Windows 8 won't share in Homegroup

ddeen

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I have 5 PCs on a Homegroup. 1 Win8 and 4 Win7s. The Win7 PCs share files no problem back and forth. The Win8 can use files from Win7 PCs but not the other way. No Win7 PC can access Win8 files. The shares show up but when you click on the shares nothing happens. The share, no matter if it is Video, Music, Pictures, or Documents won't open and I get no error message.

This happens whether Win8 created the Homegroup or one of the Win7 PCs. And I have unjoined all PCs and recreated the Homegroups several times from Win8 and the Win7 PCs. All the clocks are sync'd, and I have specifically shared the shares in Win8. And I don't use any third party anti virus or firewall, just Microsoft's. Any ideas?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt special
    CPU
    i3
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GTS250
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    big ones
    PSU
    lots of power
    Case
    Antec
    Cooling
    Intel
    Keyboard
    Microsoft
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    smokin
    Browser
    IE, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
Did you check that the C:Users folder on the Windows 8 machine has sharing enabled through the sharing tab at the C:Users folder? This is usually enabled for sharing by default.

Also make sure there are no locks showing up at the C:Users>UserName folder

We will assume that you turned on File and Printer sharing and Network Discovery.

I mention C:Users because this is where Windows typically controls file access from.

This Homegroup trouble shooting guide might help.
Ultimate Troubleshooting Guide for Windows 7 HomeGroup Connection Issues - Help Desk Geek
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Thanks for the help. It is definitely a permission issue. As soon as I shared the C:\users\username folder, the Win7 PCs could access the files in the Videos, Docs, Pictures, and Music folders, trouble now is that the other PCs have access to everything in my username folder.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt special
    CPU
    i3
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GTS250
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    big ones
    PSU
    lots of power
    Case
    Antec
    Cooling
    Intel
    Keyboard
    Microsoft
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    smokin
    Browser
    IE, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Thanks for the help. It is definitely a permission issue. As soon as I shared the C:\users\username folder, the Win7 PCs could access the files in the Videos, Docs, Pictures, and Music folders, trouble now is that the other PCs have access to everything in my username folder.

I figured it was just permissions and yes as you found out, when the User folder is shared out everything inside it is also shared, this is the default setting by the way.

It's very easy to put a lock on any folder, just follow Brink's tutorials.

If you require more selective User sharing, rather than just On or Off for everyone then you should read on. :)

This method allows you to share certain files and folders with only certain machines while allowing a higher access level for all machines which are in the Homegroup, you can set this up by simply not allowing certain machines to join the Homegroup.

This will prevent those machines which are outside the Homegroup but in the local Workgroup from having access to your C:Users folder "even if it is shared out" with everyone through the Sharing Tab.

If you want certain users to only have access to certain files and folders then you can easily enable the Public folder at C:>Users>Public, this way only files which are placed into the Public folders will be shared with the Workgroup, even if the C:Users folders is shared out. This is because when you create a Homegroup it elevates the Users in the Homegroup to a higher access level than anyone in the Workgroup.

You can also share an entire Library folder with everyone in the Workgroup by using the Library sharing feature as per Brink's most excellent tutorial "second link by Brink", you would right click a Library folder then choose Specific People then choose, Everyone this will share that particular Library and only that Library with Users who are outside the Homegroup but in the local Workgroup.

This give's you selective sharing for the Workgroup machines but allows for total access or restricted access as required for the Homegroup users.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
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