explorer I see Libraries (what are they?), Homegroup (what is this?) and Network. Network lists the external drive, system #1 and system #2. Selecting Network  I get an error box titled "Network Error" with message 'Windows cannot access \\external - details: error code 0x80070035 The network path was not found. Click Diagnose > Windows Network Diagnostics > result > Troubleshooting couldn't identify the problem. Close selected.
 
Selecting system #1 same results. Selecting system #2 only one partition is listed: c share and a listing: Users Share. (What is Users Share and where did it come from?) Selecting Users Share shows a long list ot items. (Where from?)
 
So, I go online mainly with system #1. If I find anything interesting about Win7 I download it and later boot system #2 into XP Pro so I can copy this program to system #2. Then I reboot system #2 into Win7 so I can try the program I downloaded. I should not have to use this round-about method. There is something inherently wrong about Win7 that The Administrator, or an Administrator, has this amount of difficulty.
 
I am not impressed with Win7.
 

[couttsj]

A reboot of system #2 into Win7 RC results in a different world all together. Opening Explorer I see Libraries (what are they?), Homegroup (what is this?) and Network. Network lists the external drive, system #1 and system #2. Selecting Network  I get an error box titled "Network Error" with message 'Windows cannot access \external - details: error code 0x80070035 The network path was not found. Click Diagnose > Windows Network Diagnostics > result > Troubleshooting couldn't identify the problem. Close selected.

Starting with Vista, Microsoft uses a different method to browse the network. It no longer uses NetBios, but uses something called Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper. This service identifies not only shares, but devices as well. NetBios on XP will identify Work groups, but Vista (and probably Win7) does not seem to supply this information. Therefore, you must ensure that all machines on the network belong to the same Work Group. HomeGroup is the network group that Microsoft sets up by default.

J.A. Coutts

[Black Viper]

I had this issue.  It may not work for everyone, but in my situation it did.  I created an account on all the PC's...each one the same as my account used on Win 7=same user name; same password.  Now when I would try to copy files etc it would actually ask for a username and password.  I enter it in, and then I have unfiltered access.  YMMV.

This is due to the default aspect of "Home" network sharing. "Password protected sharing" is on by default and will allow only those with local access (a user account on the sharing computer allows access to all computers with the same user account and password).

Look into Control Panel, Network and Internet, Network and Sharing Center, Choose homegroup and sharing options, Change advanced sharing settings..., Under the Home or work profile (you need to expand it... public is shown by default), ensure that network discovery ~ file and print sharing are on.

We will head to deeper waters after that is checked.

[Spawn]

I originally thought that as well, but not the case.  I have both options you mentioned set to on in all PC's and I have password protected sharing turned off.

Spawn

[ChiefZeke]

Starting with Vista, Microsoft uses a different method to browse the network. It no longer uses NetBios, but uses something called Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper. This service identifies not only shares, but devices as well. NetBios on XP will identify Work groups, but Vista (and probably Win7) does not seem to supply this information. Therefore, you must ensure that all machines on the network belong to the same Work Group. HomeGroup is the network group that Microsoft sets up by default.
J.A. Coutts

I just checked and NetBIos is not installed on either of my systems as a protocol so I would have to rule that out as being used for the network. When I start the #2 system in Win7 it does recognize the workgroup I have assigned so that part seems to be working ok, its access that is the problem.

[couttsj]

I just checked and NetBIos is not installed on either of my systems as a protocol so I would have to rule that out as being used for the network. When I start the #2 system in Win7 it does recognize the workgroup I have assigned so that part seems to be working ok, its access that is the problem.

NetBios is not a protocol in and of itself. It is inherantly part of the NetBeui protocol, which is not used any more. But NetBios can be run over TCP/IP, and the location for turning it on or off is different in XP and Vista/Win7. Because I am using an NT server on my network, I have to force Vista into using NetBios. Using NetBios with Network Discovery turned off, I end up with something similar to the way XP used to browse the network, as long as I ensure that all machines belong to the same work group. If you are using Network Discovery on all machines, then I can't be of much help as far as network browsing is concerned.

However, using or not using Network Discovery should have nothing to do with file sharing permissions. I have File Sharing on, Public Folder Sharing off, Printer Sharing off, Password Protected Sharing on, and Media Sharing off on both Vista machines. My wife's Vista machine is the only one that gives me access errors when copying files to it, and it doesn't ask me for a UserID and password since my account in the SAM database is the same on all machines. One might think that using NetBios has something to do with it, and I am not ruling that out. Both Vista machines are set up the same, with the exception that my wife's computer uses UAC.

J.A. Coutts

[ChiefZeke]

A couple of weeks elapsed as I tried to get Win7 32- and 64-bit installed in #1 system - problems were iterated in the forums.
 
Having successfully installed Win7 32- and 64-bit, finally, on #1 system I tried again after booting #2 system into Win7 32-bit - this time from #1 system in Win7 64-bit I could see External but not from #2. In #1 system in Win7 32-bit I could not see External - same error as mentioned earlier. Workgroup is the same for both systems in XP and Win7 and the external drive.
 
Checking from #2 system in Win7 32-bit I could not access #1 system in Win7 64-bit nor External.
 
So, all indications are the ability to network in Win7 32- or 64-bit is limited and users are not going to have an easy time networking Win7 with XP and/or with an external drive.
 
And I'm suspecting that someone will suggest a 'fix' that requires a change in settings that are four/five/six levels deep in some obscure folder that a casual user has no knowledge of.

Bummer

[Black Viper]

Well, I just installed Windows 7 32-bit on a P3 750Mhz with 512MB of RAM computer and after changing to the proper workgroup and setting up the system for a "Home Network," I can access my XP server that has both drives and folders shared internally as well as an external USB drive.
I did no magic to get this to work.

[Black Viper]

After rereading the original posts, I do not have the ability to check an external network or USB drive connected directly to a router. The USB external drive I posted about above is connected to the XP server.

[ChiefZeke]

Further testing.
 
Administrative Tools > Services > Disabled both HomeGroup Listener and HomeGroup Provider in both Win7 32-bit systems and #1 system's Win7 64-bit to determine if there could possibly be any interaction or possible conflicts when networking both systems and having the external drive on and available for use. No change - \\External not available from either Win7 32-bit system.
 
Opened Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > selected in View your active networks > Connections: Local Area Connection > Status > Properties > Networking tab and verified both systems had the same items listed in: This connection uses the following items:.
 
Rebooted #1 system into Win7 64-bit. Opened Explorer and could see shared items on #1 and #2 systems as well as \\External drive. From #2 system had no access to #1 system or \\External.
 
Opened Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > selected in View your active networks > Connections: Local Area Connection > Status > Properties > Networking tab and verified both systems had the same items listed in: This connection uses the following items:. So, this is no different whether or not #1 system is in Win7 32-bit or 64-bit - so that idea is no help.
 
Selected Diagnose on #2 system, got "An error occured while troubleshooting: An unexpcected error has occured. The troubleshooting wizard can't continue." Selected 'View error details' and gotthe following:
  Package ID:  Network Diagnostics
  Path:           H:\Windows\diagnostics\system\networking
  Error code:   0x80131700
  Source:       Engine
  User:          Name\Administrator
  Context:     Elevated
 
Diagnostics on #1 system in 64-bit gave no errors. Rebooted #1 system into Win7 32-bit and ran same Diagnose; got same error message and info as above. So, something is definitely causing a problem but what? I have no idea.