Sharing a HDD Doesn't Work for Me

[Aleksbgbg]

I've been trying to share my 2TB HDD with my other PC, as my "other PC" has a 500GB HDD and not much else than an OS. I have a lot of files that I need on both PCs there, which I don't want to replicate.

However, I definitely do not want anyone else to access them but for the moment I'm hoping that they don't know about it at all whilst I figure it out.

I've tried a lot of things and every time I get some kind of error - no permission to access (although the permissions are set to "Everyone") or some 0x5646564646464564565465464546 error stuff.

Can anyone tell me how to do this correctly? I tried google but it doesn't work (the guides are horrible - one of them was like "please look at our lesson 7 for more information"). Really not helpful.

[theanimun]

Generally you just share whichever folders you need access to.

And there are folders you shouldn't share at all, ie c:, and the windows folders.

All in all right click whichever folders you want available, and click properties, if the properties folder has a share tab that is where you can enable the folder to be seen on the other computer, but only if they are on the same network and both have network discovery set to the same setting, which should be on for private networks

[Mikensan]

Which flavor of windows are you running? Windows 7 and up support "home groups" which makes it pretty simple in sharing files and preventing "outside" access.

 

You have two sets of permissions - the Share permissions, and the file permissions. Need to make sure both are set the way you want it. If you don't want to use home group, then make sure both computers are on the same workgroup, and an account exists on both computers with both the same name and same password.

If you go to the properties of the folder you're sharing, you'll have a Share Tab which should let you modify the permissions. They're not recursive and only apply to the share.

[RickL]

When using the "Share" feature at least in Windows 7, you actually have to have a log-in to match in order to access the files. If the log-in's dont match, then you dont get access, at least thats how it works in my house.

[MeshFile]

Let:

Pc1 = computer that wants to share files

Pc2 = computer that wants to access the shared files of Pc1

 

On Pc1, create a new account named 'shareAccount'. Enter a password there-don't make an account with no password. Create a new folder named 'shared' (to the desktop or something) and right-click > share with > specific people. Put in 'shareAccount' there and add. Make it Read/Write and click share. Right-click 'shared' folder and go to 'Sharing' tab > Advanced Sharing > check the 'Share this folder' and click 'Permissions' button. Add user by clicking on the 'Add' button and then 'Advanced' > Find now > select 'shareAccount' > OK. Click the 'OK' buttons until all the small windows are closed.

Verify the options on Windows if users will use local accounts for sharing. Open Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings. Make sure the following settings are set on the network profile you're using (Home/Work/Public):

• Turn on network discovery
• Turn on file and printer sharing
• Use user accounts and passwords to connect to other computers

Save settings and logoff/reboot if necessary.

On Pc2, open File Explorer and type in \\Pc1 on the address bar and it should ask you for a username and password. Enter in the credentials of 'shareAccount'. Option to save credentials is there. You should be able to see the 'shared' folder you created before and has read/write permissions.