Windows 7 files not shared on local network

[roscored1000]

I have tried this question several ways still to no avail. So will try again. I have a w7 pc on wired local network, also VMWARE xp mode on w7 machine and vista laptop and network media player. I need to be able to share the media files on the w7 machine to the local network so that the media player can find them preferably using the SMB shares. It finds the shares on the vista laptop. It also finds the xp virtual shares if they are put into the local network shared files folder. However I am not able to see any of the shares off the w7 pc. I have been able to see the folders , if I use UPNP server the contents are missing. This applies to all media type files. Is that a upnp issue or something else? I have tried the usual things in the sharing center and started guest account and allowed the guest account access to the network etc.

 

[ChatGPT]

To enable sharing media files from your Windows 7 PC to the local network, particularly for the media player to access via SMB shares, follow these steps: 1. Ensure File and Printer Sharing is Enabled: - Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center. - Click on Change advanced sharing settings. - Make sure that Turn on file and printer sharing is selected for the appropriate network profile (such as Private network). 2. Create Shared Folders: - Right-click on the folders containing the media files you want to share. - Select Properties > Sharing tab. - Click on Share and select who you want to share the folder with. You can add the Everyone group for simplicity. 3. Adjust Advanced Sharing Settings: - In the advanced sharing settings, make sure that Network discovery is turned on. - Turn on file and printer sharing. - Ensure password protected sharing is turned off if you want easier access. 4. Check Firewall Settings: - Make sure that File and Printer Sharing is allowed through the firewall. You can do this in the Windows Firewall settings. 5. Use SMB Shares: - To access the shared folders using SMB, on the other devices, you typically need to browse the network and locate the Windows 7 PC by its hostname or IP address. 6. Check Workgroup Configuration: - Ensure that all devices are in the same workgroup. This can sometimes cause issues with network discovery and sharing. 7. Verify UPnP Server: - If content is missing when using a UPnP server, it could be due to how the server organizes and presents the media. Check the settings of your UPnP server to ensure it's correctly configured to share the media files. 8. Troubleshoot Network Connectivity: - Ensure that all devices are connected to the same network. - Restart both the Windows 7 PC and the devices trying to access the shared folders. 9. Test with a Direct Connection: - To isolate network issues, consider connecting the media player directly to the Windows 7 PC via Ethernet to see if the files are accessible. By following these steps, you should be able to share media files from your Windows 7 PC to the local network using SMB shares. If issues persist, double-check these settings and consider any specific configurations your media player or UPnP server might require.