Failed to retrieve share list from server.

[ralphy]

I think that your main issue is a NetBIOS resolution issue on your network. Here are some more basic things you should try:


1- Disable the firewall on all machines (including Linux Lite box)


2- Make sure nmbd is installed and running in Linux Lite (NetBIOS name server to provide NetBIOS over IP naming services to clients)

nmbd is a server that understands and can reply to NetBIOS over IP name service requests, like those produced by SMB/CIFS clients such as Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and LanManager clients. It also participates in the browsing protocols which make up the Windows "Network Neighborhood" view.

Code:

sudo apt-get install nmbd
sudo service nmbd start

Of course, make sure you do not have a 3rd party firewall in windows either and if you do, then turn it off.


Also, you do have a router in the network somewhere that's providing DNS and DHCP. You should try to configure a local domain name for resolution in your network in that device if possible but that starts complicating things a tad, so let's assume for now that such device is capable of resolving hosts in the local network.


For example, you should be able to ping computers by using hostnames (that will give you and idea whether you have resolution in your network or not:


From a Windows PC try pinging another host (Linux Lite) by it's name:

Code:

ping Presario-CQ57

or ping a windows machine from linux lite

Code:

ping my-windows-pc-hostname

In most cases, and more often than not, such issues are the result of 1- DNS resolution issues and 2- firewall blocking broadcasting.