Solved Oneway communication between laptops.

I come before you with yet another issue with my problem child. Basically, I have two laptops, an ASUS-G750JM (hereinafter called laptop 'A' in an effort to avoid confusion because their brand names are so similar), and an ACER Aspire-721-492 (hereinafter called laptop 'B'). Laptop 'A' works just fine. Laptop 'B' is the aforementioned problem child. (Additional background at NIC won't work. if you're interested.)

Some weeks ago I wiped laptop 'B's disk clean, repartitioned it, and reinstalled Windows 8.1. Now that I'm running Win 8.1 on both machines again I find that laptop 'A' can "see" laptop 'B,' and access all the files on it with full permissions (i.e., there is a working connection between the two computers). However, laptop 'B' (my problem child) cannot even see laptop 'A,' much less access any files. I've spent literally weeks trying to figure out where the snag is, and nothing I do solves the issue.

I absolutely know it's not only possible, but actually fairly easy. I had the system running adequately before I wiped everything clean (twice, actually). Either the reinstallation process changed something or I've forgotten something.

So, what I'm asking is for all of you to tell me all of the reasons why this should happen, from the simplest, "You have to register both instances of Windows before this'll work," (which I did) through "You've got to turn on file sharing, Dummy!" (which I did) up to the most arcane sort of digital witchcraft any of you know about.

Don't hold back...

Thanks in advance.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G750JM
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-4700HQ
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GEFORCE GTX 860 M
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Samuria -

First, let me say that I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to my query, and come up with meaningful responses!

New Developments:
1) In further poking around I found that in Laptop 'A's Services listing (Right-click the Taskbar > Task Manager > Services (tab) > Open Services (lower left corner)) both Homegroup Provider and Homegroup Listener were disabled. (Probably by me sometime in the past.) I re-enabled them (right-click the listing, click Properties), restarted them, and rebooted. I can now see Laptop 'A' listed under Networks in laptop 'B's file listing (File Explorer).

2) However, even though I can see laptop 'A' listed, when I double-click it to open a file listing on it, I get an error message:

Error_Message.jpg

So now we are faced with even more questions:
a) Is this just another vapid error response by programming engineers trying to get through the debugging drudgery so they can take a coffee break? In which case, what is the real issue?

b) If it has real meaning, and I really do have permission to use my own network resource, and I AM the administrator, who or what is the "specified network provider name," where do I find it, why is it invalid, and how do I correct it?

In answer to your questions:
Can b ping a by name?
Can it ping it by ip?

Yes to both.

Does both pcs have netbios running?

Apparently yes, because:
1) A NetBIOS Helper service is loaded and running on both machines.
2) NetBScanner (see below) works from both laptops without reporting apparent error messages.

run this does this see it and it should list one as master browser NetBScanner - NetBIOS scanner

NetBScanner run on laptop 'A':

ASUS-NetBIOS_Scan.jpg

NetBScanner run on laptop 'B':

ACER-NetBIOS_Scan.jpg

I must point out that in neither of the two NetBScanner reports is a name listed for laptop 'B.' Nor is WORKGROUP listed for laptop 'B' even though it probably should be.

Mind you, I am not particularly interested in using the workgroup scenario here. I get the impression that it was just another harebrained flash-in-the-pan concept, invented by one of Microsoft's programming engineers in an effort to justify his or her six figure salary for that particular year. The fact that we seldom see it mentioned on these forums leads me to think it falls into one of two bins: Either it works flawlessly (highly unlikely) so no one ever has any questions or problems with it; or it's been dropped by the wayside like so much of Microsoft's other jetsam, and no one ever thinks about it, much less uses it anymore. If I had my druthers, I'd just as soon let it lie there and die a peaceful death too. But the presence of the label for one laptop and its absence for the other, as well as the issue of laptop 'A' suddenly appearing on laptop 'B's network listing must hold some significance.

Thanks so much again for your interest and patience.

(From sunny, dry Nogales, Arizona, USA where the high temperature today was 29 C! (84° F)

MiCasa-10309-030.JPG
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G750JM
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-4700HQ
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GEFORCE GTX 860 M
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
One and All -
Taking someone else's lead I checked the properties of the Acer's (laptop B) network adapter. "File for printer sharing for Microsoft networks" wasn't installed. (It was installed in laptop A.) I installed it on laptop B and rebooted. Now I can see all the partitions on laptop A's disks and vice versa.

BUT, I could open only two, the others returned an error about me not having appropriate permission and I need to speak with the network administrator of the other network or computer (which was me!).

After fussing with the system, running little trials, and comparing the properties of the various partitions I noticed that I could read partitions that had Everyone listed under Permissions. And I couldn't get at those partitions without it listed. (Apparently, Administrators and my own login name don't count here.)

To see what I mean, in File Explorer, right-click a partition.
Click Properties.
Click the Sharing tab.
Click the Advanced Sharing button.
Click Permissions.
Click Add.
In the box, type Everyone. (Be very careful to use a capital "E" and get the spelling correct.)
Click Check Names. (If you committed an error you'll get an arcane window trying to help you correct it.)
Click OK.
You should automagically return to the previous window.
Make sure that Everyone is highlighted.
Check the "Full" box.
Click Apply, then OK.
Do it again.
Click close.

Repeat with each partition you want to share.

I do not know what the ramifications are for security breaches using this method. Perhaps someone else can comment on this. All I know is that it works like a charm.

Best of luck.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G750JM
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-4700HQ
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GEFORCE GTX 860 M
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
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