On my network, I have 2 PCs running Windows 7 Ult, and 2 PCs running WinXP-Pro.
When my XP PCs browse a shared folder living on a Win7 PC, not all files or folders are listed. It is as if once a certain number of filenames have been listed, something gives up.
For example, on my WIndows 7 PC, I have a folder with about 400 folders of pictures. The XP PCs only see about 300 folders. The number is consistent as far as the number of folders the XP clients see. It is not a permission problem, because if I move some of the low-numbered folders out of the share, then the names at the bottom of the folder list start to appear.
I even copied all picture folders to the other Windows 7 PC, and created a fresh share and still the XP clients only see the same limited number of folders or files.
It also seems to be based on a percentage, and not a finite limit of file or folder names. For example, if I have 700 objects in a folder, only 500 are visible on the client. If I have 400 objects in a folder, only 300 are visible.
I have looked all over the web. I am usually very good at a well-crafted google search strings when I want to find something, but this one has me stumped.
I uninstalled Avast!5 from the Windows7 and the problem went away. I installed the Avast 6 beta, and it worked for 2 days, then broke again.