Why has microsoft made it difficult to share files and printers in windows 10

Question

Since one of the Windows updates last fall (2019), my wife can no longer share files on a USB hard drive nor can she print to the printer attached to my computer. Back in the days of "Homegroup" connections, we had no problems. Why has Microsoft made it so difficult for normal users to share files and printers? All of the supposed solutions to this problem seem to require that I be a Microsoft windows engineer. I am running Windows 10 Pro on an HP ProBook 450 G3 with version 10.0.18363 Build 18363.

Answer 1

Hi,

Thanks for posting here. HomeGroup has been removed from Windows 10 (Version 1803) and this functions rely on protocol called SMBv1 and Microsoft decided to partially disable this protocol for security reasons. Please kindly note that there are better ways to achieve the same results, you can still do share printers and files by using features that are built into Windows 10.

For details about HomeGroup, see HomeGroup from start to finish. This article includes a note about the removal of HomeGroup.

Changes to file sharing over a network in Windows 10 describes how the update affects file sharing.

For information on sharing files without using HomeGroup, please see Share files in File Explorer.

Instructions for sharing a printer without HomeGroup, please see Share your network printer.

Hope my answer will help you. Thanks!

(Please don't forget to accept helpful replies as answer)

Best Regards,
Sunny

Answer 2

Sunny,
I'm really upset at Microsoft for erasing HomeGroup without letting me and the millions of other users know about it. Without any warning or notification, all of a sudden my USB external hard drive (plugged into my router) and my PC network printer no longer worked for my wife. As a result, we've had to assume that something went wrong with our router and purchased a new one. Additionally, we had to purchase an additional external hard drive to provide a backup for her computer where before we used a shared hard drive plugged into the router.
I know this isn't your fault, but I'm really pissed. Microsoft knows that it has its users by the short hairs and does what it likes. Our only option, to switch to Apple, isn't really an option for those of us who have used Microsoft for more than 30 years and don't want to go through another learning curve. Please pass this complaint uphill to see if it will have any effect. I can't imagine that lots of users didn't have the same complaint but didn't know where to post it.
Robert C. Elser