Windows8.1 can't share folders or files.

murby

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Member
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Hi folks,
This is my first post here as I am at my wits end with WIndows 8.1 Pro.

Let me start off by telling you what kind of idiot I am. I've been using computers since the days of the Atari.. then MSDOS on a 386 processor, then Windows 3.1, then a Pentium and win95, 98, and XP.
I'm also quite adapt with VB programming language.

So, I'm not computer illiterate. But you might think so after I post this.. :eek:

I have 2 computers (both WIndows8.1) for which I need to set up a single folder "My Shared Folder" on each computer so that we can transfer files and stuff between the two computers without constantly having to swap USB drives all the time.

I have gone through all the "Homegroup" settings and the closest I got was when it would ask me for a USERNAME and a PASSWORD.. I know the password as it was given to me when I set up the HomeGroup, but I have no idea what username to use.
I have also tried just right clicking on the folder within explorer.exe and trying to share it that way too.. no luck.

Also, when I set up Homegroup, it would appear that it starts to share all my app data, document folder, and all kinds of folders that I DO NOT WANT SHARED.. Not that anyone can access them.

Each computer can see the other on my home network but we can not get access.

This stuff was easy in Windows XP.. why did they screw it up so bad?

Can someone walk me though this? I have looked at all the tutorials on the internet and none of them seem to work for me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    PentiumD
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    4 Gigs

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1x64PWMC Ubuntu14.04x64 MintMate17x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brewed
    CPU
    I7 4970K OC'ed @4.7 GHz
    Motherboard
    MSI-Z97
    Memory
    16 GB G-Skill Trident X @2400MHZ
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual HP-W2408
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    256 GB M2 sm951, (2) 500GB 850EVO, 5TB, 2 TB Seagate
    PSU
    Antec 850W
    Case
    Antec 1200
    Cooling
    Danger Den H20
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    35/12mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
Thank you very much! Contrary to most other instructions, I had to uncheck the box that allows windows to manage the homegroup and check the box to "use user accounts". The problem I have now is that anyone who gets access to my network can not view and modify our shared folder files. While its not likely anyone would have access, we do have an android gizmo that uses a wireless connection and I'm always leery about it. So, is there a way to designate only certain computers to be allowed sharing? Perhaps designated via an IP address (192.168.xxx.xxx) or maybe a MAC address or some other form of identification?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    PentiumD
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    4 Gigs
I'm not sure if what I do for Windows 7 will work for Windows 8. In the advanced sharing options for any particular folder -- after clicking advanced sharing twice, for Set maximum limit for [some big word] users to: 4
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit [MS blue-disk set]
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2 Acers & 1 Antec[?]
    CPU
    i7 in 2 Acers, i5 in desktop
    Motherboard
    Desktop w/Gigabyte
    Memory
    Two w/16GB, 1 w/8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Laptops GameWorthy; Desktop maybe GameWorthy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    flatscreens; 2 are BluRay worthy
    Screen Resolution
    1368x768; 1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1TB internals; 2 ext usb WD 1TB HDs
    PSU
    what's PSU?
    Cooling
    Regular plus external fans
    Keyboard
    desktio w/PS2
    Mouse
    desktop w/PS2
    Internet Speed
    DSL middle level [160?]
    Browser
    from Netscape 0.9 to FF 36
    Antivirus
    well-balanced, well-configured mult-layered defense is best
    Other Info
    From MS-DOS 3.3, MS-DOS 6.22, from Windows 3.1 to WFW 3.11 to Windows 95-98SE, now to Windows 7 Pro.
    Security for now: Windows 7 Firewall, Emsisoft AM, MSE [scan-only], SpywareBlaster, Ruiware/BillP combine
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