Empty "USERS" folder on other network computers, Windows 10, 1803

Question

Hi,

Since one of the recent windows update (unfortunately I don't know which one) the "USERS" folder from my other computer on the network is empty. This is true in both direction meaning whether I'm connecting from Computer A to B or from B to A.  Also I do not see anymore the "PUBLIC" folder from each other.

It is important to understand that I have no problem to connect to the other computer as I have access to the share printers and to the "USERS" folder. I can also see the "DEFAULT" folder under the "USERS" folder when I turn on show hidden files. This is true in both direction, from A to B and B to A

The two computers A & B are running windows 10, 1803 home edition with the latest update, both have the same network setting, both have the same sharing option for file and printer, both are set to private network. both are configure with the same Microsoft account  and I'm log in with the same user on both machine which mean that I'm using the same credential on both machine.

It seems to be an authorization/permission problem, but I have no idea how to fix it as none of the computer are prompting me for username and password. I even try with file explorer to access directly to the folder:  "\ComputerA\Users*myusername*\Documents" and after a windows diagnostic I receive a message "You do not have the permission to access sharing" I did not have that problem until recently.

Any idea how to resolve that problem?

Answer 1

Hi Yves

There were some complications with networking in Windows 10 1803. I would recommend you upgrade to Windows 10 1809 which resolves some of these issues.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wik...

Also see:

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/connect-netowr...

and

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/share-files-st...

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/change-network...

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/share-printer-...

Open Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Status

Scroll to the bottom

Click Network and Sharing Center

Click Change advanced sharing settings

Expand All Networks

Under Password protected sharing

Switch between 'Turn on password protected sharing and Turn off password protected sharing'

Then choose 'Turn off password protected sharing'

Then click 'Save changes'

Also:

Press Windows key + R

Type: optionalfeatures.exe

Hit Enter

Scroll down to SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support

Tick the SMB 1.0/CIFS Client

Untick SMB 1.0/CIFS Automatic Removal and

Untick SMB 1.0/CIFS Server

Click OK

Restart if prompted.

Additional troubleshooting steps you can attempt:

• shut all computer and network gear down.
• Turn off IPv6
• Try browsing to some of the computers manually, press Windows key + R, type: \computername, hit Enter
• Press Windows key + R

Type: services.msc

Hit Enter

1. Start the "Function Discovery Provider Host" and "Function Discovery Resource Publication" services, and then set them toAutomatic (Delayed Start).
2. When you open Explorer Network, enable network discovery when you are prompted.

Press Windows key + X > computer management-->shared folders--> choose the shared folder, right click it then click Properties > Share Permissions -->protection that everyone can read and execute, see folder contents and read permissions.

Add the machine to your Windows HOSTS file.

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/edit-hosts-fil...

See this thread for further tips:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

Information in the above link is sourced from a trusted Microsoft MVP blog.