So, we have a computer running Windows on our network. And we want to reach this computer's share - but it's not working. Neither the regular share for "mere mortals", nor the administrative share "c$" or "admin$".
What should you look at to solve this problem?
1) Check the status of the "Server" and "Workstation" services. They must be running, otherwise you won't get any share at all (yes, I know that "Workstation" is responsible for exactly the opposite - access from this computer to another share, but believe me, in my experience stopping this particular service has also led to access being denied).
2) In the properties of the network adapter through which the computer communicates with the network you're trying to reach its share from - check that "Client for Microsoft Networks" (File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks) is installed and its checkbox is checked.
3) Check the firewall (the so-called "firewall"), if it is enabled for this network connection, to make sure it isn't blocking share access. This could be either the Windows built-in firewall or a third-party firewall (you're in the best position to know what's installed on the computer under your administration and how to manage it). To test - at the very least just turn the firewall off.
4) Check that it isn't the antivirus blocking access. Kaspersky likes to pull this kind of nonsense; NOD32 tends to be somewhat more relaxed about shares. To test - at the very least turn off virus protection temporarily.
5) Check the access levels in the local policies. To do this:
a) Start -> Run -> "gpedit.msc"
b) Go to:
Computer Configuration -> Windows Configuration -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> User Rights Assignment.
c) Check the access levels. Pay special attention to the parameters:
- Access this computer from the network
- Deny access to this computer from the network
Accordingly, the first parameter should list the security group you belong to, or your account directly. And the second, on the contrary, should not contain any denials for groups or users who need to access the computer.
It happens that viruses cause mischief - they set the "Access this computer from the network" parameter to simply an empty string - and after that the computer can no longer be reached over the network via its share.
6) Finally, check the computer for viruses. It also happens that viruses block share access. The infamous "Kido" was not above this kind of trick, for example.
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