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cbridgmanFlag for United States of America

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Access Win10 folders from Win7 laptop

I am trying to share folders between my Win7 and Win10 laptops. From my Win10 laptop, I can open File Explorer, type \\win7pc\ and am able to access all folders in it. From my win7 laptop, when I open file explorer and type \\win10pc\, the Enter Network Password dialog opens. It wants me to enter a user id and password. I'm not really sure what to enter here because when I sign on to my win10 laptop, I just use the fingerprint reader or I type in a PIN.

Any ideas?
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John
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This is happening because Windows 10 has higher security.

Make a userid and password on the Windows 10 machine (Users and groups) that is the SAME userid and password of the Windows 7 machine.

Make sure on BOTH machines in Advanced Network Settings that both Network Discovery and File / Print Sharing are ON and that Homegroup is OFF.

Restart both machines and test. The above works fine for me.
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ASKER

Win10 doesn't appear to have a Users and Groups app - only a Settings app. When you use that one, if you attempt to add someone, it wants that person's email address. It doesn't ask for a user name. Am I using the wrong app?
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check the log on to your machine

may be you log on with microsoft account i.e hotmail or outlook

all  the best
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John
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What version of W10 do you have. If it is not pro or enterprise you will not have that option that is illustrated by John.
If Home and if you are restricted to email accounts, then access from Windows 10 to Windows 7 and forget the other way around.
"I'm not really sure what to enter here because when I sign on to my win10 laptop, I just use the fingerprint reader or I type in a PIN." - that does not mean, you don't have a password for that account. You simply don't remember it because you setup "Windows hello" (=the biometrical authentication or PIN) to be used instead. So much for an explanation.


You can change the password (if you remember it), even with windows hello active: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/identity-protection/hello-for-business/hello-and-password-changes
You can surely reset your Microsoft password, if that is what you use, by using the reset process here, if you don't remember it: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4026971/microsoft-account-how-to-reset-your-password
I am good to go. I am using Win 10 Pro and was able to use Manage My Computer to add a new user to Win 10 box. I'm now able to share folders between the win 7 and win 10 laptops in both directions. Thanks very much for everyone's help.
That is good that you were able to add the account and share the folders