Browsing Windows 7 shares from RPi

[Barinor]

I recently recieved a RPi for xmas and have just started working with it now. I am using the noobs version of raspian from "https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/noobs/" on which i have ran thr update and upgrade. My problem is that I am unable to figure out how to get the RPi to browse the shares I have on the windows 7 PC downstairs. The RPi is on the network and can connect to the internet (posting here using the RPi) so that works. Other tablets and PC's in the house can access the shares, but i am at a loss as to how to get the RPi to do so. I thought File Manager -> Go -> Network -> Windows Network would the way to go. When clicking on windows network I get a WORKGROUP Icon and when clicking that I get Error Failed to retrieve share list from server. So I am at a loss on what to do. Most things I have seen on line involve a lot of, to me at the moment, CLI verbage. Is there a simple way to do what I need? Thanks.

[KLL]

i think you need to install SAMBA first.

( i prefer the server AND client version )
sudo apt-get install -y samba samba-common-bin smbclient cifs-utils

now the RPI filemanager should find the by windows shared drives ( after reboot?)

+++ optional +++
for setup a "RPI path" to serve ( call from windows network )
could use RPI user pi with a "remote" password
sudo smbpasswd -a pi

sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
find " workgroup = " and adjust to the windows work group name.
and setup a shared SD cards path ( like for work via desktop )

at end add:

Code: Select all

[share]
    path = /home/pi/Desktop/share
    available = yes
    valid users = pi
    read only = no
    browsable = yes
    public = yes
    writable = yes

and make that dir:
mkdir /home/pi/Desktop/share