topic Re: File Sharing in Broadband & Landline

File Sharing

HuwJo — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 10:18:19 GMT

I'm trying to share files across my home network with a combination of windows 10/11 computers. I've followed all the setup instructions I can find to do with windows but I'm sill having no joy. Are there any settings on the EE Smart Firewall I need to change in order to make it work? If not any other suggestions will be gratefully received.

Re: File Sharing

XRaySpeX — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 10:48:07 GMT

How are you going about trying to share you files exactly?

Are all your PCs connected to the same network of the router, Ethernet + the Main Wifi SSID or the Compatible WiFi SSID? There is IP Isolation between them.

Re: File Sharing

HuwJo — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 12:27:50 GMT

Thanks for the quick response.

I have a windows 11 laptop with an external drive which I have shared. (Properties>Sharing>Advanced Sharing>Share this folder). I have turned on Network discovery and File and Printer sharing on Private Networks. allowed sharing on the private network and turned off password-protected sharing for all networks. I cannot see the shared drive on my desktop computer (a windows 10 machine) although I can see the laptop name. Trying to connect to it gives 'the drive is not accessible' message. Both computers are connected to the same router via a switch via ethernet cable although the desktop computer calls the network 'Network 3' and the laptop 'Network'. I am not sure if IP isolation has been set up on my home network.

Re: File Sharing

XRaySpeX — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 13:33:18 GMT

Do they both belong to the same WorkGroup?

Re: File Sharing

HuwJo — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:17:31 GMT

They both are in the workgroup 'WORKGROUP'

Re: File Sharing

JimM11 — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 15:12:08 GMT

@HuwJo What is the url for the share that you are using? Windows sample attached.

Re: File Sharing

HuwJo — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 21:30:48 GMT

Thanks for the question.

The URL is \\HUWJOTHINKP1\PlexDrive

i.e. Laptop name > Drive name

Re: File Sharing

HuwJo — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 08:44:02 GMT

With the assistance of Rohit from the Norton help desk I have a solution that worked for me.

First of all I set up the shared drive (instruction can be found here https://www.supportyourtech.com/articles/how-to-enable-file-sharing-in-windows-10-a-step-by-step-guide/)

I then opened EE Cyber Secirity and opened the Device Security section and clicked on settings.

From the next menu I selected Firewall.

From the Traffic Rules tab I scrolled down about 3/4 of the way through the list of rules to the Block Windows File Sharing rule.

After highlighting the rule, click Modify and on the Action tab change Block to Allow.

Click OK, then Apply. I repeated this process for each computer I wanted to see the share on and after a few moments the drive became visible.

Re: File Sharing

JimM11 — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 10:42:47 GMT

@HuwJo Glad you go to the bottom off it, you might want to ask Norton why they did not flag up a message not allowing you to control your own home network with file sharing.

Re: File Sharing

bobpullen — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 08:32:29 GMT

@XRaySpeX wrote:
Are all your PCs connected to the same network of the router, Ethernet + the Main Wifi SSID or the Compatible WiFi SSID? There is IP Isolation between them.

There isn't any isolation between Main and Compatible WiFi networks from what I can tell. Guest WiFi is a different story mind you - that's definitely isolated.