[dba-Tech] Network puzzles

Sat Oct 9 13:11:27 CDT 2021

Hi Tina,
(in-line)

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-Tech <dba-tech-bounces+jbartow=winhaven.net at databaseadvisors.com> On Behalf Of Tina N Fields
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2021 11:25 AM
To: dba-tech at databaseadvisors.com
Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] Network puzzles

Thank you, John,

I'm reporting back

Both computers are on the network called THE-FARM.

Windows 8.1 computer (Tina-PC-WIN8):

The folder to share is Drive C: - under the Sharing tab of the Properties dialog box it shows Shared.

In the Network and Sharing Center, the network is shown as Private. On the left it says THE-FARM 15 Private network. On the right it shows Access type: Internet; HomeGroup: Joined; Connections: Wi-Fi(THE-FARM)

In the Advanced Sharing Settings page, it shows Private (current
profile) with Network discovery turned on and the box for "Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices" checked. File and printer sharing is turned on. HomeGroup connections has radio button for "Allow Windows to manage hoegroup connections (recommended)."

>>> Sorry - I forgot about homegroups. That's not supported in Windows 10. Switch that to "Use user accounts and passwords to connect to other computers" I should also mention that some security packages don’t play nice with Windows network/firewall settings so if you have anything other than MS security on these you should disable those until you get it working.

Guest of Public has Network Discovery and File and printer sharing both turned off.

All Networks has Public folder sharing turned on, no selections set up for Media streaming, File sharing connections has "Use 128-bit encryption to help protect the sharing connections (recommended)" 
selected. Password protected sharing is turned off (I am the only one using either of these computers and I don't want to have to enter a password to access my files on either computer).

>>>sometimes Windows gets quirky about sharing if you don't have a password - if all else fails make sure both computers have an account password and change this setting to  "Turn on password protected sharing". If that helps then turn this off and see if it continues to work.

In Services, Function Discovery Provider Host and Function Discovery Resource Publication are both Running and set to Automatic as Startup Type, Log On Type is Local Service.

HomeGroup services are on and they used to be handy when I was connecting to a WIN 7 and a WIN XP computer. But WIN 10 has removed that facility, so maybe I need to turn those services off. Don't know and I want to solve one problem at a time. On the System window it shows this WIN 8.1 computer as being in the WETWO workgroup.

>>> Workgroup shouldn't matter anymore but its best to keep them the same. I leave them at the default name "workgroup".

Now, on to the WIN 10 computer (TINA-PC-WIN10):

The folder to be shared is Drive C - Under the Sharing tab of the Properties dialog box, it shows Shared.

In the Network and Sharing Center, the network is shown as Private. On the left it says THE-FARM private network; on the right it says Access
Type: Internet; Connections: Wi-Fi(THE-FARM)

In the Advanced Sharing Settings, it shows Private (current profile) with both Network discovery and File and printer sharing turned on, and a check mark in the box “Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices.”

Under Guest and Public, both network discovery and File and printer sharing are turned off.

Under All networks, the Public folder sharing is turned on; no selections have been made under Media streaming; and File sharing connections has “use 128-bit encryption to help protect sharing connections (recommended), and password protected sharing turned off.

In Services both Function Discovery Provider Host and Function Discovery Resource Publication are Running, with Status Type of Automatic (the publication service adds Trigger Start to the Automatic), and both show Local Service as the Log On

No, neither one acknowledges the existence of the other. Let me add to the mystery. Earlier this morning, both computers showed the other computer in the File Explorer Network listing. Of course, when I attempted to access the other computer from either one, I got the popup that I don't have permission to access it. Since then, the network listing in File Explorer has returned to seeing only the local computer and not the other one.

>>> That's good! Because I was thinking that maybe your WIFI network was set to a guest networking system which would isolate devices from other connected devices. Apparently not 😊

>>> This happens with older versions. If you open File Explorer and type in \\Tina-PC-WIN8\ or \\TINA-PC-WIN10\ you should see those computers again. If you double click on the computers icon and it does not show the folder shares then try turning on the "password protected sharing" as I listed above. Restart everything. If it stills doesn't display the folders please make a new folder to share and go through the steps of sharing as I previously outlined. You may wish to only have a shared folder on the newer computer that you access from both so you don't necessarily have to share folders on each computer. 
This would be a typical setup that I do for small offices - create a folder on one PC named "OfficeSharedFiles", share it to "everyone" and connect to it using a desktop shortcut to: \\<comutername>\OfficeSharedFiles\

John, I know this should be working much better than it is, and I'm baffled. What the heck am I doing wrong or failing to do?

>>> old computers can be curmudgeons just as much as old men ;-)  stick with it and I'm sure you'll get there! If you're getting too frustrated I can send you a link to my remote access and do it for you if you'd like - I haven't been "in" Michigan lately so this would get me a fresh pushpin on my virtual travel map.

>>> I didn't raise the issue of upgrading Windows 7/8.1 for free if you have a valid license key for Win7/8/8.1 (which you can still do) because I thought you might use the 8.1 for classes on 8.1 yet. If not try that 8.1 already has lost functionality due to being outdated and apps not supporting it - including MS apps like OneDrive.
Link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-an-iso-file-for-windows-10-38547366-1dcb-7afd-1726-9eb222d72705
The BEST way to do this is using a USB flash drive and install it clean. Make sure you write down the Windows 8 License (activation) Key. If its not on a sticker I can send you a script to display it.

I think you're capable of performing some hardware upgrades yourself, so if you want to see your old Win8.1 computer run fast again: 
-replace the HD with an SSD (>$50) (this gives you the option of using your old HD to copy things from later or if things go totally wrong with the Win10 install).
- if possible upgrade the RAM to 8+ GB (<$50). 

Boot from the USB Flash drive and follow the instructions. When installing use the "I don't have a key option" and enter it later. You won't regret it.

Thanks for your help,
T

Tina Norris Fields
231-322-2787
tinanfields-at-torchlake-dot-com

On 10/6/2021 7:30 PM, John Bartow wrote:
> Hi Tina,
> 1. Both computers should be connected either via cable or wireless to the same network and have a folder shared.
> -Open file explorer on each computer:
> ~Right click one the folder you wish to share on each computer, chose "Properties"
> ~Chose [Sharing] Tab
> ~Click [Share]
> ~Click the Combo Box and select Everyone and [Add] ~Next to Everyone 
> in the Permission Level choose Read/Write ~Click [Share]
>
> 2. Both computers should have the network listed as "Private".
> -to check, paste this into File Explorer: Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Network and Sharing Center make sure it is listed as "Private" (it may state Work or Home depending on Windows version) but not "Public"
> -With that same screen dialogue displayed ~ click on "Change advanced 
> sharing settings" make sure under [Private Network Discovery] has the 
> radio button selected for ~"Turn On network Discovery"
> and
> ~"Turn on file and print sharing"
>
> 3. Now check to see if they see each other.
> -Open a different file explorer window, if the left navigation is turned on (otherwise turn it on):
> Click the Network icon. In the right pane all shared and discoverable computers, printers and other devices should be display.
> ~If not click in the address bar and type in: \\<insert computer 
> name>\ ~The folder(s) shared on that computer should display.
>
> If not let me know 😊
>
> HTH
> John B
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dba-Tech 
> <dba-tech-bounces+jbartow=winhaven.net at databaseadvisors.com> On Behalf 
> Of Tina N Fields
> Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2021 1:20 PM
> To: dba-tech at databaseadvisors.com
> Subject: [dba-Tech] Network puzzles
>
> Hello Tech Wizards,
>
> I hope somebody on thus list will have an answer. I want to be able to share files between two computers. One is Win 8.1 and the other is Win 10. They are both 64-bit. They are on the same network and they have no difficulty finding the printers or the Internet. But, I've been unable to establish a secure (as in solid or reliable) connection between them.
>
> I have turned on the network, printer, and file sharing in the Network and Sharing Center. I have made sure that the Function Discovery services are on, so they should be publishing themselves on the network.
> I had them connected at one point and even mapped out network drives for them, with "reconnect at startup" set to "yes." They have since disappeared. On each computer, in File Explorer the network shows only that particular computer.
>
> I found a lovely document online that said when both computers are on the same network the process is pretty straightforward and offers exactly no explanation of what that process might be. Dang!
>
> Does anybody here have advice for me? I am getting really tired of waiting for things to upload to my Google Drive and then download , or putting things on a flash drive to go from one to the other. I really would like to have them wirelessly connected via the network they both are on.
>
> Thank you for any guidance you can offer, T
>
> Tina Norris Fields
> 231-322-2787
> tinanfields-at-torchlake-dot-com
>
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