Network sharing problem between desktops and laptop

mingle · 31 Jan 2018

Hi Guys,

This issues has been driving me nuts since the 1703 Creators Update. I've searched the web and tried pretty much everything to fix it with no luck.

So I let it slide until now. I've finally decided to raise the issue here to see if the greatest minds in the arena of all-things Windows 10 can come up with a solution.

Here's a description of the three systems involved:

I have three Windows 10 PCs: two identical Dell 9010 desktops (named A9010 and B9010) and a Lenovo T430 laptop. All three systems are installed with installs of Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 1709.

None of the systems were set up with a Microsoft account during install - they were all set up with a 'local' account.

Each system has a data-partition (D:, labelled "Data"), which I have shared, giving full access to 'Everyone':

(Note: any settings shown for A9010 are exactly the same for B9010)

Network sharing problem between desktops and laptop-data_share.png

In the Network and Sharing Centre, I have all three systems set up the same. Password protection is off, file and print-sharing is on, network discovery is on:

Network sharing problem between desktops and laptop-network_settings.png

All three systems are networked via a Netgear C6300BD-202 cable modem/wireless router. The two desktops are connected to the router via RJ54 Ethernet cables. The T430 connects wirelessly to the router's wireless network "mkb".

Here's the problem:

In Windows Explorer, under the 'Network' entry in the side-pane, all three systems are visible to each other.

However if I click on the 'T430' share from either of the desktop PCs (A9010 or B9010), I received the following error:

Network sharing problem between desktops and laptop-a9010_t430_error.png

From the T430 laptop, if I click on either the 'A9010' or 'B9010' share, I receive the following 'Enter Network Credentials" requester:

Network sharing problem between desktops and laptop-t430_a9010_error.png

I've tried every imaginable combination of username/password and everything is rejected.

However, the two desktop PCs (A9010 and B9010) can access each other's shares without any issues.

Looking at the network information for each of the systems, the only thing that stands out is that in the Basic Network Information settings, the two desktop PCs are showing "Private Network", while the T430 laptop shows "Public Network". Not sure if this is relevant, or not:

Network sharing problem between desktops and laptop-network_info.png

As ever, I'm grateful for any and all suggestions or comments in my search for a solution to this (very) annoying issue.

Cheers,

Mike.

lx07 · 31 Jan 2018

I think homegroup/sharing doesn't work on public. Do you really want T430 mkb connection to be public? It is your network presumably.

If not you could try changing it to private and see if that helps. They keep moving this setting around but for me (on 1709) it is:
Settings > Network and Internet > WiFi > Manage known networks > mkb (i.e. your network name) > Properties

Network sharing problem between desktops and laptop-capture.png

See Whats the Difference Between Private and Public Networks in Windows?

Barman58 · 31 Jan 2018

The homegroup is designed, as has been said, to work with a Private network only, It will not work with a Business or Public network and also need the IPv6 settings to be switched on and working, (on the internal network),

One other consideration is that the whole Homegroup concept is being wound down by Microsoft and there is talk of it being depreciated from the next major Update 1803 which should be with us in March/April.

It may be worthwhile looking at going to/sticking with the traditional networking model, or Microsoft's suggested route of using Onedrive and it's facility to access files on other systems as a replacement.

One other Tip, with a Homegroup the initial device should not be, (where possible), a wireless only device as there have been many reports of connection issues in this configuration. It's fine to connect a wireless device to an existing homegroup but it's always more reliable if the "Master" device is connected to the router via Ethernet

mingle · 07 Feb 2018

Thanks for the info guys - some progress has been made... The laptop can now see both of the desktop PCs and can access the shares without being prompted for Network credentials, although strangely it took a number of reboots before it worked.

However, the desktops still cannot access the laptop share - it still displays the same Network error message show in my original post.

I don't use the Homegroup functionality (at least I do not have any Homegroups set up!) - the Homegroup item in the Explorer navigation pane simply shows the "Create Homegroup" page when I click on it.

As for the laptop's network being 'public' I'm not sure how that happened - it's just the designation it was given during the Windows installation - perhaps as I used a local account, rather than an online Microsoft account?

The network error seems to be the final hurdle! So still looking for additional suggestions

Cheers,

Mike.

Eagle51 · 07 Feb 2018

The network error seems to be the final hurdle! So still looking for additional suggestions

On the T430 ... check the NTFS Permissions (Properties > Security Tab) on the T430 Share, you might need to add Everyone there as well.

Samuria · 07 Feb 2018

When it asks for username and password it needs one with admin rights on the PC your connecting to. It makes life very simple if you create accounts on the other PC with same name and password as the one your connecting from as by default Windows passes that

Clintlgm · 08 Feb 2018

mingle said:

Thanks for the info guys - some progress has been made... The laptop can now see both of the desktop PCs and can access the shares without being prompted for Network credentials, although strangely it took a number of reboots before it worked.

However, the desktops still cannot access the laptop share - it still displays the same Network error message show in my original post.

I don't use the Homegroup functionality (at least I do not have any Homegroups set up!) - the Homegroup item in the Explorer navigation pane simply shows the "Create Homegroup" page when I click on it.

As for the lAs for thaptop's network being 'public' I'm not sure how that happened - it's just the designation it was given during the Windows installation - perhaps as I used a local account, rather than an online Microsoft account?

The network error seems to be the final hurdle! So still looking for additional suggestions

Cheers,

Mike.

e laptop's network being 'public' I'm not sure how that happened - it's just the designation it was given during the Windows installation - perhaps as I used a local account, rather than an online
Whether your wi-fi adapter is Public or Private is a setting you set at any time depending on whether you're on your own private network or in public as in using wi-fi at Starbucks. On my notebook, its at All settings/network and connection/ then select private or public.

Network sharing problem between desktops and laptop-private-public.png

mingle · 03 May 2018

After years of mucking around, I have finally found a solution, courtesy of another member, over on this associated thread:

Folder/Drive sharing fubarred after 1803 upgrade... - Windows 10 Forums

Bottom-line is that rather than accessing the shares via entries under the 'Network' tab in the Explorer navigation pane, it involves simply mapping the share via the "Map Network Drive..." option in Windows Explorer. Once it's mapped, accessing works 100%.

Unsure why this works and all other methods end-up only partially working, but I'm not complaining!

Cheers,

Mike.