Solved How do I share things OTHER THAN local C: on Homegroup?

orlando1974

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Hi, I'm setting up for the first time a Homegroup (on Windows 8.1) between laptop and desktop. So far, Im impressed with the speed of transmission from one computer to the other. However, I noticed that I can only access the C: drive as well as the Library stuff such as Music, Pictures, Desktop, Downloads, etc folders. I would like to be able to access from my laptop the OTHER DRIVES on my desktop PC. What's the best way to do this?
 

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First thing do not use Home Group. Just use regular Network sharing. You will have better control over what folders you want to share. Homegroup just shares the Libraries, not the actual folders.
 

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Oh? Homegroup seemed like a no-brainer! Would you kindly point me to a tutorial on how to do this without Homegroup? And in doing so, do you advise I "turn off" Homegroup?
 

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  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
Hi, I'm setting up for the first time a Homegroup (on Windows 8.1) between laptop and desktop. So far, Im impressed with the speed of transmission from one computer to the other. However, I noticed that I can only access the C: drive as well as the Library stuff such as Music, Pictures, Desktop, Downloads, etc folders. I would like to be able to access from my laptop the OTHER DRIVES on my desktop PC. What's the best way to do this?

For drive sharing you can add the drive to a Library which you can then access from other Homegroup machines. This is very simple when you have a Homegroup already set up.

I'd never advise anyone to turn off or quite using Homegroups, profoundly ridiculous statement.

How about providing the precise answer to the question posed? It's a new concept in networking help.

The only people who might say that clearly do not understand anything about using Homegroups so should probably not attempt to answer in the first place.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/12954-library-add-folder-windows-8-a.html
 
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First thing do not use Home Group. Just use regular Network sharing. You will have better control over what folders you want to share. Homegroup just shares the Libraries, not the actual folders.

I don't use libraries and don't share any libraries or standard locations through Homegroup. I share specific folders by right-clicking them and choosing the "Share with Homegroup" item. In File Explorer, the Homegroup icon opens up faster than the Network icon, which is an advantage. Another is that the folders I've shared in my Users folder appear by name under Homegroup, while "Users" is what appears under Network, and I have to drill down to get to the shares when I start with Network.

Now for the slight disadvantage, I'd appreciate any input on the thread I started yesterday:

http://www.eightforums.com/network-sharing/48960-must-login-other-pc-appear-homegroup.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
OK so I'm on the fence now between using Homegroup or not. I'd rather share an entire drive than just some folders but Homegroup seems to be designed to share "folders" instead of "drives". I'd specifically like to know if there is any way I could access one of the desktop drives thru my laptop if the desktop is powered off? My assumption is that neither homegroup nor regular wireless network would allow you to access the HDD of a machine that is powered off or sleeping, but I just want to confirm with you guys....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
OK so I'm on the fence now between using Homegroup or not. I'd rather share an entire drive than just some folders but Homegroup seems to be designed to share "folders" instead of "drives". I'd specifically like to know if there is any way I could access one of the desktop drives thru my laptop if the desktop is powered off? My assumption is that neither homegroup nor regular wireless network would allow you to access the HDD of a machine that is powered off or sleeping, but I just want to confirm with you guys....

No you can't access drives on other machines if they are powered down. You would need a network attached NAS or USB drive for that. Yes you can typically access drives on machines that are sleeping.

I answered your original question in the very first post, there is link there showing you exactly how to add a drive location to a Library so that only members of the Homegroup can access the drive.

By the way, you aren't really sharing C: drive with Homegroup at all, you are sharing the C:>Users folder and the contents of that folder.

I highly recommend using Homegroup because it's much easier then messing with NTFS permissions. Setting up a Homegroup also secures your shared folders preventing anyone in the local Workgroup from accessing them unless they join the Homegroup using the Homegroup password or you can share a Library with another Workgroup machine by simply adding the "Everyone" share to the "Share With" list of any Library folder.
 
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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
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    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
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    Gskill 120GB SSD
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    Thermal Take Xtreme
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OK I have to admit at this point broe23 was misinformed. Homegroup CAN share folders or libraries - it offers two approaches and so far I'm liking it (thanks chev65!).

In playing around with the first approach, which is just to select a folder, then click Share in the ribbon, and enable Homegroup (View and Edit), I notice that it worked for one of my folders but not for the other. The one that stubbornly refuses to be shared simply ends up giving the message "Your folder can't be shared." after a minute of trying to share... I then tried the same folder using the Library approach. I set up a library called "Desktop Shared" and added those 2 folders to it. Same results, one got shared but not the other.

Any ideas?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
OK I have to admit at this point broe23 was misinformed. Homegroup CAN share folders or libraries - it offers two approaches and so far I'm liking it (thanks chev65!).

In playing around with the first approach, which is just to select a folder, then click Share in the ribbon, and enable Homegroup (View and Edit), I notice that it worked for one of my folders but not for the other. The one that stubbornly refuses to be shared simply ends up giving the message "Your folder can't be shared." after a minute of trying to share... I then tried the same folder using the Library approach. I set up a library called "Desktop Shared" and added those 2 folders to it. Same results, one got shared but not the other.

Any ideas?

Depends on where the folder came from. I don't have enough information to make an informed statement. If this is your very first attempt at using Library's then a learning curve should be expected.

Misinformed is a nice way to put it, I'd call the comments completely wrong. Telling everyone not to use Homegroups is a misguided statement to say the least.
 

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
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    Thermal Take 1000watts
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    Thermal Take Xtreme
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    9 fans air cooled
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    G15 logitech
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    50mbps
OK, let me try to give you more details. Using the LIBRARY method which you suggested as an option (and following the guide), Im adding folders one at a time by clicking Manage Library in the ribbon on the host computer. Although my "problematic folder" appears in the library, it just refuses to share.

So I decide to compare the settings of this folder with the other ones that are working.

After right-clicking the properties of the various folders I've shared, and going to the "Sharing" tab, rather than show me the network path like the others, the stubborn one says "Not shared". So I'm guessing I need to click that "Share..." button and then add the name Homegroup Read/Write so that it matches all the other ones.

I do this and again, I get that window that says "Sharing items..." and after a few minutes says "Your folder can't be shared."

Please let me know what more details I could provide you with...

EDITED: I deleted that library completely, and restarted the host pc. i started over from scratch. Now Ive got them all showing up in the Shared Library I created...HOWEVER, all the folders I added to the shared library also show as duplicate as regular drive locations on my laptop - rather than just in the shared library. (except for one). Could this have to do with "regular" sharing being enabled as opposed to homegroup sharing enabled?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
Yes normal, these are subfolders in the same Library. There are countless online tutorials to explain more about how Library's work if you take the time to look them up.

It's a shame that some of the comments to your post had nothing to do with answering your question and had everything to do with lack of understanding of how Library's work and how useful they are. :)
 

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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