Windows 7 Network sharing... pulling my hair out

[Silkstone]

Hi guys,

I'm currently pulling my hair out trying to figure out how to set up different networks. whatever i try, all i seem to do is mess things up Link Removed due to 404 Error

The situation is this, I currently have 2 different networks that i wish to connect my laptop to (at different times)

One is my homegroup at home and the other is a workgroup named TEACHERS at work.

I would like to be able to offer different shared folders with different access rights depending on the network. I would like to only give read access to the my documents folder on my work network and add password protection for that access if possible. On my home network i would like to give full access to my C:\ drive including all read and write privileges.

It sound simple enough to me, but i have been unable to find any guides and playing around with the settings just isn;t working. as it stands, i have to manually edit all the shared folders each time i connect to a different network and remove all the shares when connecting at work and then adding them again when i get home. I figure that there must be a way to get around this?

A second issue is that often i can still see obsolete shares on my work network even when the sharing option is disabled on my laptop. For example, i can still see and access c:\ users on my work network, even though that folder is not set to share.

a 3rd, but less important issue, is that i am trying to also connect a Macbook with osx 10 to the work network, i manually changed the workgroup name to TEACHERS in the WINS option for the macbook as per this guide: http://macs.about.com/od/filesharing...s-X-Lion_2.htm
but it still cannot see any other computers on the network.

any help would be greatly appreciated, even if it is just some links to some guides as i have not been able to find anything that can help me with these problems Link Removed due to 404 Error

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you are facing multiple challenges with setting up and managing network connections for your laptop, especially when dealing with different shared folders and access rights on separate networks. Let's address each of your concerns:

1. Setting Up Different Networks:​

To manage different network connections with distinct shared folders and access rights, you can leverage the "Network Location Awareness" feature in Windows. This feature automatically detects network changes and can trigger specific actions like changing firewall rules, static IP settings, etc. Here's a general approach you can follow:

1. Network Profiles:
   • Assign different network profiles (like Public, Home, Work) to your networks.
   • Set share permissions and access rights based on the profile.
2. Folder Sharing:
   • Share specific folders individually with appropriate permissions.
   • Configure share permissions for each folder based on the network profile.
3. Automate Profile Switching:
   • Use tools like NetSetMan or PowerShell scripts to automate network profile switching based on detected networks.
     

     2. Managing Shares and Visibility:​

     To address the issue of obsolete shares still being visible on your work network, consider the following steps:
     • Check the Advanced Sharing settings for each folder to ensure that the folders are correctly configured for sharing or not sharing.
     • Use the "net share" command in Command Prompt to list currently shared folders and remove any unnecessary shares.
     • Reset the network settings on your laptop to ensure any cached information causing this issue is cleared.

     3. Connecting a Macbook to the Work Network:​

     For connecting a Macbook to the work network and resolving visibility issues, ensure the following:
     • Verify that the Macbook is in the same workgroup ("TEACHERS") as the Windows network.
     • Check network discovery settings on the Macbook to ensure it can browse and locate other computers on the network.
     • Confirm that both the Windows laptop and Macbook are in the same subnet and can communicate over the network.

     Additional Resources:​

     • Windows Network Location Awareness
     • NetSetMan
     • Windows Folder Sharing
     • Connecting Mac to Windows Workgroup
     Implementing these suggestions should help streamline your network setup and resolve the issues you're facing with network configuration and accessibility. Let me know if you need further assistance or more detailed guidance on any specific aspect.