122 OCTOBER 2019|COMPUTERSHOPPER|ISSUE 380
HELPFILE&BUSINESSHELP
Ihavethree PCs, all connected via Ethernet
and configured with static IP addresses.
‘Dell’ and ‘Special’ both run Windows 7
Professional, while ‘Punch’runs Windows
10 Pro (version 1809). Ihaveconfigured
advanced sharing to share some drives
between them: Dell and Special can share
files without issue.Punch, however,cannot
access Special. Punch can only access public
files on Dell, although it can access aprinter
that is hosted and shared on Dell.
Ineeded to copysome pictures from
Special to Punch. Ifound that if Itried
mapping Special’s shared drive on Punch
using the path \\Special\[drive letter], the
drive was mapped, but when Iclicked on it I
got an error telling me that Idonot have
permission. If Imapped the same drive
using \\[IP address]\[drive letter], it worked.
How can Ifixthe problem?
Bill Edwards
Problems with file sharing can arise formany
reasons, and your use of static IP addresses
adds apotential source of error,soit’s best
to start from the basics.
On each PC, search the Start menu for
cmd and run aCommand Prompt. On each
PC, typePing [machine name]and hit Enter,
repeating once foreach of the other two
machines. Check that each machine
successfully resolves the IP address of the
other two,and receives replies to all four
pings. If this isn’t the case,double-check your
static IP configuration on each PC. Check that
you haven’t duplicated any IP addresses on
the network, and that each PC is correctly
Where’smyshare?
configured with aDNS server (usually the
primary server should be your router).
Assuming that the pings work, check that
each PC is named correctly and joined to the
same workgroup.OnWindows 7, open the
Start menu, right-click Computer and select
Properties. On Windows 10, open aFile
Explorer window,right-click
This PC and choose
Properties there.Onboth,
click Change Settings under
Computer name,domain
and workgroup settings,
then click the Change
button and check that
the computer name is
correct, and that the
computers are joined to
the same workgroup.
Click OK then reboot to
apply any changes.
If that doesn’t work, or if
all is correct, open the Start
menu on each PC, search
foradvanced sharing, and
run Manage advanced
sharing settings. On
Windows 10, check that
the topsection is headed
Private(current profile),
then ensure that network
discovery,and file and printer sharing are
both enabled. Under All Networks, ensure
that public folder sharing is off,and that
password-protected sharing is on. On
Windows 7, check that the topheader
reads Home or Work (current profile), then
ensure the same options are set.
If,onthe Windows 10 PC, the current
profile is shown as Guest or Public, search the
Start menu forEthernet Settings, select it,
then click the connected network icon at the
topand change the profile to Private. If the
current profile is shown as Privateon
Windows 7, search the Start menu for
Network and Sharing Center,select it, click
the Privatenetwork link under your current
connection and set it to Home network.
If that doesn’t work, double-check the
permissions on the shares themselves.
On each PC, open File Explorer,right-click
the shared folder or drive,click Properties
and select the Sharing tab.Click Advanced
Sharing, then click Permissions. Check that
your username appears in the format
[username] ([machine name}\[username]);
forexample,Bill (Punch\Bill). Click your
name once to select it, then check that
Full Control, Change and Read are all
allowed in the permissions box below.
If your name is missing or in adifferent
format, click Add, type your username in the
object names box, click Check Names, click
OK, then select your name and ensure all
permissions are allowed. Click OK to save and
apply changes. It’s likely that this, or one of
the previous steps, will have fixed the issue.
⬅Check Windows’
sharing settings;
they’re similar
between Windows
10 and Windows 7
(pictured)
⬅Ifyou’re using Windows’
advanced sharing, don’t
forget to explicitly give
yourself permissions
