want to share out a folder on a 4 computer office that is not in a domain (windows 10 pro computers)

You need to change the NTFS permissions to everyone with read/write rather than just the Share permissions.

So navigate to the folder, right click, properties, Security and set it in there.

Then

\\IP\Sharename

I thought I did that.
Screen-Shot-2020-01-20-at-10.34.05-A.png
Screen-Shot-2020-01-20-at-10.34.31-A.png

That looks right to be fair...


AH, I see the issue, take it out of the user profile and then drop it straight onto the c:\ and then share it out  from there.

You're sharing a folder within a user profile, that won't work correctly

Regards

Alex

Do you mean cut and paste the shared folder (it is on the desktop) right onto the C Drive?  If I do that, do I have to setup share security again?

Yes, you will need to configure the share again however this should then work. The issue is with UAC kicking in which is why you can't access the folder, it's the top level folder you're having security issues with, not the sub folder.

Regards
Alex

So don't go into sharing the folder, go right to the security tab and add "everyone" with read write?
Right now on the share tab nothing is shared.

I am getting this error when setting security:
Screen-Shot-2020-01-20-at-10.52.06-A.png

You need to take ownership of the folder first using whatever user you're logged on as.

Regards
Alex

how?

Right click

Properties

Security

Advanced

You can change the owner in there and tick Replace all child object permissions.... then hit apply

Still getting an error after I ticked replace all child object permissions
Screen-Shot-2020-01-22-at-8.18.50-AM.png

Any ideas?  Have not heard a response back from the above issue.

I suggest copying the folder from the place you have it now to its new location that you want to share it from (i.e., somewhere outside of the Windows users folders). At that point, you may be asked to take control (i.e., change permissions) and it should be able to update those accordingly.

If you only want 4 users to actually access the share, you could add them specifically rather than sharing to everyone. You could also logon to the PC with those specific users on the shared PC with those users or at least one of them and allow that user to have access to the share. That should give the user access via the workgroup when you use their credentials.

A second alternative is to add the user that is sharing the folder to each of the other PCs that you want to have access. When asked for credentials to connect to the share you can use those credentials.

The preferred method would be to add an additional account to the sharing PC specifically to share and then duplicate that account on each of the PCs. That account could be the bridge for each of the other PCs. The next step would be to access the share locally so that you are sure that you have full access. After that try connecting from another PC with same account name/password that you just setup.

Either of these methods require credentials to remain unchanged since the shares depend on them.

Did you actually change the owner first?  In your last screenshot, you can see the "Change" link next to the current owner "Nancy".  You need to click this FIRST, and change the owner of all files.  This should give you a dialog box that looks similar, but is distinctly different.

Here's what I'd do from start.

there are 4 machines.
I'd go and create a user for all 4 computers (local user)
Then create the share on any computer, (must be logged with the same local user, and it should be an administrator)
create the folder and modify the permissions on the "Security" tab and on "shared".

With that, I'd be able to do
Net use S: \\Maincomputer\SharedFolder

and everybody could access the same creds without even being requested (because it's the logged users with the same identity on all computers.).

I'm not so keen on the idea of copying the folder to all the PCs.  Then you have a nightmare trying to keep them all in sync.  One folder on one PC shared to the other users is much simpler.  Windows will manage the files and and any changes for you.

You need to set up the network correctly.  I do this often for small offices and in my own shop.  Its very useful to me to get access to support tools, backup holding drives, Client support notes from PCs I am working on.

First, make sure all the PCs are on a Private network and have the same workgroup name (construction in your case).

Make sure the network type on all PCs is set to  private.

Then on each PC makes sure the following items are set  under  .

Control Panel\Settings    Network and Internet\Network >> Sharing Center  >> Advanced sharing settings  

Set network discovery "ON" for private networks.  Set it to "OFF" for public networks!!
Turn on file and printer sharing
I like to turn off password protection,  makes it simpler for folks to reach the shared folders and printers.  
Select...  Let Windows manage it.
The other settings can be as you wish.

If you feel you need passwords on, then you need a userID that everyone can use (on the PC with the shared folders).  

The serving PC will show up on the other PCs under Network Locations in file explorer.  Any folders you share from there will be displayed  under it.   You can create shortcuts on a client desktop to those items or you can assign a local drive letter to them.

Many of my small clients use a shared folder they call 0ffice (note starts with zero to sort near the top of directories).  In there they keep their shared data such as client folders, project information, the stuff they all need to access regularly.  

One final note.  Sharing setting do not take effect immediately.  It make take a few minutes for other PCs to see any changes you make.

OK.  I do not use passwords.  I have created the folder with files in it at the location of:  C:\Users\Public\Public Documents

Now do I go into advanced sharing or the security tab?  See screenshot of where I am in process.
Screen-Shot-2020-01-23-at-1.47.14-PM.png

I have checked the replace all child objects and I still can't get in.  Surprising this is not straight forward.  I'm all over the place with this shared folder.  I don't know what I have and have not tried.  Think I might have to start from scratch with a new folder.  I'm going to need to have my hand held to get this right.  Step by step.  Should I do advanced sharing, put the fodler in public documents, or use the security tab?

A new folder is ideal. I recommend putting it in the root folder of one of your drives. If you only have one drive the folder would be C:\folderName. Putting the folder in Users is asking for trouble. Just right click on the folder & share it.

I suggest creating a new user with admin rights and using that to access the folder. 1st I would ensure you can access the folder locally logged in as this new user. Then create the same user on a remote PC and try to access the share with those credentials.

The problem you have with workgroup is that credentials are not centrally located so adding a common user to all PCs will hopefully allow you to access the folder.

I think I figured it out but I don't really know what method worked.  I created the folder in public documents and added a guest account.  Then I went into computer management under users and I noticed that the guest account was disabled.  I reenabled the account and waited 10 minutes.  Now I can get in.

Did you disable password protection sharing?

not sure.  I don't think I did

Guest account is disabled by default. Glad you got it working

"I like to turn off password protection,  makes it simpler for folks to reach the shared folders and printers.  "
I've done that many times, but it has been problematic for two reasons.

The first one is that twice-yearly Win 10 updates will reset it back on.  It's not a big deal to turn it back off, but it may cause a lot of stress for the client when the server gets updated and no one can access the shared.

The more serious issue is that I wasn't at all able to get sharing to work recently without enabling password-protected sharing on Win 10 1909.  I've done this many times before on earlier versions, so I SHOULD know how to do it.  In order to get it to work, I had to add a password on the server login name and enable password-protected sharing.

At that point, I could either connect from a workstation and use the server login name and password (and check the box to save them) or set up the workstation's user name and password on the server.

Has anyone been able to get 1909 to share a folder with password-protected sharing off?

Yes.  I have at least 4 customers (and my own shop) doing this exact thing.   My shop runs a mix of Win10 and Win7 (plus 1 Linux Mint).  All can reach the shared files OK (Except Linux mint asks for a password),  My shop setup includes migrant PCs, New ones I'm setting up for delivery and some that come in for repairs and upgrades.  I have had not trouble connecting to my shared tools and client folders from them.  

And you are correct.  Some Microsoft Windows 10 updates reset the network  password option to ON.  It causes a little panic those days.  Hopefully Microsoft stops doing that -- they really should not be changing user settings.   I have only had it happen twice in the last 2-3 years.

We stopped using Password Protection OFF and now it's always ON.  Windows Update changes were one of the reasons.  Now things are stable.