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User profile for user: Lotusvibe
Lotusvibe Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

OSX 10.11.5 update Windows 7 shared folders connection failed

I recently updated my Mac to OSX 10.11.5. Before updating I was on the most recent version prior, not sure the previous number but I was already in El Capiton. I have a MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014)


I had a very basic file sharing setup FROM my windows 7 desktop PC. I had the folders shared on my Windows 7 PC WITHOUT any password protection. I am not using homegroups or anything, just the standard function where you right click on the folders in windows 7, choose properties, then use the sharing tab to allow everyone on the network to access certain folders.


Normally I would open finder on my macbook, click on my windows PC in the left column under shared section. The windows PC is named "yale-pc". I would be prompted on the macbook to sign in or connect as guest. I have always had to connect as guest because the login method requires a password, but again the windows network has no password. Once connected as guest I could open my windows folder and select the media files for playback on the macbook.


NOTHING has changed on my windows PCs. All my other network devices still work fine and can access files from my windows 7 PC with no problem at all, so I know it's still working.


But on my macbook when I now select the connect as guest the mac says "connection failed". Even the shortcut that I had on the Mac desktop to link directly to a folder called "TV" from my windows computer I have the same problem. I feel this recent update which I read was largely about securing network connections has caused a buggy scenario where I can no longer access my windows computer shared folders properly.


If I use finder and select go menu, then choose connect to server, and attempt to connect to "yale-pc" I get an actual error with this method. I will include a screen shot of the error.


The last and absolutely most confusing part is when I introduce a 3rd computer for testing. I have a different windows 7 PC called "game-pc" I fired this unit up strictly for testing purposes. Again all my other computers at home can view "game-pc" shared files with no issue.


When I try to connect to "game-pc" from my mac I have the same issues. HOWEVER for some reason, in finder shared column, if I click on "yale-pc" then "game-pc", and then click BACK to "yale-pc" IT WORKS!! I can access and play my files from the "yale-pc" on my mac. But it only works if I turn on both my windows 7 computers, then alternate between selecting one then the other from the finder column. This proves that it IS possible for my Mac to connect, but only with the extremely inconvenient method which requires me to turn on two separate windows computers just to access the files I need from one.


Like an idiot, I don't have a time machine backup so that's not an option.


No idea what's going on, I use my mac everyday to access media video files from the windows PC which actually has the harddrive space to hold my collection.


Any ideas?User uploaded fileUser uploaded fileUser uploaded fileUser uploaded file

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014), OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), Windows 7

Posted on May 19, 2016 8:46 PM

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11 replies
User profile for user: facoriolano
facoriolano
User level: Level 1
13 points

May 23, 2016 10:35 PM in response to Lotusvibe

This worked for me!!!!!!!


After updating to 10.11.5 I can no longer access shared folders/printers on network Windows PCs


Hi kmurphy1,


I'm having this problem too since the 10.11.5 update. I've found a workaround: in Finder, hit Command + K to bring up the "Connect to Server" dialog.

Here you need to type cifs:// and the name of the server you're connecting to (see screenshot)

User uploaded file

This forces an SMB version1 connection, which does work (at least for me!). Unfortunately I've got an application with SMB connections hard coded in, so while I can connect to the server, I can't use the application. I guess I won't be updating the 80 Mac computers I admin.

Hope that helps

Marie

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User profile for user: iamnotsally
iamnotsally
User level: Level 1
4 points

May 24, 2016 1:10 AM in response to Lotusvibe

Hi all,


I had the same problem with my Macbook Pro (2015 early) and my Windows 7 pc after my Mac was upgraded from OS X 10.11.4 to 10.11.5. The problem has troubled me so much and I FINALLY managed to talk to a PRODUCT EXPERT from Apple support and SOLVED the problem after my 4th call to them.


The logic behind this problem is that the security has been further enhanced after the OS X 10.11.5 upgrade so even though Windows 7 has set the authorization to "Everyone", it does not work the same for Mac.

Therefore,

ℹ Mac has to connect by entering ACCOUNT NAME and PASSWORD of Windows 7.

ℹ Mac is ONLY authorized to connect the SHARED FOLDER.


Here's what I was instructed to do earlier.


(1) Set a PASSWORD to your ACCOUNT NAME under Windows 7 (if you didn't set a password, and you find it troublesome to login with password every time, you may CREATE another account, set a password, and authorize the new account to access to your shared folder)

(2) Make sure your Mac and Windows 7 are connected. (by checking if Windows 7 is shown under "Shared" in Finder sidebar OR by using terminal to enter "ping (IP address of Windows 7's), if it's running line after line which is not "request timeout", your Mac and your Windows 7 are connected)

(3) Finder -> Go -> Connect to Server -> smb://(your Windows 7 pc NAME)/(SHARED FOLDER NAME) OR smb://(your Windows 7 pc IP ADDRESS)/(SHARED FOLDER NAME) -> Connect

//Note// My Mac can't be connected if I didn't specify the SHARED FOLDER NAME

(4) Connect as REGISTERED USER -> ACCOUNT NAME (of Windows 7) -> PASSWORD (of Windows 7) -> Connect

(5) Now your Mac may access to your Windows 7 as usual!!!✅✅✅


If you have found any other info to add in, please feel free to do so.

Hope the info helps.😎


Sally

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User profile for user: Lotusvibe
Lotusvibe Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

May 24, 2016 10:17 AM in response to iamnotsally

I find this solution unacceptable. I won't even bother trying to see if it works. I shouldn't be forced into setting up a password on my windows computer when I've never had to do so before. Using a password would not only cause major in convenience but would literally disable my DUNE brand media player. My Dune media player can only connect to the windows computer shared media files if there is NO password on the network. So even if this method does fix issue with Macbook, it would prevent my DUNE from being able to access the network which is unacceptable.


And having to make a separate user account in windows just for this is also a wildly unfair solution to this issue.


Also if you read my original post, my mac WILL connect to my windows 7 as guest with NO password, but only when I have 2 separate windows 7 PCs powered on and sharing to the network. Then I alternate between trying to access them both as a guest with NO password, and it starts working again, indicated by my 4th image in original post. This indicates to me that is IS POSSIBLE to connect without a password, so there has to bet a better solution. I think the mac expert you spoke with, gave you a method to get connected, but It can't be the only method, probably just the only method they knew of, and I'll bet they made the password sound mandatory because they didn't know how else to assist.

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OSX 10.11.5 update Windows 7 shared folders connection failed

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