i have two home PCs. how do i link them so that, from either PC, i can read/write to files on either PC?

Hello,

You can refer to the following steps to set up shared folders to try to troubleshoot：

Steps to Set Up File Sharing on a Windows PC

Note: These steps needs to be done on each Windows PC you want to be able to share files and folders between.

1. Make sure each computer you want to share between are all connected to the same network. For example, all connected to the same router via Ethernet and/or wireless.
2. Make sure each computer on the network has a different computer name.
3. Make sure each computer you want to share between are on the same workgroup. (see screenshot below)
4. Enable SMB Direct on each computer you want to share between. If you are connecting to a previous version of Windows (ex: Windows 7/8/8.1) than Windows 10, then you will need to enable SMB1. (see screenshot below) SMB Direct will not be available in the Windows 10 Home edition. You will need to enable SMB1 instead.
   If you enable SMB1, be sure to uncheck Automatic Removal.
5. Make sure Use Sharing Wizard is checked in Folder Options > View tab on each computer you want to share between. (see screenshot below)
6. Make sure the below mentioned services are started (running) and their startup type is set to automatic on each computer you want to share between. (see screenshots below)
   • DNS Client
   • Function Discovery Provider Host
   • Function Discovery Resource Publication
   • Server
   • SSDP Discovery
   • UPnP Device Host
   
7. Set the network location on each computer you want to share between to private (recommended) or public. (Go to Settings > Network and Internet > Network Properties)
8. Customize Network Sharing Settings:- (Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings)
   1. Turn on network discovery for your private or public network on each computer you want to share between.
   2. Turn on File and Printer Sharing for your private or public network on each computer you want to share between.
   3. Turn on Public folder sharing on each computer you want to share between if you want to share items in the C:\Users\Public folder on a computer.
   4. Turn off password protected sharing on each computer you want to share between.
   5. Select the file sharing connections encryption level you want to use on each computer you want to share between.
   
9. You can now use any of the options below to share files and folders with another computer on the same network. i) Share File or Folder using "Give access to" or Sharing option:
   1. Open File Explorer.
   2. Navigate to and select one or more file, folder, and/or library you want to share, right click on the selected item(s), click on Give access to, and click on Specific people.
   
   3. You will now see the people that you are currently sharing this with and their permission level.
   4. Select a name of a user account on your PC or everyone you want to share with.
   
   5. Click on Add.
   6. Select (check) the permission level you want for this user or everyone.
   7. When finished adding people to share with, click on the Share button at the bottom.
   8. Click on Done.
   ii) Share Folder or Drive using Advanced Sharing:
   1. Open File Explorer.
   2. Navigate to and right click on the folder or drive you want to share, and click on Properties.
   3. Click on the Sharing tab, and click on the Advanced Sharing button.
   
   4. Perform the following actions:
      A) Check Share this folder.
      B) If you want a different share name, then you can change it.
      C) Limit the number of simultaneous users to the number you want. The default is 20.
      D) Add any comments you want for this share.
      E) Click on the Permissions button.
   
   5. Select a group or user, select (check or uncheck) the permissions (allow or deny) you want for this group or user, and click on OK when finished.
   6. Click on OK.
   7. Click on Close.

Best regards

Zunhui

I have the same issue here, and in my case one is windows 11, the other is windows 10 (both are pro version). Nothing I try, including changing my passwords has made a lick of difference. Network discovery has always been on and the windows defender firewall does not have any log of it blocking any connections. They are both set to Private, on the same workgroup, all of the normal "check here" items have been double- and triple-checked at this point. The error sometimes says the username and password are wrong, and sometimes it says that my user account is locked and unable to login (the latter I have already changed to never disable the ability to login for X number of incorrect login attempts set to zero). Everywhere I look for guidance, the information is so mish-mash and poorly written/presented that it is practically unusable to anyone who hasn't recently taken any MSDN courses or has got one of those newfangled Microsoft certifications. It's infuriating to say the least!

Hello,

To work on data files that are on your desktop from your laptop, you can set up file sharing between the two devices. File sharing allows you to access and modify files on one computer from another computer on the same network. In your case, since both your desktop and laptop are connected to the same ATT wireless wifi router, you can use file sharing to access your desktop files from your laptop.

Regards,

Zunhui

that don't work jimmy

THIS DOES NOT WORK.