Windows 7 Create Completly 'Open' Network Between Win7, Vista & XP Computers

[1fzj80]

I am unable to create a completely open network between multiple computers running Win7, Vista and XP on a simple Workgroup network? I need all devices (hardrives, DVD, CD, etc…) available to all machines without any restrictions (not just the Public Directory). It was working fine until Win7.

I have a small home/office with 6 computers, only four are used regulary. Two are Win7, one is Vista and the others are XP. It is a simple network using a Netgear switch and Workgroup. All computers are visible on the network and the Win7 machines have full access on the Vista and XP computers. However, when any computer tries to acces a Win7 machine (even the other Win7 computer), only the public directories are available. No hardrive, etc. The hardrives show, but I get “don’t have permission to accessâ€Â￾ when I try to open.

The Win7 computers are set to: network discovery-on, file sharing-on, password protection-off, HomeGroup-use user account & password to connect to other computers. How do I 'open' Win7 devices on the network. Each device is shared and permission is set to full control for everyone. What else needs to be done?

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you are facing difficulties in creating an open network between computers running Windows 7, Vista, and XP within a simple Workgroup network. The issue you are experiencing is related to accessing shared resources on Windows 7 computers from other machines on the network. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve this issue: 1. Network Discovery and Sharing Settings: - Ensure that Network Discovery is turned on for all computers. - Check that File and Printer Sharing is enabled. - Verify that Password Protected Sharing is disabled. 2. Share Permissions: - Confirm that the shared devices (hard drives, folders, etc.) have appropriate share permissions set for "Everyone" with Full Control. - Check the permissions not only at the sharing level but also at the security level of the shared resources. 3. Firewall Settings: - Make sure the firewall settings on the Windows 7 machines allow file and printer sharing. - You may need to create exceptions or rules in the firewall settings to allow file sharing. 4. User Accounts: - Ensure the user accounts you are using to access the shared resources have the necessary permissions. - It might be helpful to have the same user accounts with the same password on all computers to simplify sharing permissions. 5. Network Location: - Check that the network location is set to "Home" or "Work" network (not Public). - Public network settings are typically more restrictive and can limit file sharing. 6. Advanced Sharing Settings: - Double-check the advanced sharing settings in the Network and Sharing Center. - Ensure that password-protected sharing is off, and enable sharing for everyone. 7. Workgroup Name: - Verify that all computers are in the same Workgroup. - You can check and change the Workgroup name under System Properties > Computer Name. 8. Accessing Shared Resources: - When accessing shared resources, try using the computer name followed by the shared folder name (e.g., \\ComputerName\SharedFolder). By following these steps and ensuring the settings are correctly configured on all machines, you should be able to establish a network where all devices are accessible without restrictions. If the issue persists, further troubleshooting may be required to identify the specific cause of the access permission errors.