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Have two Win8 machines and one has a bunch of drives connected to it, that I use informally as a file server.
Generally, what happens is the following:
1) Boot the Win8 "server" machine (Win8 pro, not a Server OS)
2) Boot my Win8 Pro desktop
3) Open file manager app, double-click the icon for the server PC -- and drive icons open
But sometimes, when I do 3), I get an error message saying that the machine name is incorrect (which it is NOT).
When I click Details on this to see what is wrong, it says "no issues" -- but still can't connect.
This is generally resolved by rebooting the "server" box (and trying again), or rebooting the desktop box (and trying again), or going through repeated reboots of each -- until a connection is finally made.
I've checked the sharing permissions on the "server" box and they are set as follows:
1) Each partition -- read by everyone (used by the desktops to download files)
2) Shared folder in each partition -- full control by everyone (used by the desktops to upload files)
And ... password-protected sharing is enabled, such that when a desktop first tries to connect, you must enter valid account info. After that, the info is saved and you don't have to enter it again.
I've gone through removing sharing and reapplying it several times, and there are no changes as a result.
And it's always all-or-nothing, that is, it's never a situation where some of the shares can be seen/used but not others.
Problem is, there are times when I really need access to the "server" drives from the desktop and can't reboot either because something is going on that takes a long time and I don't want to have to restart it.
I also run XP on this box (which never gave me these problems) -- and would really like NOT to go back to using XP.
Anything I can try to resolve this?
Generally, what happens is the following:
1) Boot the Win8 "server" machine (Win8 pro, not a Server OS)
2) Boot my Win8 Pro desktop
3) Open file manager app, double-click the icon for the server PC -- and drive icons open
But sometimes, when I do 3), I get an error message saying that the machine name is incorrect (which it is NOT).
When I click Details on this to see what is wrong, it says "no issues" -- but still can't connect.
This is generally resolved by rebooting the "server" box (and trying again), or rebooting the desktop box (and trying again), or going through repeated reboots of each -- until a connection is finally made.
I've checked the sharing permissions on the "server" box and they are set as follows:
1) Each partition -- read by everyone (used by the desktops to download files)
2) Shared folder in each partition -- full control by everyone (used by the desktops to upload files)
And ... password-protected sharing is enabled, such that when a desktop first tries to connect, you must enter valid account info. After that, the info is saved and you don't have to enter it again.
I've gone through removing sharing and reapplying it several times, and there are no changes as a result.
And it's always all-or-nothing, that is, it's never a situation where some of the shares can be seen/used but not others.
Problem is, there are times when I really need access to the "server" drives from the desktop and can't reboot either because something is going on that takes a long time and I don't want to have to restart it.
I also run XP on this box (which never gave me these problems) -- and would really like NOT to go back to using XP.
Anything I can try to resolve this?
