Windows 7 <-> Windows Server 2008 network shares not working

"Update - Success at last - See end of post!

Well I have had some partial success. I'll detail what I have done in the hope I help someone else in future [I will keep this updated as I progress].

The problem appears to be with the Win2k8 box being too restrictive with its security policy. The server has been locked down using the Security Configuration wizard, and although Windows XP could talk to the server fine, this was obviously too restrictive for Windows7.

So far I have started the SSDP service, the Computer Browser service, added inbound and outbound rules to the firewall for the Network Discovery and additional inbound File and Print sharing.

I still cannot connect using the machine name, i.e. \\server as it still repeatedly asks for the username and password. However if I connect using the IP address i.e. \\192.168.10.50 it accepts the username and password and allows access to the shares.

I will continue fiddling until I manage to work out a combination of what services must be running and what firewall rules must be set up to allow connection using the computer name.

Things to note

Evidentially windows XP machines being able to connect to a network share is no indication that all of the plumbing required for Windows7 to connect is accessible through the firewall.

Update: The following services need to be running in order to connect using the computer name to a share.

Dns Client
Function Discovery Provider Host
Function Discovery Resource Provider
SSDP Discovery

Additionally firewall rules need to be set (inbound and outbound) for:

File and Printer Sharing
Network Discovery

I hope this info helps someone."

"The best way that I have just now found out is there is a setting in network sharing that needs to be set.

File sharing connections

windows 7 uses 128-bit encryption to help protect file sharing connections. Some devices don't support 128-bit encryption and muse use 40- to 56 bit encryption.

Set this to Enable file sharing for devices that use 40- or 56-bit encryption.

that should alleviate your problems."