Can't enable Network Discovery & File Sharing

U

usenet

New Member
In NTLite, Components - Compatibility, I have Network Discovery and File Sharing checked.

When I click to Enable Network Discovery/File Sharing and apply it isn't actually enabled, returning to the same settings page shows it wasn't actually enabled also.

Can anyone see what might be breaking/disabling it, please?

Win10_20H2_v2_EnglishInternational_x64 (Windows Pro)

Cw9kGN728X.gif
9aGRnCAZXv.gif
 

Attachments

  • postsetup.cmd.txt
    1.3 KB
  • regtweaks.reg
    30.5 KB
  • xml.xml
    27.8 KB
Last edited:
Hi,

thanks for reporting.

Cannot replicate it, can you please retry with the latest version and without your custom reg tweaks?

Thanks.
 
nuhi said:
Hi,

thanks for reporting.

Cannot replicate it, can you please retry with the latest version and without your custom reg tweaks?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Hi nuhi,

I just tried again with the latest stable update to NTLite. I used only the XML. Removed both reg tweaks and post setup commands.

I connected to WiFi, set the network as private/home and went straight to 'Network'. The issue persists, I still can not enable Network Discovery. Changing the settings for file sharing and network discovery also auto reverts like in the previous posted screenshots/gifs.

I tried the ISO on 3 different machines.
 
Last edited:
Man, looking through your .xml, there is a lot of stuff I wouldn't have touched. A few things I see, that for sure breaks stuff, but as for the Network problem?, nothing that sticks out obvious, but I had the same, with not as much as you removed.

If I had to hazard a guess?, then these 3 stand out for me:

backgroundtransfer 'Networking Background Transfer
browserbrokers 'Browser Brokers'
NcsiUwpApp

Like I say, MS ties in things with other things, and who knows what will break if one removes anything relating to them.
 
usenet said:
Hi nuhi,

I just tried again with the latest stable update to NTLite. I used only the XML. Removed both reg tweaks and post setup commands.

I connected to WiFi, set the network as private/home and went straight to 'Network'. The issue persists, I still can not enable Network Discovery. Changing the settings for file sharing and network discovery also auto reverts like in the previous posted screenshots/gifs.

I tried the ISO on 3 different machines.
Click to expand...
OK, thanks, maybe it's related to [first connecting to] WiFi, will check today and report back.

scaramonga, thanks, however the issue here is that he selected in NTLite to protect Network Discovery and File Sharing, it should have blocked what's needed, I just need to replicate on my side and add that to the list.
 
nuhi said:
OK, thanks, maybe it's related to [first connecting to] WiFi, will check today and report back.

scaramonga, thanks, however the issue here is that he selected in NTLite to protect Network Discovery and File Sharing, it should have blocked what's needed, I just need to replicate on my side and add that to the list.
Click to expand...
I tried the output ISO on two wired machine and a wireless laptop.
I even sent the ISO over to a friend to try to make sure it wasn't just something weird going on with my network. They confirmed the same issue I was having. I'm confused why you couldn't replicate the issue given you're using the same XML preset. Are you using the same 'Win10_20H2_v2_EnglishInternational_x64 (Windows Pro)'?
 
OK, got the exact ISO, and after opening advanced sharing and clicking Turn On discovery and sharing, it is remembered.
This is that page after being reopened, for Guest and for Private networks.

Or the issue is visible with a different scenario?

Thanks.
 

Attachments

  • [Temp]-2021-01-14-19-17-35.png
    [Temp]-2021-01-14-19-17-35.png
    129.1 KB
  • [Temp]-2021-01-14-19-19-48.png
    [Temp]-2021-01-14-19-19-48.png
    134.4 KB
nuhi said:
OK, got the exact ISO, and after opening advanced sharing and clicking Turn On discovery and sharing, it is remembered.
This is that page after being reopened, for Guest and for Private networks.

Or the issue is visible with a different scenario?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Hey nuhi.

I appreciate you testing the XML yourself and trying to help out.

I can't figure out why this is working perfectly for you but not me... As I say, I tested the ISO on 3 of my own machines and my friend on one of his.

The only extra thing I'm doing before applying the changes in the final step of NTLite to create the ISO is, checking 'Wordpad' and having NTLite strip the extra redundant versions of Windows (Home, Pro N, etc) (which seems to be enabled by default.)

I'm using the same machine to create the ISO each time. Is it possible something with my machine could be causing issues with the ISO that NTLite is spitting out? Do you know of anything that can/could interfere with NTLite that could cause this, hence why I'm getting different results than you? I know a few times my antivirus gets a bit agitated whilst the ISO is being produced, but each time I get the popup I click 'allow'. In the next few days I'm going to activate my NTLite licence also on one of my other machines and try creating the ISO to see.
 
Last edited:
If not already, consider integrating the latest Windows cumulative update into the ISO.
Also let me know if you let Windows Update to update after install, that also matters.
In that case try NTLite - Tools - Remove Reinstalls to fix it after each update.

Then if that didn't help, did you try a full ISO in the same circumstances?
For example, load the same preset, and go to Components page, press Reset, which basically removes no components.
Install that and let me know how it goes.
If that also breaks, then try an unedited ISO, if that passes, send me the breaking preset once again, the one with all components kept.
 
Post Setup / Command Prompt this works for me

netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="File and Printer Sharing" new enable=Yes
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="Network Discovery" new enable=Yes
 
nuhi said:
If not already, consider integrating the latest Windows cumulative update into the ISO.
Also let me know if you let Windows Update to update after install, that also matters.
In that case try NTLite - Tools - Remove Reinstalls to fix it after each update.

Then if that didn't help, did you try a full ISO in the same circumstances?
For example, load the same preset, and go to Components page, press Reset, which basically removes no components.
Install that and let me know how it goes.
If that also breaks, then try an unedited ISO, if that passes, send me the breaking preset once again, the one with all components kept.
Click to expand...
So after trying another copy of NTLite on a fresh machine; success! Oddly enough though, I gave someone the same XML, reg and postcmds, but when they tried, Network Discovery didn't work for them.
 
Last edited:
usenet said:
So after trying another copy of NTLite on a fresh machine; success! Oddly enough though, I gave someone the same XML, reg and postcmds, but when they tried, Network Discovery didn't work for them ‍♂️
Click to expand...
Interesting, yeah I could not replicate either, do let me know if you ever find out what the secret ingredient is.
Could be a Windows bug and now you used the latest update of it, or keep an eye on next months update+remove reinstalls, that combo only comes to mind if all the same.
 
I do the same and tell (pipe) it to hide the changes:

# (Out-Null hides the number of rules changed)
Write-Host "Allow Network Discovery and Allow File and Printer Sharing" `n
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group=”network discovery” new enable=yes | Out-Null
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="File and Printer Sharing" new enable=Yes | Out-Null

Write-Host "Set Network Connection to Private" `n
Set-NetConnectionProfile -NetworkCategory Private
 
SomeTechGuy said:
Write-Host "Allow Network Discovery and Allow File and Printer Sharing" `n
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group=”network discovery” new enable=yes | Out-Null
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="File and Printer Sharing" new enable=Yes | Out-Null
Click to expand...
PowerShell can replace this on W10/11.

Set-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "Network Discovery" -Profile Any -Enabled True
Set-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "File And Printer Sharing" -Profile Any -Enabled True
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top