I have read and viewed other threads on this topic but none of them have been able to fix my issues. I can't share folders in windows 7 and have done all of the settings, but they are resetting to old settings or not the settings I set them. What I have is 3 XP machines and one W7 machine. All of the XP machines will see each other in a home network. The W7 machine doesn't see any of them but it sees itself but I cant access it from networks. error = "The specified network provider name is invalid ". That is baffling being that its the machine I'm working on. I have read where i needed to change the network ID in System properties. 1) The computer refuses to let me change it to "a home computer not a part of a business network", it will just revert back to business network. 2) changing the workgroup name to match the current network = HOME Homegroup - changing the homegroup settings will not save changes to all checked, it will only save the printer shared check box. The advanced sharing settings are all set to turned on, passwords off and let windows manage The network sharing center says that I'm joined to "home" network One XP laptop machine can see the W7 machine and its shared folders but can't access them. I have all but given up on my home network, I have never had this much trouble with networks before the easy to set up W7. Hope that is enouph info for someone to help mo out. I'm completely frustrated.

Posting these results may help: ipconfig /all net share.Bob Lin, MS-MVP Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.howtonetworking.com

Hope this will help Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600] Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. C:\Users\Ron>ipconfig/all Windows IP Configuration Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : POWER-PC Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : neo.rr.com Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2: Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller #2 Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 6C-62-6D-57-A3-C5 DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection: Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : neo.rr.com Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 6C-62-6D-57-A3-C6 DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::8d78:1b4c:189f:d350%11(Preferred) IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.104(Preferred) Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0 Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, February 28, 2011 2:48:32 PM Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, March 02, 2011 4:05:28 PM Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1 DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1 DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 241984109 DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-14-1A-90-D8-6C-62-6D-57-A3-C6 DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 209.18.47.61 209.18.47.62 NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled Tunnel adapter isatap.{C6F14EE0-585B-421C-9E35-4B5DD6010F65}: Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : neo.rr.com Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0 DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11: Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0 DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e76:85f:21c3:e75a:531d(Prefe rred) Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::85f:21c3:e75a:531d%13(Preferred) Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : :: NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled Tunnel adapter isatap.neo.rr.com: Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2 Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0 DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600] Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. C:\Users\Ron>net share Share name Resource Remark ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADMIN$ C:\Windows Remote Admin C$ C:\ Default share D$ D:\ Default share E$ E:\ Default share L$ L:\ Default share FxsSrvCp$ C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows NT\MSFax\Common Coverpages Common Fax Cover Pages Folder G$ G:\ Default share R$ R:\ Default share IPC$ Remote IPC print$ C:\Windows\system32\spool\drivers Printer Drivers Movie Drive D:\ movies Transfers C:\Transfers Users C:\Users Fax SHRFAX: Spooled Fax HP Officejet 7300 series USB001 Spooled HP Officejet 7300 series HP Officejet 7300 series fax USB001 Spooled HP Officejet 7300 series fax The command completed successfully. C:\Users\Ron>

1. Make sure all computer have the Microsoft Client for Microsoft Networks installed. If this client is not installed, you can install it using the following steps: Click Add. Click Client, and then click Add. Click Microsoft, click Client For Microsoft Networks, and then click OK. Click OK. When you are prompted to restart your computer, do so. 2. If you can see the Win 7, but not access it. Create the same username and the same password on both computers. Or more case collections can be found here: The specified network provider name is invalid - http://www.chicagotech.net/windows7/win7error1.htm Bob Lin, MS-MVP Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.howtonetworking.com

1. Make sure all computer have the Microsoft Client for Microsoft Networks installed. If this client is not installed, you can install it using the following steps: Click Add. Click Client, and then click Add. Click Microsoft, click Client For Microsoft Networks, and then click OK. Click OK. When you are prompted to restart your computer, do so. 2. If you can see the Win 7, but not access it. Create the same username and the same password on both computers.Bob Lin, MS-MVP Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.howtonetworking.com

OK, I'm making some headway. I now do not get the message " The specified network provider name is invalid " while looking at my network on the win 7 machine. Step 1 I still cant see the rest of my network on the win 7 machine and the XP machines see the win 7 machine but cant access the shared folders. The user names for the machines are the same and I don't use passwords (the user name password is left blank) On the win 7 machine the shared folders can now be seen but when I click on them error "windows cannot access ****** (any shared folder name) - check the spelling of the name - there might be a problem with your network " ERROR: 0x800704cf so I clicked diagnose ---> The remote device wont accept the connection I clicked details ---> The device or resource is not set up to accept connections on port "the file and print sharing ". I went to network properties and deleted "file and print sharing" and reinstalled it. Shot in the dark but I tried

UPDATE: after I uninstalled rebooted and installed file and print sharing I am able to see other and access other computers on the network but still having same issues as previously mentioned with sharing folders on win 7 machine. I still get the same errors as above.

I have the same problem and it has nothing to do with Microsoft Client. The problem sees to affect only the Windows 7 machines on the network...and only on non-domain (e.g. workgroup) networks.

You do need a password (blank password doesn't work) for the security reason. This psot may help too. Why do I need password - Networking, VPN, TS, Remote Access and ... 3 posts - Last post: May 13, 2008 Why do I need password. Post by chicagotech » Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:02 pm. Yes, no paswword or blank password is easieer for hacking. ... www.chicagotech.net/netforums/viewtopic.php?t=686 Bob Lin, MS-MVP Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.howtonetworking.com

That link is broken about why do I need a password . I am on a home network that is not outside of my house and all I want to do is share file folders from computer to computer. I currently can do it from the Win7 machine now but not from the XP machine to the win 7 machine so it is mostly working and I am able to do what I need to. Thank you for you help

Network Troubleshooting. (Workgroup must be same workgroup name) note: make sure all PC has unique ip & ip range must be in same network Do this in all PC *Control panel>>Folder Options>>View>>Uncheck using sharing wizard (at very bottom) *Control Panel>> Disable any Windows Firewall or Anti-virus software Firewall *Control Panel>> Administrative Tool>> Computer management in Local user and group>>Users double click Guest account and uncheck Account is disable (we are going to enable guest account for network access without password) double click support account and uncheck Account is disable Delete help and bla bla account only (i don't remember sry) if you have Windows XP professional or Windows 7 professional or higher Edition. * Start>>Run>>gpedit.msc Local Computer policy>>Computer Configuration>>Windows Settings>>Security Settings>>Local Policies>>User Rights Assignment Find: Access this computer from the network Properties here this should have all this entries -- Administrators, Backup Operators,Everyone,Users Find: Deny access to this computer from the network Properties here if you Find Guest Remove it. (if you find any of this also Administrators, Backup Operators,Everyone,Users, Guest -- remove it) (Note: if its empty then its good) One more thing left to check in Windows 7 (Firewall must be disabled) Control Panel>> Network and sharing center>>change advance sharing settings Turn off password protected sharing (At very bottom) Testing: from windows 7 PC Press WindowKey+R from RUN>>type XP pc's ip (if xp pc as ip eg, 192.168.1.10) \\192.168.1.10 Enter Drive sharing: goto Drive properties sharing>>Advance Sharing>>Share this folder set permission for Everyone>>Full control (Note: sharing name should not be D$, E$, simply uncheck Share this folder Apply & repeat this method) Harjit