Windows 7 & Linux Mint sharing: W7 can't see LM

2

I have a Linux Mint 15 desktop and Windows 7 laptop that I am attempting to share files and a printer with. I have a bit of an odd problem that I can't figure out how to resolve.

I've configured the SAMBA GUI on the Mint machine and the file sharing options in the W7 Control Panel and double-checked them as best as I can. The end result is that my Mint machine can access my W7 shared folders, but the W7 computer can't even see the Mint machine, either in the network browser or when I try to add the printer that's connected to the desktop.

I can ping the LM machine's IP with no problems.

For troubleshooting purposes, I loaded up some virtual machines with bridged network adapters to try and connect to the various shares: a W7 VM, Linux Mint 15, and Windows XP.

The end result is that both Linux Mint machines, real and virtual, can see all the computers on the network, including the virtual machines. My W7 machines can only see itself and the other W7. XP can see itself and both W7 machines.

I had file & printer sharing before when the desktop was running Xubuntu 12.04 before, but now that I've changed it over to Mint I can't figure out why I can't see it.

EDIT: I think I figured it out. It looks like the host name for the Mint machine was too long (it was > 15 characters). Once renamed it to something shorter, it shows up on all my machines, even the virtual ones.

user276853

Posted 2013-11-25T16:49:54.437

Reputation: 21

How are you trying to link to LM from W7? With full IP address, or with name? – MariusMatutiae – 2013-11-25T17:05:34.740

1have you tried manually typing the share path to the mint machine? \server\sharename ? On Mint, does your firewall allow all hosts access to TCP\137,138,445 and UDP\135,139 ? note that if the firewall allows only your local network range, it will block NETBIOS name resolution broadcasts. please post a copy of mints smb.conf file. – Frank Thomas – 2013-11-25T17:16:03.147

Marius: I am trying to see the computer in the Network part of the file Explorer. – user276853 – 2013-11-25T21:34:32.563

Frank: I just tried in the Run dialog and it didn't work. I'm not sure about anything regarding the firewall, as I left it at the default settings. I don't remember having to set up the firewall when I did this with a Xubuntu install, though. – user276853 – 2013-11-25T21:36:31.683

Where does the Mint machine see your Windows? In the 'Network' or in the 'Windows network'? Is the workgroup for samba the same as the workgroup on windows? If I remember correctly, Windows7 changed the default name so that might be why the older windows work. – terdon – 2013-11-25T23:13:10.510

No answers