Windows 10: Having trouble connecting an external shared drive to my new Windows 11 laptop.

I get the following message when I try to connect to my router or shared external drive. Is there a setting I'm missing? I tried pasting the message below but it gave me an error message so I just typed it in.You can't access this shared folder because your organization's security policies block unauthenticated guest access. These policies help protect your PC from unsafe and malicious devices in the network.I am on a home network. I have a Lenovo Think Pad E16 Gen 2. I am running MS Office for Home.I have a TP-link AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 router I had to replace a Netge

:)

 

Windows 11 File Explorer not showing external drive

If Windows 11 File Explorer is not showing an external drive that is connected to your device, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Check the connection: Make sure that the external drive is properly connected to your device. Try unplugging and replugging the drive, or connecting it to a different USB port.
   
2. Check Disk Management: Open Disk Management by pressing Windows key + X, then selecting Disk Management. Look for the external drive in the list of drives. If it appears but has no drive letter assigned, right-click on it and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths". Assign a drive letter to the external drive, and then check if it appears in File Explorer.
   
3. Update drivers: Make sure that your device's drivers are up to date, particularly the drivers for your USB ports. Use the Device Manager to check for any outdated or malfunctioning drivers, and update or reinstall them as needed.
   
4. Check power supply: If the external drive requires a separate power supply, make sure it is properly connected and functioning.
   
5. Test on another device: Try connecting the external drive to another device to see if it appears in File Explorer. This will help determine if the issue is with the drive itself or your device.
   

By following these steps, you may be able to resolve the issue of Windows 11 File Explorer not showing an external drive.

 

Shared Drive connection error

Hi Greg,

Thanks for your suggestions I tried all of the links that you suggested but still wasn't able to get it work.

However the strange things is that I am able to access the documents etc which are shared on the main PC on the laptop without any issues.

The issues just seem to be connecting to the external drive once it is shared. I checked the permissions and set them for everyone but still had issues connecting saying that it couldn't access the path. I have removed the share and re-created it but this
was also without any luck.

I checked all the other settings suggested and changed them as needed but still no luck.

Whilst doing this I did manage to think of a workaround. Although this is not ideal I have set up a new folder in the documents folder of the main PC and called it laptop backup files. I have then set the laptop file history to this folder so that it backs
up automatically.

The file history on the PC is set to backup to the external hard drive and this is working without any problems.

It is just strange why I can't share the drive and access it from another device.

 

Trouble accessing files on external hard drive

I am am having trouble accessing files from an external hard drive. Getting 0x80004005 error message and other errors "can not access files". I have shared and given permissions for all the files but still no luck

The external hard drive was one of a shared network of hard drives but I have been able to access all the others....

THoughts? Suggestions?