W7 network has a mind of its own

Or no mind at all.

I've been 'hanging in there' with WinXPPSP3 on all of my home\workshop network of seven desktop and laptop computers, but finally decided to shift them all to Win7.

Okay, the W7 OS works - mostly, although I'd much rather have had a fixed-up, streamlined XP - but one thing that W7 doesn't seem to be able to do is run a network.

I'm a 20+ year PC tech, and I've solved some doozies in my time (often with the help of the good guys here at WindowsBBS), but I'm durned if I can get on top of this head-scratcher - how to get all my PC's to share files.

My requirements are pretty simple, I would have thought.

I'm on PC1, say, two meters away from PC2, and I might say, 'Hey, I need a file that's in PC2\C:\winbbs.

But can I get there? Can I even OPEN PC2's C drive? No way. Even though I've established Mr.Gate's infamous 'Homegroups', even though I've set sharing permissions to such a flexible level that people 300 miles away ought to be able to access my computers with tin cans on a string.

No - Win7 seems determined to prevent me from having my computers communicate with each other.

I've tried every one of the dozens (hundreds, maybe) of the remedies that abound on the net - most of them proposed by well-meaning amateurs who've stumbled across a coincidental solution that happened to work on THEIR system but has no relevance to anyone else's.

I know this W7 sharing problem is EXTREMELY common, and I know that a blanket solution is extremely hard to find, but I'm asking - just in case, someone has stumbled across an answer that I haven't tried.

But before you rush into print - please don't suggest installing Windows 8 - this latest offering from MS is NOT a solution to ANY problem, IMHO.

Cheers all

 

ok i'm no expert, but i'd try starting here

 

Thanks but that's first base stuff. In my experience, Microsoft people don't seem to know as much about their products as do we, the long-suffering users.

As I said, I thought I was probably expecting a bit much for someone to come up with anything new, but it was worth asking.

 

well i thought to try at the starting point. Ok so you have your group set up and allowing the file you wish to be shared?

 

You didn`t mention how your PCs are connected - are you using wi-fi or hard-wired (Ethernet?) - if its Ethernet , one dodgy connector or lead can cause chaos.

I have a vaguely similar problem - I`m networking three PCs by ethernet, a Vista Laptop,A windows 7 Desktop and a Windows 8 Desktop. -Most of the time everything works fine , but now and again I lose connectivity with the windows 7 machine. -Two things I`ve noticed are that unplugging and re-plugging the ethernet leads usually cures it. But have also noticed that if I reboot the windows 7 machine I lose all the sharing settings for 1 Drive and have to reset them.

 

Flyboy1565: Yes, everything has been shared with full permissions set. Again, these are basic, elementary requirements.

Arie, thanks for that, I'll check it out. To be honest, using Homegroups was the last thing I wanted to do, but there's so much blurb on the net about how wonderful the Homegroup process is, that I thought I'd try it. It actually appeared to work for a few days, but quickly turned to custard. Now, there are only a few folders and files that are easily accessed between machines.

One thing I've found that DOES work is that, if any machines happen to have non-system HDDs mounted, ie, storage drives - then sharing these, and their contained files, works well. But it's laborious and time wasting to have to do it that way.

Nick Wright: The network in question is wired. Occasionally a couple of wireless XP laptops will patch into the LAN but there's rarely any difficulty with their access. Crazy, eh? Wireless computers with a 'foreign' OS - no problem. 'Peer' Windows 7 Ultimate machines, connected by copper wires, with every imaginable permission set - no way.

 

Thought I'd wound up this thread but here's a heads-up:

I found the whole thing a can of worms. Windows 7 (or any Windows OS that came after XP) seems determined to make it as difficult as possible for anyone less skilled than a Microsoft Certified expert to organize a trouble-free LAN.

Here's my work-around for anyone who hasn't got the skill of a Microsoft programmer or the patience of Job: Throw an old hard drive (a crummy old 20Gb x 5400 rpm is tons adequate) into each tower and ensure they're all correctly shared (Simple File Sharing is OK). Use these drives as receptacles for the files you want to transfer between your computers. Works for me. Simple, cheap, no more clumps of hair uprooted.