Message: "Windows cannot access \\pcname\e" How to solve this?

richard2277 · 21 Sep 2019

Hi. I've got my laptop connected to my desktop PC with a crossover cable and managed to creat a private network. I want to acess certain partitions on the desktop from the laptop. Of course, I made the partitions on the desktop shared. However, When I click on the folder icon on the laptop representing a partition on the desktop I get the message "Windows cannot access \\pcname\e". Of course I've made up pcname for the purpose of this post. On the desktop every user (admin, system etc) has full control. But special permissions is greyed out. What more do I have to do so I can access the folders on the desktop from the laptop? Thanks. Rich

Samuria · 21 Sep 2019

It depends on the folders some like those in the user profile have special permission even if your on the pc as admin. You setup a share then you need to set NTFS permission and when you connect you need to connect as a user with an account on the PC having the right permission. One way to connect is to hidden share which has a $ so there is c$ d$ etc

richard2277 · 21 Sep 2019

Hi. Yes, it might be because of an account issue. I'll get back and post more data about my settings etc.

dalchina · 21 Sep 2019

Can you access anything? If you can access one folder or partition that will at least demonstrate that services and so on are configured correctly. (Tutorials available).

However you are talking about sharing partitions, not library folders or anything that might be expected to have account-related permission issues.

richard2277 · 21 Sep 2019

From what I can tell, my issue is probably that I simply have not set up a User Account required to access the desktop from the laptop. On my laptop, I can see that I have a network, consisting of the desktop and the laptop. On the laptop I can see the partitions on the desktop that I've made shareable. On the laptop they appear as icons. But, on the laptop, Windows cannot access them to view/modify/copy folders & files. I'm having difficulty figuring out what to do to create the User Account I apparantly need.

By the way, I sign in to the desktop because it's assocated with a Microsoft account. The laptop I do not have to sign in to access because it's not associated with a Microsoft account.

dalchina · 21 Sep 2019

This may help:
Share Files and Folders Over a Network in Windows 10

richard2277 · 21 Sep 2019

HI. Let me relate an happenstance I just had. I happened to look at Network in File Explorer and lo and behold the laptop had discovered a 2nd laptop I have. Must have done that wirelessly (possibly via the router). Clicking on the name of the 2nd laptop that's now in a network, a dialogue box came up asking for a user name and password. Well, using netplwiz on the target laptop, I managed to discover the user name and I then set up a password. I then set a partition sharable. I then used the user name and password to gain access to files and folders, including the partition I'd set to share, in this 2nd laptop. Now, if only my laptop would discover the desktop I want to bring into a network. If it did I would expect a dialogue box to show, and I do know the user name and password for the desktop, so then I would get the access.

EDIT: My laptop under network sees, the desktop I'm trying to access and the 2nd laptop I have. When I click on the 2nd laptop a dialogue box shows, and I can gain access by entering the user name and password. But, clicking on the desktop, I see folders which I cannot access. No dialogue box shows. I wish I could get to see a dialogue box asking for user name and password. Crossover cable is not used.

- - - Updated - - -

OK, I decided to connect the desktop and laptop1 and laptop2 to the router by ethernet cables. On WiFi setting I went to "Manage known networks" and on one of them (not my router) chose "forget". That got rid of whatever network I created with the crossover cable at the beginning. OK, my current situation is that in File Explorer under Network I can see the remote deskop (I'm trying to access) plus laptop1 (the local laptop) and remote laptop2. I now get a dialogue box for the desktop as well as for laptop2. I can access laptop2 by entering user name & password. But, when I use what I feel sure is the user name and password for the desktop, I get "\\pcname is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource.". I thought I'd get access by merely entering the correct user name and password in the dialogue box. Desktop has Win10, laptop1 has Win10, laptop2 has Win7 on it.

Samuria · 21 Sep 2019

If you in explorer map a drive there is an option to connect with another account enter and admin user and password see if that works. As stated before if your connecting to some user/syatem folders they have special permission even if your on the pc as admin

richard2277 · 22 Sep 2019

Hi. Just to go off piste for a moment: My laptop is connected to a Local Area Connection (Microsoft terminology).. But, it's also correct to say, my laptop is connected to a huge (non local) network, with millions of computers etc. Now as far as I understand, and I could be wrong, this network should never be made a private network. Because if it is made a private network my laptop will become discoverable, which is bad. This netwok needs to be an untrusted network. Is this understanding correct? Thanks.

Samuria · 22 Sep 2019

You can turn discovery off or on. Is it a live network or does it have local IP like 192.168.1.? Or 10.0.0.?