Windows 7 Odd file sharing problem - now you see it... now you don't

[stsalkit]

Hello to all. This is my first post and mainly the reason for joining, but hopefully not the one for staying in this forum - it appears to be full of rich information.
My problem is as follows: I have a hard wired home network setup "joined" by a Linksys router. My main Desktop runs W7 Ultimate. I have my son's PC which runs Windows XP. Occasionaly I hook up wirelesly my office laptop running Vista. I also have a satelite receiver (Dreambox) running linux with capability of mounting network drives. Finally I have my mobile phone running Windows Mobile 6.5 that I also occasionally hook up onto network. The problem lies with the main desktop running W7.
To cut a long story short, It refuses to allow the dreambox and my mobile phone to access its folders, however this is not the case to the rest of the PCs running XP and Vista. In order to justify the title of the message, please note the following: yesterday, in desparation I "shared" the whole "c" disk of my W7 desktop to "everyone" with full permissions, in addition to the folders in it. And it worked, temporarily that is. Both Dreambox as well as Windows mobile "show" it no problem. But, when I later on had to reboot, well... its gone. However, the XP and Vista PCs had no problem.
A couple of facts that may help towards advicing:
- When I right clik on a given folder, the button called "Share" right under "Network path", is shaded so I have to go via "Advanced Sharing" in order to change the properties of the drive or forder.
- I have made all suggested changes in the Network and Sharing Centre i.e. Network discovery etc.

Your help will be greatly appreciated, as this is beyond me.

Thanks

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you are facing issues with file sharing on your Windows 7 desktop in a mixed network environment. Here are some steps you can try to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the problem:

1. Troubleshooting Steps:​

• Check Network Discovery Settings:
  • Ensure that Network Discovery is turned on for your Windows 7 desktop. This setting allows your computer to see other network computers and devices.
  []Advanced Sharing Settings:
  • Verify that file and printer sharing is enabled in the Advanced Sharing Settings.
  []Firewall Settings:
  • Check the Windows Firewall settings to ensure it's not blocking access to the shared folders.
  []Network Sharing Permissions:
  • Review the sharing permissions and security settings for the shared folders. Make sure that the correct permissions are set for each user or group.
  []Workgroup Configuration:
  • Confirm that all devices are in the same workgroup to facilitate network sharing.
  []Restart Services:
  • Sometimes restarting the "Server" service on the Windows 7 machine may resolve sharing issues.

    2. Specific Suggestions:​

  []Recreate Sharing:
  • Try removing the existing shares and recreating them. Ensure that you are sharing folders and drives correctly with appropriate permissions.
• Network Drive Mapping:
  • Instead of relying on direct network access, consider mapping network drives on the Dreambox and Windows Mobile to access shared folders more reliably.

3. Additional Note:​

• Reboot Persistence Issue:
  • If the sharing settings disappear after a reboot, it might indicate a configuration issue or a possible conflict with security software. Consider checking for any security software that might interfere with sharing settings.

    Summary:​

    It's essential to ensure that all devices are correctly configured for sharing and that permissions are set up appropriately. By following the steps outlined above and paying attention to the specific suggestions, you should be able to address the file sharing issue on your Windows 7 desktop. If the problem persists, further troubleshooting may be needed.