Solved Networking Question

I am having a problem networking two machines in one direction. I have a bunch of machines (Macs and PCs with Win7, Win8, Lion, and Mt. Lion). My goal is to do the networking without using HomeGroup. Wanting to proceed this way is a prelude to doing some other things--which I won't go into now. So, I am not wanting to discuss my goal. I am just hoping you'll take it as a given so there will be no need to discuss it.

Anyway, on all pairs of machines, I am able to share what I want (i.e., my user folders) in both directions with one exception. Without using HomeGroup, I have been unable to share my user folder from my Win7 desktop (i.e., the machine in my system specs) and my Win8 Laptop (an older HP). Note that both the Users folder and Public within it are shared from the desktop to the laptop.

I have examined the sharing and security settings of my user folders on these machines. And, I find only one difference that seems significant. On my Win8 laptop, when I go User folder > Properties > Security > Advanced > Share, I find "Allow Everyone Full Control." It seems odd to me, but "Everyone" does not appear under Permissions. I don't know how "Everyone" got where it is, except, perhaps, it is a default set up under the installation of Win8. On the other hand, "Everyone" does not appear anywhere in Sharing or Security on my Win7 desktop.

I am not sure how to proceed. Should I add "Allow Everyone Full Control" on the Win7 machine in User folder > Properties > Security > Advanced? If so, do I use "Change Permissions" to do so? And, if not, do you have thoughts on what I need to do to get the sharing direction I am missing going (not including using HomeGroup)? Before making changes, I'd also really like to know why no Mac (of mine) has trouble sharing either way as desired with any Win machine (of mine) under my current settings, while my Win7 cannot share as desired with my Win8 under these settings.

Thanks much for any help you can give in advance.

I tried another approach yesterday. I cranked up a second Win7 machine--an older, but still capable, Gateway desktop. I focused on the Win7 desktop (the one in my system specs) mentioned above in my first post and the Gateway desktop. I was unable to share my user folder on each to the other without using HomeGroup. Both Users and the Public folder within are successfully shared between both. I would have thought sharing the users folders back and forth without HomeGroup would be easy enough. I had never serious tried to do so before. I always just took the easy way out--using HomeGroup because I didn't want to expend extra time and effort.

I need to be conservative with what I do on my system-specs machine because of its complexity and my relatively low expertise when it comes to networking. But, I can take a more cavalier attitude WRT the Gateway.

Network gurus where are you???

znod said:

I tried another approach yesterday. I cranked up a second Win7 machine--an older, but still capable, Gateway desktop. I focused on the Win7 desktop (the one in my system specs) mentioned above in my first post and the Gateway desktop. I was unable to share my user folder on each to the other without using HomeGroup. Both Users and the Public folder within are successfully shared between both. I would have thought sharing the users folders back and forth without HomeGroup would be easy enough. I had never serious tried to do so before. I always just took the easy way out--using HomeGroup because I didn't want to expend extra time and effort.

I need to be conservative with what I do on my system-specs machine because of its complexity and my relatively low expertise when it comes to networking. But, I can take a more cavalier attitude WRT the Gateway.

Network gurus where are you???

Click to expand...

It works without Homegroup but you need to type in "Everyone" in the advanced sharing settings under the Security Tab, put check marks for how much access you want to give to "Everyone" and also allow for permissions using the Sharing tab.

This link is for drive sharing but it also applies to the User folder if desired. Just go to C drive>User folder>right click and use the tabs and follow the guide.
HDD sharing - Windows 7 Forums

chev65 said:

It works without Homegroup but you need to type in "Everyone" in the advanced sharing settings under the Security Tab, put check marks for how much access you want to give to "Everyone" and also allow for permissions using the Sharing tab.

This link is for drive sharing but it also applies to the User folder if desired. Just go to C drive>User folder>right click and use the tabs and follow the guide.
HDD sharing - Windows 7 Forums

Click to expand...

Thanks much for your help. And, :thumb: .