Windows 7 No access across network

It seems like you are facing an issue where your laptop is unable to access the C drive on your desktop, receiving an "Access is denied" message. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve this issue: 1. Check Sharing Settings: - Ensure that the C drive on your desktop is shared and accessible over the network. You can right-click on the C drive, go to "Properties," then the "Sharing" tab, and check if it's shared with appropriate permissions. 2. Disable Firewall/Security Software: - You mentioned that you had Zone Alarm installed but have disabled it. Sometimes, security software can still block certain access. Ensure that any firewall or security software is completely disabled and try accessing the C drive again. 3. Network Permissions: - Check the network sharing permissions. Sometimes, even if the security settings on the C drive allow access, the network sharing permissions may restrict it. Verify that the network permissions are set up correctly. 4. Check Network Discovery: - Make sure that network discovery is turned on in the Network and Sharing Center on both your laptop and desktop. This allows your devices to see each other on the network. 5. Create a New Share: - If the C drive itself is having issues, you can try creating a new shared folder on the C drive with specific permissions and see if you can access that from the laptop. 6. Test with a Different User Account: - Try accessing the C drive from your laptop using a different user account with appropriate permissions on the desktop to see if the issue is user-specific. 7. Windows 7 Homegroup: - If both devices are part of a Homegroup, ensure that the Homegroup sharing settings are properly configured. 8. Restart Devices: - Sometimes, a simple restart of both devices (laptop and desktop) can resolve network connectivity issues. 9. Network Troubleshooter: - You can also run the Windows Network Troubleshooter on both devices to diagnose and fix common network-related problems. 10. Check Event Viewer: - Check the Event Viewer on both devices for any related error messages that might provide more details on the issue. By following these steps, you should be able to diagnose and resolve the "Access is denied" issue when trying to access the C drive on your desktop from your laptop.