Need Expert Help Sharing / Permission Discrepancies

First, the basics:

Running a Win8.1 Desktop, Laptop, and Tablet, all linked to internet via a router (the Desktop by Ethernet, the other two systems wireless). I have set up an administrative and standard user on each system, in addition to the public user on each system. Have made no attempt to set up a Homegroup or Workgroup although all three systems have the Workgroup default name of WORKGROUP. All of the Advanced Sharing Private Network options are the default values on all three systems (Discovery –On/On, File & Printer-On, Allow Windows-On). I have looked for but not found any differences among the three systems in the following locations in both the Standard and Administrative Users:
Properties/Shares
Property/Security
Property/Security/Advanced SecuritySettings/Permissions
Property/Security/Advanced SecuritySettings/Share

Second, My Objectives

Before trying to set up a Homegroup, and set some limits on shares that are available to each system, I wanted to understand what was visible and accessible for all three systems before any changes were made. I found a differences that I can not explain based on the settings that I see and was wondering if anyone could explain the differences or tell me where to look to find out what settings must be different among the three systems.

Now, the Differences

The following observations are based on signing on to each system’s standard user account:

The Desktop can access both the Public and Standard area of both the Laptop and the Tablet although I cannot see anywhere in the settings on the Laptop or Tablet where these users have been set to share with theDesktop. Why can the Desktop access what hasn’t specifically been shared?

The Laptop can access both the Public and Standard area of both the Desktop and the Tablet although I cannot see anywhere in the settings on the Desktop or Tablet where these users have been set to share with the Laptop.Why can the Laptop access what hasn’t specifically been shared?


The Tablet can access the Public and Standard area of the Desktop, but not the Laptop. In fact, the Laptop doesn’t even appear in the Network area of the Tablet. Why can theTablet access what has not been specifically shared by the Desktop and why doesn’t the Laptop appear at all?

The following observations are based on signing on to each system’s administrative user account:

All three systems can “see” the other two under the Network section

The desktop is unable to access anything on the Laptop orthe Tablet

The Laptop can access the Public and Administrative areas of the Tablet only.

The Tablet can access the Public and Administrative areas of both the Desktop and the Laptop.

Why are all three systems different in terms of what they can access?

Sorry for the lengthy post, but I've been researching these differences and searching for answers on the web for several days and this is as concise as I can make my post and still get at what I'm trying to understand.

Thanks in advance for any guidance you can provide.

No answers???

Let me try and break down my question a little differently and see if someone can help me (or at least point me in the right direction to find an answer on my own).

1. Ihave three Win 8.1 home-based systems connected to broadband via a router ( a desktop connected via Ethernet and a laptop and tablet, both connected wirelessly)
2. Each system has an admin user and a standard user
3. The three admin users use MS Live Account #1
4. The three standard users use MS Live Account #2
5. All three systems have the default workgroup named WORKGROUP
6. A Homegroup has not been created
7. When all three systems are powered on and signed into the standard user, I can see all of the public and standard user files on each system from the other two systems.
8. When all three systems are powered on and signed into the administrative user, the following statements are true:
a. TheDesktop asks for log in to see anything on the laptop, but can see the public and administrative folders on the tablet
b. TheLaptop asks for a log in to see anything on the desktop, but can see the public and administrative folders on the tablet
c. The tablet can see the both the public and administrative folders on the desktop with no sign in required.
9. I cannot find anywhere in the Laptop or Desktop settings where sharing or special permissions have been given to the Tablet.

My questions:

Are the systems sharing folders as expected when signed into the standard user? Is the reason I can share files among the three systems because I’m using the same MS Live account or because all have WORKGROUP as the Workgroup name? If files are being shared as expected, what’s the need for or value of establishing a homegroup in my situation?

Why are the systems sharing folders differently when signed into the administrative user and, in particular, why is sharing different with the tablet when compared to the desktop and laptop? I can’t find anywhere that the tablet has been given any special sharing or permissions by the Desktop orLaptop.

I can see you are confused here, but for the sake of reducing the confusion I will only address one problem at a time.

Unlike Windows 7, Windows 8 has the Users folder shared out by default, where Windows 7 shares out the Users folder but locks the Users\Username folder.

So with Windows 8 you would simply un-share a folder by right clicking a User folder "per the picture" then choose "share with" then choose "stop sharing" for each folder you want secure. This picture shows where to go for these folder options, click on the User name which is blocked out in blue then it will show each User folder like is showing in the picture.

If you plan on using the same User name and password on some machines then this will reduce folder restrictions because Windows thinks you are the same user. If you want more separation of file permissions then it's best to use a different User name on all machines. User names can be the same but the machine name's need to be different or they won't show up on the network.

Thanks chev65, your explanation really helps. I didn't know about the difference between Win 7 and Win 8 and didn't run across a single mention of that difference in the numerous searches I did looking for an answer. The fact that user names might also have an impact even though I'm using the same MS Live account to sign on and have the same WORKGROUP name is also new info.

Thanks again.