MAJOR PROBLEM - DEEP EXPLANATION
No matter what options, settings I tried I cannot get Windows 8.1 to communicate with the NAS.
First, there are some files that I put on the NAS that are not showing on the NAS, I hope there not gone forever. I haven’t deleted anything; I’m hoping not.
Let me explain further.
That is just one of the problems; this is the MAJOR PROBLEM.
I have disabled HomeGroups in Windows 8.1; though Windows Services , both HomeGroup options disabled, why, because the problems it was giving, literally no one, as in more then eight people, knew the answer as well it was slowing down FireFox when browsing, and it was not helping with being able to read any files on the NAS. Since no one knew how to stop the problems it was causing, I had to disable.
Two computers, one, Windows 7, the other, Windows 8.1 are using workgroups instead, both have the same workgroup name.
I can access the NAS though it’s IP address on both versions of Windows, no problems, I can see only the folders on the NAS with both versions of windows, I cannot see any files. I am using a gateway modem, not a router, instead a gateway modem, there has been major confusion with what is the difference when getting help from others online.
HomeGroup is disabled in Windows 7 Services, but Control Panel > HomeGroup tells me that the computer belongs to a HomeGroup ?
System Breakdown of what is happening when one version of Windows tries to communicate with the other;
Windows 7
When trying to access a shared folder that exists on Windows 8.1, I get the following error;
Windows cannot access \Name_of_PC
You do not have permission to access \Name_of_PC\Name_of_folder. Contact your network administrator to request access.
I have tried, and tried as I might, to give the folder that exists on Windows 8.1 access to Windows 7, I’ve made no progress, Windows 8.1 won’t allow me.
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When trying to access files within a folder, but not all folders on the NAS, I get prompt for a Network password, only if I restart the computer. Since I have two users, one of them being the Administrator, I simply enter in the user name & password of either user and I have access to the files, except as I mentioned earlier;
First, there are some files that I put on the NAS that are not showing on the NAS, I hope there not gone forever. I haven’t deleted anything; I’m hoping not ?
When I enter in the Network user name and password for other folders on the NAS, I strictly get; location currently not available ? The folders I can access have this structure, and I’m wondering if this is the reason for why some files I can’t see ?
[Folder Name]
-.wdmc
–trancoded_files
— [series of letters and numbers represneting the folder ?]
That sums up, most, if not all the problems I’m having with Windows 7 and the NAS, now I will move onto Windows 8.1
Windows 8.1
First, if you remember, I disabled HomeGrouping on both versions of Windows, if you are asking yourself, what is the problem you were having with homegroups on Windows 8.1, it was a very odd problem, I was informed from someone online it may be a bug with Windows 8.1 networking, so disabling it and using workgroups is probably my best option, and so I did that, and quite frankly, I would rather stick with workgroups.
Both versions of Windows has the same workgroup name, as I believed I mentioned earlier in this message, and if I didn’t, now you know 
As well I mentioned earlier in this message; I can access the NAS control panel using it’s IP address on Windows 8.1, and I can see the folders on the NAS but I can’t access the files.
Windows 8.1 sees the EX2 as a storage device, including the gateway which it labels as the Network Infrastructure, as well Windows 8.1 sees Windows 7; when trying to access any folders on Windows 7 by clicking on Networking > Name_of_Computer in Windows explorer; this is the error I receive;
\Name_of_computer is not accessible. You might not have permission to use network resources.
That is the only error I get, preventing literally everything to do with the NAS or shared folders etc.
That conlcudes the problems on Windows 8.1
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I can access the Internet on both versions of Windows, but I can’t share folders or access files on a NAS, or map a directory folder on the NAS as a drive in Windows 8.1. I have tried, I swear everything more then twice on Windows 8.1 with no solution, at times I could’ve swore I was going in circles. I’ve thought about contacting Microsoft, then again, not sure how deep this problem is, maybe the user groups and what is to be shared is just a complete mess and needs organization, at this point, it’s anyones guess.
Finally, how do I have the EX2 connected, simply. The network cable is connected to the gateway, the gateway is connected to the Windows 8.1 box, the Windows 7 box is connected by network cable to the gateway, or wired modem , so it doesn’t lead to confusion, and that’s it.
