Can't get two ethernet networked computers to communicate

coffent,

I'm getting hungry.

except that the Password Protected line isn't shown

I think you should set a password for the local user account you use as your normal account. {Afterwards, remind me to check that you know how to bypass / automate login when restarting the computer if you want}

And I think you should recheck Control panel, Network & sharing centre, Change advanced sharing settings to make sure they are the same [such as both having Use password-protected sharing set to on].

Denis

net user {name2} the response is

User name {name2}
Full name {name1}

Yes, that's the response I'd expect to see for an MSAccount. {name2} is often the first 5 characters of {name1}.

except that the Password Protected line isn't shown

This one must be a local account as MSAccounts all have passwords. Set a password for it - and write the password down somewhere secure yet accessible now not next week.

And I think you should recheck Control panel, Network & sharing centre, Change advanced sharing settings to make sure they are the same [such as both having Use password-protected sharing set to on].

Denis

(2) With password-protected sharing ON on both computers I am asked for a password and when I enter what I believe to be the correct password it says it's incorrect.

If this means the password for the admin account you made that has the same username & password on both computers then I am stumped.

Re (1): Why the asymmetry? Note it's not a particular folder or drive for which I don't have permission, it's the laptop itself. Is there some setting for the laptop as a whole that grants or restricts network access?

Yes, the setting you should be able to make by entering the network credentials

Re (2): Despite my care, I'm willing to assume I made an error with the password. How can I reset or recover it? Since by turning off password-protected sharing I'm able to access networked computers (at least from the laptop), letting me reset the password from one of these computers shouldn't be a security issue.

If you have any doubt about the passwords being identical then, on each machine, you can use -
- If you are signed in to the account in question

Settings,
Accounts,
Sign-in options,
Password,
Change

- If you are not signed in to the account in question

Start menu,
Windows system,
Control panel,
View by - Large/Small icons {just so you can see everything},
User accounts,
Manage another account,
{select the account in question},
Change the password

{name2} is often the first 5 characters of {name1}. Except here {name2} (= CHS2) is actually longer than {name1} (= CHS) and both are less than 5 characters.

It is not important to the issue in question but I think this account must previously have had a name change and, possibly, it has been converted between local & MSAccount types

(1) With password-protected sharing OFF on both computers I can access desktop files from the laptop, but when I try to access laptop files from the desktop I get the message that I don't have permission.

I don't know anything about running with password-protected sharing off.

they are securely saved in an encrypted home-built password manager

I do the same. Mine are all in a password-protected Excel file that lives on a small USB that lives on my keyring. I don't plug it into my computer while I'm online. It is regularly backed up to another USB that is stuck on the wall behind the boiler.

All the best,
Denis

coffent said:

Is there some say of backing up specifically the myriad network/file sharing settings for the computers so I can reset them when the problem comes back?

Not specifically but all the settings would be within a system image. I make a new system image at least before every Windows Cumulative Update i.e. at least monthly. There are various utilities for this. I use Acronis True Image. Macrium Reflect Free is often recommended in this forum and there is plenty of help available here for it.
Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect - TenForumsTutorials
Macrium Software Macrium Reflect Free
Macrium USB - TenForums
Macrium Reflect KnowledgeBase - user guide [version-independent link]

While we're on the subject of backups, do consider using Backup and Restore Device Drivers - TenForumsTutorials

Denis

coffent said:

After my last post, I basically gave up. Then, despite my having done nothing but allow a day or two to pass and reboot the computers each day, I suddenly found that the "you do not have permission" error had mysteriously gone away and I was able to access files on my laptop from my desktop, though the laptop still didn't show the desktop on the network. I was satisfied with that, since accessing the laptop from the desktop was more important to me than the other way around.

Then this morning, again having done nothing relevant in the meantime, I found both computers could access each other's files.

So the problem appears to be solved, at least for the moment (who knows what tomorrow will bring?), though I haven't the foggiest idea why.

Is there some say of backing up specifically the myriad network/file sharing settings for the computers so I can reset them when the problem comes back?

Now the rant: Why does Microsoft make it so incredibly difficult to set up what should be a simple operation? Even with much help from experts (thank you all very much!) I could not solve the problem, not least because it was ever-changing, until it finally went away as mysteriously as it existed.

- - - Updated - - -

dalchina, Samuria, Edward2, SoFine409, Piko, sygnus21, xaccell, and especially Try3, thank you all very much for your help. I much appreciate it!

Windows networking, especially the Master Browser election process, can SOMETIMES take many minutes to work. There are time that I have to kickstart the process by accessing other PC using their IPs and then after that it’s fine. It certainly isn’t fun and you’re not alone in being frustrated.