Windows 10: Sudden Loss of Sharing Tab from Folders & Drives

Hi Folks,

I have just encountered a somewhat bizarre turn of events which has inflicted two Windows 10 file sharing PC's on my home Network with neither suddenly able to create file shares as the requisite properties tab (Sharing) has suddenly disappeared from both of these PC's.

It has left me rather perplexed as to what I might have done to bring about this situation. Experience tells me that all too often such spontaneous failings turn out to be the result of unintended consequences arising from an otherwise unintentional and seemingly unrelated action brought about by the user! PEBKC (Problem exists between keyboard and chair!) as they say!! LOL *Smile

To offer some brief background I have recently completed the build of a HEDT X299 system (March 2020) onto which was installed a clean copy of Windows 10 Pro (64 Bit) 1909. File sharing (Ethernet Network) was successfully established between this new PC and my now antiquated X58 system (also 10 Pro 1909) it is ultimately destined to replace. The X299 system remained largely in 'testbed' status running only Windows 10, with just some hardware related apps and utilities so as to identify any issues prior to completing a wider install and configuration for the long term, networking/file sharing continued without issue.

Recently (late in May) following the release of Windows 10 2004 the X58 was duly updated (by way of an "in-place" update) to the newer standard. At this point it seemed prudent to 'clean install' 2004 onto the barebones X299 which was duly completed and basic configuration undertaken including re-establishing file-sharing networking between both devices again without issue.

The next sequence of events involved physically swapping the location of both PC's as well as a partial swap of several physical HDD's from the X58 into the X299 so as to begin to effect the transfer to make the X299 the main system with the older X58 relegated to a 'spare' workstation role. All proceeded as intended with only minor issues surrounding the cabling encountered. Both PC's continue to network and to file share successfully with the file contents visible and accessible for those drives retained in their original locations/drive letter. The partitions located on each of the transferred HDD's were each then re-configured in Disk Management to the Drive letter originally in use when on the X58. (e.g. The 'G' drive on the X58 became the 'D' drive upon physical swap so was then re-numbered to become 'G' once again)

Clearly the next action was to share these 'transferred' drives from their new position in the X299 however there is no longer a "sharing" tab on the drive or folder "properties menu on either machine. In fact there are now NO "Sharing" tabs at all on either machine.... *Confused WTF??

Troubleshooting steps taken

The following actions have all been carried out or verified as functioning correctly.

Windows services - The following related services have all been verified as functioning (all "started", all "automatically")

• Function Discovery Provider Host (FDPHost)
• Function Discovery Resource Publication (FDResPub)
• Network Connections (NetMan)
• UPnP Device Host (UPnPHost)
• Peer Name Resolution Protocol (PNRPSvc)
• Peer Networking Grouping (P2PSvc)
• Peer Networking Identity Manager (P2PIMSvc)
• Server (LanmanServer)

Control Panel/Network & Sharing settings/Advanced Sharing Settings - the following set and verified

• Turn on network discovery.
• Turn on file and printer sharing.
• Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in the public folders.
• Use 128-bit encryption to help protect files sharing connections (recommended).
• Turn off password protected sharing.

Also verified the latter in toggled setting as below.... "Sharing" tab remains absent

• Turn on password protected sharing

Control Panel - Windows Features (Optional Installs)

SMB (1.0) feature installed from Control Panel

Control Panel/User Accounts/Change User Account Control Setting

UAC verified enabled (as previously the case)

Registry Values

I have REG_SZ key of {f81e9010-6ea4-11ce-a7ff-00aa003ca9f6} value in:

• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\Sharing,
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Sharing,
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\Sharing,
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\LibraryFolder\background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Sharing,
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\UserLibraryFolder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Sharing

Also,

• HKEY_LOCAL_ MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa Dword "Forceguest" Value "0" Verified

Control Panel/File Explorer Options/View Tab/Advanced Settings

Use Sharing Wizard (Recommended) option - Verified checked

NB. The only Windows updates applied since installing 2004 are, to date, two related to Windows Defender and one to Adobe Flash Player plus 2004 cumulative update KB457957 on both ....just in case anyone has their suspicions!!

Anybody care to venture a suggestion as to what I might inadvertently have done to cause this?

Truly grateful for any assistance offered...

Thanks in advance,

:)

 

C: Drive Admin Share Keeps Enabling

Hi,



Thank you for your response.



I suggest you to follow the steps below and check if it helps.

• 
  Press Windows +E,
  
• 
  Right click on C: drive.
  
• 
  Select Sharing Tab.
  
• 
  Click on Advanced Sharing.
  
• 
  Uncheck “Share this folder”.
  

Keep us posted on this issue so that we can assist you better.

 

Cannot access shared network drive

I could scream! so much time wasted on this stupid error, as if time is not precious enough!
It probably would work fine if I could see the other computer! But I cannot see the other computer!

 

?? How do I PW protect Folders in windows

hmmm?
Sharing files and folders overview You can share the files and folders stored on your computer, on a network, and on the Web. The method you choose depends on whom you want to share files with, and what computer they will use to access the files.

When you share files or folders, they are not as protected as they are when you do not share them. People with access to your computer or your network might be able to read, copy, or change files that are in a shared folder. You should always be aware that the files and folders that you share are available to other people and be sure to monitor your shared files and folders on a regular basis.

Important

If your computer is not joined to a domain, you can use the Network Setup Wizard to automatically turn file and printer sharing on or off. To start the Network Setup Wizard, click Start, click Control Panel, click Network and Internet Connections, and then click Network Setup Wizard.
If you both use the same computer

You can put the files you want to share in the Shared Documents folder. Files stored in the Shared Documents folder or its subfolders are always available to other users on your computer.

Step-by-step procedure
Note

If you are connected to a network domain, the Shared Documents, Shared Pictures, and Shared Music folders are not available.
If both computers are on the same network

You can share a folder or drive on your computer with others on the network. You can also control whether the files in the shared folder can be modified by other users.

If your computer is connected to a network domain, use this procedure:

Step-by-step procedure
If your computer is connected to a workgroup, use this procedure:

Step-by-step procedure
Note

If you are connected to a network domain, you will need to set the Access control for the folder or drive after sharing it. For more information, go to To set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions.
If you want to share your files online

You can publish pictures and documents on the Web using the Web Publishing Wizard. The files will be stored in a private, online folder that you manage.

Step-by-step procedure

If you don't want others to access your files

You can prevent other users from accessing your folders and the files they contain. When your computer is connected to a domain, this is called setting permissions for your file or folder. When your computer is connected to a workgroup, this is called making your folders private.

If your computer is connected to a network domain, use this procedure:

Step-by-step procedure
If your computer is connected to a workgroup, use this procedure:

Step-by-step procedure

'HELP' it can be your friend *Smile