Sharing Mapped Drive over Network Windows 10

Question

Hello. I have searched hundreds of articles it feels like. I've tried regedit, services, network settings for file share, right click to add permissions, etc. so here is there scenario.

I have 3 computers+ a workstation at home. My workstation runs 24/7 for a game server + trying to do NAS/mapped drives for the other computers. The workstation has HDDs available in raid 0+1, I have it successfully mapped as a network drive. I can access it from a secondary account as well on the workstation. I tried just to see. However I can not get the other computers and their accounts to show up as an option to give permissions. I had them in two 2 switches on the network (modem/router to unmanaged switch to workstation and relayed to unmanaged 4 port switch running other 3 computers) but I'm even plugged directly into router for them all right now to simplify. I tried static ipv4 for the workstation. I can "find" the mapped drive on the other computers by typing for example (for example) \SL\NAS. However it tells the other computers they don't have permission and to contact network admin. Those computers also have file sharing turned on and network discovery. Even replicated the regedit and services adjustments on them too just in case. I tried to connect via ipv4 as well through \192.168.X.XX as well. Once again it discovered it but did not allow access and said denied. Right clicking the drive does not allow to share as the tab is missing. I tried to go back into regedit to get the tab to show up by a few threads I've found, no luck. I'm at wits end with it and I know it's something ridiculous I'm missing. I want this to be used for rendeeing, NAS and game servers, because I picked up and have dual Xeons 28 cores 48 threads + 256Gb RAM. So it'll be a little annoying to plan out what I need and not make full use of it. I put it together to be multipurpose but it's not working out for the part to be my backup local server with redundancy right now. I'm at the point where I want to just get a small standalone NAS but I would rather have it in this rig since I have hotswap 5.25 to 3.5 bays with LED indicators already in it. Those alone weren't cheap since they're lockable too and I'm going to have to have to cut my losses on it if I don't get to use it how I want. Can someone please help? What am I missing?

***moved from Windows / Windows 10 / Files, folders, and storage***

Answer 1

Hello

It's probably due to the credentials located on your local machine. If you have set up a PIN to sign in to Windows 10 and have never logged in to the computer with a password, the PASSWORD is not found on the local machine. Since the PIN only works for the local device and not for the entire network, you will need to log in to the computer 1 time with the full password. Then it should work after that... at least until an update removes it.

Go to Settings

Accounts

Login Options

Under Additional Settings --> TURN OFF "To improve security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device

Click on some settings (e.g., Apps) and then click "Accounts" again

Back to Login Options

You shouldn't see "Password" under "Security Key"

If after clicking on it you see "Everything is already set up"

Press "Windows Key + L" to lock your computer

Log in to the machine with your full Windows 11 password

You should be good to go!

Go to your other computer and test your credentials.

Hope this helps!

PS. You can then turn the "Enhanced Security, only allow Windows Hello" option back on and resume with only a PIN. The PASSWORD will now be stored.

Best regards

Zunhui