[Takaharu]

Yesterday I tried sharing some files between my laptop (Win7 Home Premium x64) and my desktop PC (Win7 Pro x64) without any luck.

I first tried simply sharing a folder that I wanted to share. However, when I tried to access my PC from my laptop using either the IP address or the computer name it said that I couldn't access it. I also tried the other way around (PC to laptop) with the same result.
Next, I tried creating a homegroup and sharing the folder to the homegroup using Win7's built-in sharing options. I created the homegroup, changed the password, joined my laptop to it and both of the computers can see the other under "Homegroup" in Explorer. I can open the homegroup just fine but if I try to open any of the shared folders it said that I couldn't access it again.

I have BitDefender Internet Security on both of the systems and I have allowed full trust to the network, which had been blocking the connection until I gave it full trust (it was previously marked as unsafe).

[temeteus82]

You have looked the windows own file sharing rights and defined the network type as Private?

[Judas]

Keep public or work.... private will losen the restrictions but you'll still be screwed unless you do one of the following things.


Easiest thing to do is go into the advanced sharing and make sure File/printer sharing is enabled. and then make sure Turn off password protected sharing...

Do this only if your confident that you've got proper security in place for wireless and such cause anyone will be able to look at your stuff..


2nd option is mighty secure but involves a little more work.


You need to create the user account on each machine OF each machines own profile.

example being if you have a machine with a login name and password as (for computer 1)

John Doe
12345

and computer 2 is:

Jane Doe
54321

Then on the john doe machine, make another user profile with the exact name and password as the 2nd, and then repeat this on the jane doe machine with that of the john doe profile, this is VERY secure and will allow you to keep the "turn on protected sharing"


LASTLY what you must do is go to whatever folder your trying to share and right click on it... select share with specific people.....

Now if you don't setup profiles, you MUST add "everyone" to the list and then set the privilages for read/write if you want to modify, if all you want to do is access but not write, then leave alone and apply...

IF you wish to remain protected and secure like my second option suggest.... from this list you will now have the Other computers profile there and you can select it.. and set it as a read/write.

Do this on the other machine.



LASTLY

sharing the C: drive itself is pretty damn hard i would say..... actually it's not adviseable at all. Personally i would suggest not bothering with it period if your attempting to share the C: directory of each machines... And trying to share the Program files or windows folders is a tough one as well due to security issues without dropping all security to do it.

Only share the folders you really need to..... if you have to do this for each individual folder.... so be it unfortunately.

[Takaharu]

• Both of the systems are set to a Home network.
• Password-protected sharing is off
• The D drive of my laptop is shared with the user group "Everyone" having full access
• Encryption was lowered from 128-bit
• I temporarily disabled the firewall on my laptop - this fixed it

So I'm going to ring BitDefender tomorrow to find out how to allow more access than "allow everything".

[Judas]

i still think setting up profiles on each system is going to be the safest and easiest...

[Takaharu]

Just in case anyone else has the same problem using BitDefender...

Open up BitDefender and change the view to Expert Mode if it's not set to it already.
Click on the Firewall section and click on the Network tab.
Change the Trust Level to Trusted Local.
Change the Stealth Mode to off (you can turn this back on afterwards, it's just as a test)
Change Generic Profile to Yes.

That sorted it for me.