NO File or Printer Sharing in Windows 10

JoeIrwin · 22 Jul 2020

Recently, I purchased a new Windows 10 laptop, and my wife also has a Windows 10 laptop (see specs below.) However, after following EVERY known tutorial on file and printer sharing, Windows 10 refuses to cooperate. FYI... each laptop gives a different error message when trying to share: (1) "Windows Security, Enter Network Credentials" and (2) "Network Error, Windows cannot access \\Carol-Laptop". Please help.

Thanks, Joseph

LAPTOP #1:
Windows 10 Pro Version 1903 (OS Build 18362.959)
HP ProBook 640 G3, i5 2.6 Hz, 256 GB, SSD, 16 MB RAM, 64-BIT
Workgroup: WORKGROUP

LAPTOP #2:
Windows 10 Pro Version 1903 (OS Build 18362.959)
Lenovo i5-3320M CPU @ 2.60GHz 2.60 GHz 8GB RAM, 64-BIT
Workgroup: WORKGROUP

dalchina · 22 Jul 2020

Hi, I have two 1903 Pro laptops with networking set up, a shared printer attached to one. It took me a couple of attempts. Occasionally one sees the other, but no vice versa, or I have to run the troubleshooter. I have recently come across an idea I've not yet tried that might help with this erratic behaviour.

Here are the tenforums tutorials
Turn On or Off File and Printer Sharing in Windows 10
Turn On or Off Network Discovery in Windows 10
Turn On or Off Password Protected Sharing in Windows 10

- more linked below the main text.

Please confirm you have worked through these.

Samuria · 22 Jul 2020

By default windows passes the username and password your logged in with. So the simple way is to create a user on the other pc with same password so it doesn't ask for it. Have you setup shares and then set NTFS permission is set?

JoeIrwin · 22 Jul 2020

Yes, I have worked through all the tenforums tutorials. Nothing is different.

- - - Updated - - -

Hi Samuria: Your solution worked, at least 50%. I created users and passwords on each of the other PC's, and that worked getting Laptop #2 to connect to files and printers on Laptop #1. However, it's still not working in the other direction. When I try to get Laptop #1 to access files on Laptop #2, it says "Windows cannot access \\Carol-Laptop".

Also, I have set up Shares on both computers. But, I don't understand what you mean by NTFS permission is set.

JackHughs · 22 Jul 2020

"Also, I have set up Shares on both computers. But, I don't understand what you mean by NTFS permission is set."

Right click on any shared folder and click "properties." File Sharing involves two of the tabs "Sharing" and "Security." NTFS permissions are set under the Security Tab.

JackHughs

JoeIrwin · 22 Jul 2020

Hi Jack Hughs: Thanks, I did set maximum permissions in both the "Sharing" and "Security" tabs. But, my one Windows 10 Laptop still says "Windows cannot access \\Carol-Laptop".

SoFine409 · 22 Jul 2020

JoeIrwin said:

Hi Jack Hughs: Thanks, I did set maximum permissions in both the "Sharing" and "Security" tabs. But, my one Windows 10 Laptop still says "Windows cannot access \\Carol-Laptop".

Did you add Authenticated Users to the permissions instead of Everyone? That is what I have been using because I use the same login name and password on all my networked PCs.

JoeIrwin · 23 Jul 2020

Hi SoFine409: Yes, I added Authenticated Users to Laptop #2. However, it still says "Windows cannot access \\Carol-Laptop". It won't even let me enter Network Credentials. But, everything work fine in in the other direction. What else could it be? Thanks, Joe

Samuria · 23 Jul 2020

If it says cant access \\Carol-Laptop have you got netbios running as that is needed to see pc by name test by using \\Carol-Laptop ip ie \\192.168.1.12 if you can access it then its netbios.

Note \\Carol-Laptop isnt a share you need to connect to a share not pc ie \\Carol-Laptop\sharename

JoeIrwin · 23 Jul 2020

Hi Samuria: Netbios is evidently working since I can successfully enter "cmd" and get a command prompt. Is there another way to check Netbios? Carol Laptop is connected via wireless. So I tried entering \\10.0.0.131 and \\Carol-Laptop\Temp on the other laptop, but it cannot find anything.