“Base-Ops this is Buzz Light Year. I seem to have been stranded on some strange planet. No sign of any working Windows Seven file sharing here.”

Microsoft Windows Seven Ultimate Edition

So you’ve manage to get Windows Seven installed, no problems. Everything’s great, the new quick launch bar is actually useful, the OS loads up fast, and the cool new grouped roll over window preview pane is actually letting you get some work done now. You’re ready to go to the next lan party and sport your new slick OS, get some compliments and “Ooohhs” and “Awws”, and swap a few files…. but wait, what happened to the Windows Networking? Why isn’t it working anymore? How are you going to trade the latest season of Red Vs. Blue if you can’t even connect to another Windows file sharing enabled computer?

Microsoft has amped-up their new operating system with some new security standards, which notably fix their aging Samba (SMB) Windows File Sharing protocol. By default, Windows Seven comes pre-configured to only communicate with other file sharing clients and servers which are also using the new beefed-up and more secure version of the Samba file sharing protocol. Because of this, it will not properly communicate with computers running older versions of Samba (SMB) Windows File Sharing protocol.

So are you SOL? If you don’t continue to read this guide you will be. I’ve made a quick walk through with screen shots guiding you on how to restore your file sharing capabilities with older Windows File Sharing computers including but not limited to Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 95/98/ME, and even Linux distributions running the SMB service. Continue Reading