Sharing Files between PC and Laptop - NOT!

alkaufmann · 06 Mar 2022

I have spent over a day trying to get my PC & Laptop to be see each other and transfer files. Both are running Windows 10 Pro version 21H2 (OS build19044.1566) with the same user and pin password. I closely followed the Brink Tutorials that jump from one tutorial to the next seemingly endlessly. The closest I got, was the PC seeing the drive on the laptop, BUT when I tried to access that drive I was asked for a name and password. Everything I tried was rejected.

I read that you need to give the PC & Laptop a lot of time to see each other. What sort of MS BS is that? 40 years ago NetBios was easy to set up and it worked.

Is there a good third party program that will allow files transfers for computers on the same private network?

Thanks,
Ak
(Feeling Fustrated)

dalchina · 06 Mar 2022

I read that you need to give the PC & Laptop a lot of time to see each other

This only applies if the so-called master browser is in use. That only happens if you need to enable SMB1 e.g. to network with Win 7 or some NAS devices. Do not enable SMB1.

Networking can be and is very frustrating to set up.

Share Files and Folders Over a Network in Windows 10
Option 1 is the start- I had to review settings a couple of times on both PCs.

When I had both PCs on build 1903, all was fine. I upgraded one to 20H2, I think, and had to fix a problem. Upgrading to 21H1, I think, meant my 1903 PC could access my 21H1 PC, but not fully vice versa.

The workaround I used was to create a shortcut to the 1903 PC by its name.

Try3 · 06 Mar 2022

alkaufmann said:

I have spent over a day trying to get my PC & Laptop to be see each other

Ak,

Can they see each other if, in their File explorer address bars, you enter their addresses in the form
\\COMPUTERNAME\

Denis

alkaufmann · 07 Mar 2022

> Can they see each other if, in their File explorer address bars, you enter their addresses in the form
> \\COMPUTERNAME\

When I click on NETWORK, my PC shows up as a media server and the same happens in the laptop. When I click on them the Windows Media Player comes up and that works fine, I am able to play media files.

I am also able to ping PC to Laptop and vice versa. I still can't access the drive on my laptop from my PC. The workaround is to transfer files using a USB drive.

AK

Try3 · 07 Mar 2022

But what about entering their addresses in the File explorer address bar?

Denis

Samuria · 07 Mar 2022

Have you setup shares and set both NTFS and share permission?