[JustCallMeAlec]

File Sharing Error (Not Found, One PC Only)

Greetings!
I am new to the forums, so if I do something incorrectly please try not to be too harsh.

Anyway, I have three computers - one laptop and two desktops, and I own one of the desktops and the laptop (all running Windows 7), I'm going to call PC1 the PC that I do own, and PC2 being my mother's desktop.

PC1 seems to be unable to open files on any other computer on the network, (Including PC2 and my laptop) but, both the laptop and PC2 are able to connect to PC1 and each other with no issues.

This always results in the error 0x80070035 - The network path was not found.

Things that I have tried are as follows;
- Using the ping command on PC1 to PC2 and the laptop, which comes back successful.

- Disabling all Antivirus / Firewalls on all devices and connecting that way. (Have also made sure they are not running in both the process list and service list)

- I cannot even connect to anything from PC1 to anything else when using \\(ComputerName) in Windows Explorer.

- I have also used various possible fixes I have found on the internet, but cannot remember them specifically, so I will let you know if it something I have tried.

I don't usually ask for help when it comes to computers because it's rather embarrassing when someone who is going to college, majoring in Computer Repair is having an issue like this. But this has frustrated me to the point where I am not of options and am pulling my hair out over this issue. :banghead: Any possible solutions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advanced!

 

[djaburg]

Have you tried creating a homegroup to get them all talking or are you simply trying to share via peer to peer networking? I'd start by trying to create a home group and joining the computers to it and then see if you can share items successfully. Pinging computers is a good start, but it only means it can see the entity on the network. Creating the homegroup "should" adjust firewalls as needed and make sure you're not being block by that. Start here.

 

[JustCallMeAlec]

Have you tried creating a homegroup to get them all talking or are you simply trying to share via peer to peer networking? I'd start by trying to create a home group and joining the computers to it and then see if you can share items successfully. Pinging computers is a good start, but it only means it can see the entity on the network. Creating the homegroup "should" adjust firewalls as needed and make sure you're not being block by that. Start here.

I have tried using the HomeGroup feature as well, sadly.

 

[spunk.funk]

On each computer, Right click Computer/Properties. Write down the name of each computer. Make sure each computer is part of the same Workgroup name, if not change it so they are.
On each computer go to Start/Search and type CMD, Right click the CMD results and Run As Administrator. In the Elevated Command Prompt type ipconfig and press enter. Write down the IPv4 address of each computer under Local Area Connection if it connects through Ethernet.
Go to Control Panel/Network and Sharing. Make sure each computer is part of a Private Network (eg) Home or Work. If a Public Network click the Homegroup link and Change the Location of the computer.
Click on Change Advanced Sharing Settings.Compare the settings for the computer that does connect with the one that does not. Make sure all are the same. (eg) Network Discovery, Allow File Sharing etc. Under Private (Home or Work) as well as in All Networks. If using Homegroup Allow Windows to manage homegroup connections. If not, uncheck this.
If you can't connect from the search box, type the IP address of the computer (eg) \\192.168.1.254

 

[JustCallMeAlec]

On each computer, Right click Computer/Properties. Write down the name of each computer. Make sure each computer is part of the same Workgroup name, if not change it so they are.
On each computer go to Start/Search and type CMD, Right click the CMD results and Run As Administrator. In the Elevated Command Prompt type ipconfig and press enter. Write down the IPv4 address of each computer under Local Area Connection if it connects through Ethernet.
Go to Control Panel/Network and Sharing. Make sure each computer is part of a Private Network (eg) Home or Work. If a Public Network click the Homegroup link and Change the Location of the computer.
Click on Change Advanced Sharing Settings.Compare the settings for the computer that does connect with the one that does not. Make sure all are the same. (eg) Network Discovery, Allow File Sharing etc. Under Private (Home or Work) as well as in All Networks. If using Homegroup Allow Windows to manage homegroup connections. If not, uncheck this.
If you can't connect from the search box, type the IP address of the computer (eg) \\192.168.1.254

The only thing I have not tried was the part about Windows managing homegroup connections, other than that it's still refusing to even attempt to connect to any other device in the house.
As for the typing the IP address in, it gives the same result, instantly.
I'm not sure if this makes a difference, but my PC and laptop have static IP addresses. Yet the laptop can still connect to a PC with a dynamic IP address.

 

[spunk.funk]

Yes, this would make a big difference. Are the computers in the same IP address Subnet group?
Are they networked together through the same router?
Is there a reason why you aren't using DHCP for all computers?

 

[JustCallMeAlec]

Yes, this would make a big difference. Are the computers in the same IP address Subnet group?
Are they networked together through the same router?
Is there a reason why you aren't using DHCP for all computers?

Yes they are part of the same Subnet group. (Assuming you mean if they have the same Subnet mask?)
They are going through the same router.
i need the laptop to be a certain IP address because I have Port Forwarding set up in my router for the specific internal IP addresses.


EDIT: I enabled DHCP on all the devices to at least give it a shot, but it gives me the same result.

 

[djaburg]

Do all the computers have the same AV/Firewall?

 

[JustCallMeAlec]

Do all the computers have the same AV/Firewall?

They did, until I disabled them.


EDIT: Now that I think about it, PC2 actually has all firewalls and such activated and still the laptop is able to connect to it with no issue. But as I said, PC1 cannot connect to any device, but everything else can connect to PC1 and each other.

 

[Stancestans]

If you are running a third party firewall on PC1, kindly tell which one. Some firewalls deny all traffic when disabled, e.g Comodo, and the only way of truly disabling them is to uninstall. Some still interfere with network sharing even after correctly configuring them for the same. I remember a particular scenario some time back that involved Comcast-supplied Norton internet security. The only way was to uninstall it. As a diagnostic measure, I'd recommend you uninstall your current internet security program (antivirus and firewall) and install MS Security Essentials instead, then reset Windows Firewall to its default settings. After that, open Network and Sharing Center, open advanced sharing settings and double-check that:

Under Home/Work
- network discovery
- file and printer sharing
- allow Windows to manage homegroup connections (leave this enabled whether you're using Homegroup or not)
- 128-bit encryption
- turn off public folders (unless required)
- turn off password-protected sharing
- turn off media streaming (unless required)

Save changes (if any) and reboot. Open My Computer and click on Network (on the left panel of the window). Are PC2 and the laptop listed? They should be if they are on (check if any is asleep). PC1 will also be listed in the network window. Double-click PC2 or the laptop and see if their shared resources appear.

 

[JustCallMeAlec]

If you are running a third party firewall on PC1, kindly tell which one. Some firewalls deny all traffic when disabled, e.g Comodo, and the only way of truly disabling them is to uninstall. Some still interfere with network sharing even after correctly configuring them for the same. I remember a particular scenario some time back that involved Comcast-supplied Norton internet security. The only way was to uninstall it. As a diagnostic measure, I'd recommend you uninstall your current internet security program (antivirus and firewall) and install MS Security Essentials instead, then reset Windows Firewall to its default settings. After that, open Network and Sharing Center, open advanced sharing settings and double-check that:

Under Home/Work
- network discovery
- file and printer sharing
- allow Windows to manage homegroup connections (leave this enabled whether you're using Homegroup or not)
- 128-bit encryption
- turn off public folders (unless required)
- turn off password-protected sharing
- turn off media streaming (unless required)

Save changes (if any) and reboot. Open My Computer and click on Network (on the left panel of the window). Are PC2 and the laptop listed? They should be if they are on (check if any is asleep). PC1 will also be listed in the network window. Double-click PC2 or the laptop and see if their shared resources appear.

I do have AVG 2016, but there is an option to disable firewall, which I have already taken care of.

I have tried what you suggested but to no avail.

Also I would like to be clear that there are no issues when it comes to if all PCs can see each other, the only issue here is when I'm on PC1 and try to double click another PC / laptop on the network it immediately tells me that the network path was not found.

 

[Stancestans]

Try resetting the TCP/IP stack and winsock on the problematic computer (PC1) as follows:

Open an elevated command prompt (run CMD as administrator) and run the following commands:

netsh int ip reset reset.log

netsh winsock reset

Reboot.

Someone elsewhere mentioned disabling and re-enabling IPv6 fixed it for them. The above commands do the same and more.

 

[JustCallMeAlec]

Try resetting the TCP/IP stack and winsock on the problematic computer (PC1) as follows:

Open an elevated command prompt (run CMD as administrator) and run the following commands:

netsh int ip reset reset.log

netsh winsock reset

Reboot.

Someone elsewhere mentioned disabling and re-enabling IPv6 fixed it for them. The above commands do the same and more.

Well, I gave it a shot, but still getting the same issue.
I've also attached a screenshot if it possibly helps.

 

[Stancestans]

Well, I gave it a shot, but still getting the same issue.
I've also attached a screenshot if it possibly helps.

Moving forward:
Resetting TCP/IP cleared your static IP settings and re-enabled DHCP. You can go ahead and re-assign PC1 static IP address or better yet, reserve that particular address in your router's DHCP reservation settings. While you're at it, enable NetBIOS in TCP/IPv4 advanced settings of the adapter/connection you're using.

Open Device Manager, expand the network adapters section, click on View and enable show hidden devices. See if you have a lot of Microsoft 6to4 adapter numbered entries. Uninstall all the numbered extra adapters (Microsoft 6to4 adapter #n) so that you only remain with one.

Check the status of the following services and make sure they are all running on all your network computers:

-Remote Registry Service
-Server
-Workstation
-Computer Browser
-Remote Procedure Call
-TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service

 

[JustCallMeAlec]

Moving forward:
Resetting TCP/IP cleared your static IP settings and re-enabled DHCP. You can go ahead and re-assign PC1 static IP address or better yet, reserve that particular address in your router's DHCP reservation settings. While you're at it, enable NetBIOS in TCP/IPv4 advanced settings of the adapter/connection you're using.

Open Device Manager, expand the network adapters section, click on View and enable show hidden devices. See if you have a lot of Microsoft 6to4 adapter numbered entries. Uninstall all the numbered extra adapters (Microsoft 6to4 adapter #n) so that you only remain with one.

Check the status of the following services and make sure they are all running on all your network computers:

-Remote Registry Service
-Server
-Workstation
-Computer Browser
-Remote Procedure Call
-TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service

Okay, so everything was in check until I got to the part about the services. I noticed TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service wasn't started. I attempted to set it to Automatic and start it but it popped up with an error that reads "Error 1079: The account specified for this service is different from the account specified for other services running in the same process."

 

[Stancestans]

Okay, so everything was in check until I got to the part about the services. I noticed TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service wasn't started. I attempted to set it to Automatic and start it but it popped up with an error that reads "Error 1079: The account specified for this service is different from the account specified for other services running in the same process."

TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service should be set to run under the LOCAL SERVICE account. Switch to the Log On tab and make sure the second radio button next to This account is selected. The account name in the first text box should be Local Service. You can manually type the account name or use the browse button to select the Local Service account. Click OK to apply the changes and try to start the service again.

Note:
Leave the password boxes empty. They may appear to contain some hidden characters, but there's no password for the Local Service account.

 

[JustCallMeAlec]

TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service should be set to run under the LOCAL SERVICE account. Switch to the Log On tab and make sure the second radio button next to This account is selected. The account name in the first text box should be Local Service. You can manually type the account name or use the browse button to select the Local Service account. Click OK to apply the changes and try to start the service again.

Note:
Leave the password boxes empty. They may appear to contain some hidden characters, but there's no password for the Local Service account.

Yeah, that was the issue after all. I appreciate it, like a lot.

 

[Stancestans]

Yeah, that was the issue after all. I appreciate it, like a lot.

Good to know. I'm curious as to how the account for that service changed in the first place. Mark this thread as solved by clicking on Thread Tools...