SOLVED: SEE PAGE 5, #48 OF THIS THREAD FOR COMPLETE WORAROUND. THANKS TO ALL!

I realize this is probably not fixable, but with a Samba install on my N810, I am able to access shared directories on my Linux and my XP machine. But while I see my Windows 8 in the N810's file manager's "Shared folders," I can not access the actual files (Win8 directory is publicly shared, no password).

My forum search finds many complaints about these kind of difficulties, but I would be much obliged if anyone has figured out a workaround to access a password-less shared directory on Windows 8.1

Best,
Jake

Ordinarily I'd prob have an answer for you.
But here is a specific case.
I've used linux, used xp, even used win7 to share files with my n800/n810...
I don't like win8 ..it isn't a political thing ...it's how friendly or not it is...
don't like the interface,
don't like anything about it.
I've helped friends with their win8 systems...
and ...
I will never ever ever ever use it.
In fact I refuse to upgrade to it or anything following down their determined path to perdition. I find as things are ...to try to keep a modicum of personal control over even my last xp (I naturally don't connect it to the web and I screen whatever I put on it) and for my last win7 system... the same measure of really irritating time must be taken nowadays to keep it clean and running smooth. I'm not interested in going down the win8 road nor their nth release road anytime soon. I pretty much migrated away and use my xp and win7 for specific tasks...or run a needed prog in wine or play on linux or even run xp or win7 in a vm. But no ...
And even win7 was persnickety for a while with me and my n8x0's ...
Humhumhum... I'm not even sure how many n8x0 users utilize win8 with their devices...if you are lucky possibly 1 ..2 maybe.
Wish you luck jakfish...
Let us know if you do figure it out though...I am curious exactly where the "wall" is in the win8 stopping you from utilizing the file sharing...

+1.
I find Windows 8 networking difficult to set up in an all-Windows network, let alone between Windows 8 and anything else.

Many thanks for your quick replies.

Unfortunately, a Windows 8.1 computer is the family computer since wife and daughter don't want to learn Linux any time soon..

Somehow, Win8 is blocking the N810, especially strange since even my ancient Windows CE 2.0 devices can access the Win8 shares via Total Commander.

I've set up an FTP server on Win8, but my ISP changes the ip address constantly, and I'm reluctant to use third-party software to generate a static address.

Jake

Aw jakfish..
I feel for you...really I do.
what about reactos or something similar in look and feel,
or perhaps wine or playonlinux or something similar for you family?
If that still doesn't appeal the only options left are

1- vm a win7, xp or linux distro on your win8.
or
2- dual booting win7 or even xp...or linux (buntu works well across the board with so many computers and windows..best suggestion) .

so you can utilize devices more sanely AND your family can still use the windows they are familiar with. It's the only win-win I know could work in your sitch. dual boot



and to finish in true windows redundancy fashion ..
+1 to what pichlo said

MS Office still remains the key issue when trying to get a person to switch to Linux. In our case, Outlook on Win8 is the mother ship for everybody's email, calendar, contacts, etc.

But I hadn't thought of doing a VM Ubuntu thing--I've never run VM before.

So I'm sure: you have shared files between a Win7 public folder and N810? If so, perhaps an investment into a downgrade would solve many problems.

Thanks for the tips,
Jake

yeah a debian or buntu vm will suffice.
better still dual or multiboot win and linux or win and win.
Don't downgrade.
Why bother when you can dual boot your win8 with win 7 or win8 with xp even? I wouldn't bother investing the time or money downgrading considering your family is already used to win8.
It simply means you get yours and your family's cake and everybody gets to eat it too by having what they want/need and by having what you want/need. Doesn't have to be an "either" "or" scenario.

And I think for your particular sitch.
the best idea would be a full linux distro on a usb stick. (a persistent distro at that...meaning it would remember what you did the last time you used it and you can make changes to it that stay...)
Just change your boot order to usb to 1st place...
put the designated usb stick in ...
reboot your comp.
voila ...linux on tap.
shut down or reboot computer..
take linux stick out...
voila....win8 is there.
It's non-invasive and it doesn't touch your win8 system at all...but it allows you to utilize what you need to.
In fact I think I remember puttering with a win7 os on a usb stick a few years back..there is another option too.
But yeah I'd just go with something easy to work with if linux isn't familiar ground for you ...say buntu...which usually runs really well on just about anything out of the box and just install it on a usb and go to town.
I'd do a bit of research to see what os-on-usb program works for you, works for your computer ie.- brand, model, year, wifi make (broadcom is notorious for not playing nice with linux but there are forums discussing solutions to broadcom wifi issues and specific comp. models), video cards, etc.
Usually if you do a giggle search for say "linux distros for _ _ _ _ (your model) ...you should get a plethora of results.
Out of the linux options that are known to function well on your specific system ... try em out on usb or dvd until you feel comfy with a distro. and go to town and have some exploratory fun ...it's alot less invasive, time and money consuming and alot less draining psych, emotionally and physically than messing with more unnecessary windows drama.

I understand the Office conundrum ..but there are the free alternatives in linux which I think function better. But I do understand changing tracks (learning something new due to no having little or no choice) is never fun...let alone trying to get other people on board.
As far as Outlook goes...In one of my distros I have firefox running as it's browser and it's homepage is MSN. So whenever I open the browser ....there it is ...and there is my Outlook account waiting to have me check my hotmail mail staring back at me. So yeah...that is a pretty baseless argument you got there on that one...
But in the end I do understand transitioning to a different os can be challenging when you are dealing with many people who are affected as well.
So I'd suggest a usb distro
or winxp or win7 on usb ..
as the least upsetting, time / money consuming, invasive and learning curve involved.

install ubuntu on a usb stick and under your supervison let em use it a couple of times see if it fits as of me i was widowed by xp insted of getting the primary install updated to win7xx i tried something new out of nowhere and i am out of windows running ubuntu ever since most important it just works and still didnt need a format or whatever and has not slowed down still but i must say damm broadcom gave me the nightnares at first i managed after lots of trial and error it worked.
overall linux is fine or rather better

oth i still got windows , but it now resides on a usb stick !

Yes, I had a broadcom wifi adapter for the previous family computer--total nightmare trying to get it to play with various Linux flavors.

The ultimate USB-based Linux is probably Puppy, since USB was its framework all along. The rub with dual boot is that you have to be physically near the machine, and if I was there, I wouldn't have to worry about the shared Public folder in the first place. I could share through bluetooth.

Yeah, I just can't figure out the Outlook replacement thing. I have 15K emails archived by month//year, and I haven't found a way to incorporate that huge .pst into a safe Linux alternative. At least Outlook Express had separate files for those months...

And I agree: downgrading to Win7 is problematic. I hadn't realized that MS was already dumbing down its support for Win7.

Of course, the wild card might be Win10--will its Public folder continue to be so persnickety? The desktop's relatively new, so I may rate for a free upgrade.

None of this takes away from my pleasure with my N810 I really enjoy this machine, no matter how late I've come to the party.

Jake

Edit: one other thing. With an N810 that did not have Samba installed via repo, I was still able to browse XP/Linux shares. I wonder what that Samba deb actually does. Upgrade the current Samba install?