windows 7 networking errors

Windows 7 networking errors

October 5, 2018

After setting up a new WinXP machine on the network, the Win7 machine will have problems logging into the new WinXP, to access its files.

Some of the messages received on Win7's small pop up windows:

enter network password

logon failure: unknown user name or bad password

Solution:

Turn on file sharing for the hard drives on the new WinXP machine.

This then allowed a user on the Win7 to log into the new WinXP machine.

Windows 7 appears to have some problems with maintaining access to other PCs via window's explorer:

Windows 7 Can't see workgroup PCs

Windows 7 cannot see some LAN PCs ...

The other machines on the network are accessible with basic protocols, TCP/IPv4. That is, the other machines can be seen via the use of ping:

>> ping 192.168.1.2

The above will return a ping, if there is a machine at that location, but it may not be accessible from within window's file explorer.

Listed Below are some trial and error experiments to get windows 7 machines to respond, and allow access to their files across the network.

Manually access the windows shares:

The workaround for when the other machines don't show up in the windows explorer "Network" window:

...if the remote's machine is named "computername".

Enter \\computername into the windows explorer.

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simply make a short cut named:

\\computername

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to access a PC via windows explorer with an IP address:

\\192.168.1.2

This is what finally worked to connect to other machines, and share files, on the local network's workgroup.

Navigate to services.

start >> control panel >> Administrative tools >> Services

Make sure that in services, these are turned on:

Computer Browser

Credential Manager

Turning on "Credential Manager" finally allowed windows explorer to see the other computers.

Clearing the Credentials within the Credential Manager, then restarting the Credential Manager may help.

To get to the Credential Manager's settings:

start >> control panel >> Credential Manager

But now each computer is forced to have a password.
Therefore, networking does not work in win7 unless users have a password.

Still, the computer icons don't show up in the explorer's "network" window, but we can access them by typing into the explorer window's entry field at the top:

\\machinename1
\\machinename2

... and so on ...

(apparently, something messes up the functionality of the Computer Browser, and so the icons for the machines on the local network workgroup cease to appear in the "network" window.)

Plus, as soon as we rebooted the longest running machine on the network, a machine which could still access the other computers on the network, then the previously disconnected machine could now see all of the computers in the Network section of its windows explorer.

This may have something to do with how the longest running machine affects the inner workings of the Computer Browser.

The rest of the items below had no effect.

A list of trial and error experiments to get windows 7 machines to respond:

disabling ipv 6 (this had no effect)

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turn on services:

DNS client (this was already started, this had no effect)

Function discovery resource publication (this was off)
(after starting this, now we can see that this machine shows up in a workgroup network within window's file manager)

SSDP discovery (this was already started, this had no effect)

UPnP Device Host (this was already started, this had no effect)

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turn on NetBIOS over TCP/IP:

control active adapter >> properties >> TCP/IPv4 >> properties >> advanced >> wins >> use: enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP

(this had no effect)

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Rename the local machines workgroup name, then change it back to what the group is actually using, then reboot:

control panel >> system >> advanced system settings >> computer name >> change >> workgroup name ... set it here.

(this, changing the workgroup name, had an effect):

We can now see the other win7 64bit machines again, but still can't see the winXP, nor the win7 32bit machines.

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Set to "this is a home computer":

control panel >> system and security >> system >> change settings >> system properties >> network id >> select:

this is a home computer, its not part of a business domain

then restart ...

(the only effect this had was to remove the auto-login we had setup using "netplwiz")

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Leave the homegroup:

at command prompt, issue the command:

>> control /name Microsoft.HomeGroup

...then leave the Homegroup, and choose the workgroup options instead.

(this had no noticeable effect)

Networking win7 with winXP:

first need to set network type to "Work network":

    control panel >> network and sharing center >>
    under "view your active networks" >> click whatever link is there >>
    select "Work network"   (this is what windowsXP uses)

(if the link is called "Home network", click on it, then select "Work network")

setting workgroup name:

control panel >> system >> advanced system settings >> computer name >> change >> workgroup name ... set it here.

    open up a windows explorer, click on Network.
    a message might pop up that says
    "network discovery is off" >> click on it to turn it on

>> the other computers on the network should now appear.

network share settings:

control panel >> network and sharing center >>
change advanced sharing settings >>

        turn on:    Network Discovery, File and Printer Sharing,
                       Public Folder Sharing
        turn off:   Password Protected Sharing
        select:   Allow Windows HomeGroup to manage
                   homegroup connections (recommended)

setup a share folder:

        right-click on disk >> properties >> sharing >> advanced sharing >>
        tick box: share this folder
        apply >> ok >> close
        the two little people icon appears

finally:

        right-click on disk >> properties >> security >> edit >> add >>
        type in: Everyone
        permissions for Everyone: "list folder contents", "read"
        ignore warning messages

repeat the above but type in: Guest
permissions for Guest: "list folder contents", "read"

reboot win7
reboot winXP

the above was taken from --> how to make win7 work with...
and from --> win7 won't recognize winXP...

How to fix the very slow default file transfer rates (~20 kps) between two new windows 7 machines:

control panel >> network and sharing center >>
change adapter settings >> properties >> configure >> advanced (tab)

then set the following to disabled:

Large Send Offload v2 (IPv4) - Disable
Large Send Offload v2 (IPv6) - Disable

For this to work the above must be done to
both of the receiving and transmitting machines.

There is no need to disable IPv6 as per the other possible solution.

If files across windows 7 PCs aren't accessible at all:

then disable the windows firewall:

        control panel >> windows firewall
        control panel >> admin tools >> services >>
               stop it, and set to disable

turn off the homegroup connections stuff:

control panel >> network and sharing center
advanced sharing settings >> homegroup connections >>

turn off: "Allow Windows to manage homegroup... "
turn on instead: "Use user accounts and passwords..."

Another possible way to get win7 networking with other win7 machines:

first need to set network type to "Home network":

    control panel >> network and sharing center >>
    under "view your active networks" >> click whatever link is there >>
    select "Home network"

If this is the first time a "Home" network is setup then save the password given,
it will be needed by the other machines to connect to this new "Home" network.

For this password the case matters.

setting up the shared hard drives or folders
(open windows explorer):

(right-click) D: >> properties >> (click tab) sharing

>> share >> set share name >> exit, go back to sharing tab >>

(click) Advanced sharing >> Permissions >> Add >>
enter object name: Everyone >>

then click OK >> set permissions for Everyone to just "Read"
exit, hit OK >> OK again >> then "Apply"

set the security access for the shared hard drives or folders:

(right-click) D: >> properties >> (click tab) security

>> edit >> add: everyone >>

right-click on "List folder contents" and "Read" >>
hit OK, then OK again.

reboot.

on other win7 machines search for the "Home network":