Hello
My problem is less complex than it might look like, it's just difficult to explain correctly. Now:
I have multiple computers on my home LAN, with various user accounts, without a HomeGroup. They all share some files, have a "Private" network, Public Folder Sharing enabled and "password protected sharing" disabled.So their configuration is identical.
These computers are 2 Windows 7 PLK computers, one Windows 8.1 ENU, one Windows 8.1 PLK and finally one 8.1 branded by Lenovo. I'll call them 7, 8EN, 8PL and 8B to avoid lenghty phrases. And now the part that makes no sense at all:
Here's my problem: Win7 computers can easily access Win8 shares. It works both ways: all Win8 computers can access the Win7 shares. But... 8EN cannot access the 8B shares without asking for credentials (?!). Those are the same files that are being accessed with no problem by any Win7 or even WinXP machines. I can't share anything in 8 without making other 8's ask for credentials(but 7 works). Moreover - I can provide a random string as a username and no password and I'll get the access to the Public folders. So the access is there, but I have to provide any credentials to reach it. Without it, the first try is rejected. It's clearly wrong.
HomeGroup helps. But I don't want a HomeGroup, I switch places often, HG annoys me and finally - I don't want to sound rude but "a proper way is to use a HomeGroup" is not an answer to "why did the sharing between my 8's stopped working while nobody else seem to have such problems with their 8's, and 7's work fine".
What on earth could possibly make it happen? I reinstalled my Windows 8 and they still cannot communicate with other 8's? Is it the language? but the PLK is just a language pack, the insides are still ENU.
Thank you for any help and have a nice day!