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WacoJohn's avatar
WacoJohn
Luminary
Aug 21, 2025
Solved

Does RAX120 replace XR500

Please forgive the bold text. 

 

Not a router expert.  Have to replace XR500 (incompatible with W11) with something as close as possible .... particularly USB ports for HDDs to be seen on home network.  I ONLY am familiar with XR500/READYSHARE so now you know my limitation.  Would 

RAX120 — Nighthawk AX12 12-Stream WiFi Router

be recommendable or some other product?  I just want to have the same feature I had on the XR500 re: external HDDs,  Thank you in advance.

  • This thread is SOLVED.  I have requested Moderator mark it so.  Turns out, XR500 Readyshare is compatible w/ W11.  I just fixed it, but don't know exactly how I did it.  If you are having the same problem I did, don't give up.  It's all hidden in there somewhere within W11.  Good luck.

30 Replies

  • I need to digest what you have said.  I do have some 'news'.  First I need to explain something.  W10 Explorer/This PC shows this:

     

    See Network Locations (3)?  I rarely click on that because I have the two HDs mapped to M: and N:  Out of sight, out of mind.  If I DO click on it, I get 4 folders (Browse Folders, Music, Pictures, Video).  Open Browse.  New window/2 folders/sdb1 AND sda2.   Hmmm, they each will open revealing each HD content on the router.

     

    This is the same W10 machine as above:

     

     

    The router shows:

    I don't see anything about SDB1 or SDB2 but that's OK with me because everything works on W10 (but I don't know where those identifiers are coming from).

     

    Now, on to W11:  I did a W/Update repair installation, W11PRO, and all the other stuff.  Disk Cleanup, check for more updates, SMB 1, blah, blah, blah. The word READYSHARE does not appear anywhere on that machine.  It does reveal SDB1 and SDA2 folders (like W10 does).  Pretty much same as W10 except no READYSHARE shows up .... anywhere.  This is 'bout' the best I know to do.  Out of ideas.

  • There is a tremendous amount of contradicting information on the 'net about XR500/READYSHARE/WINDOWS 11. Tons of users having problems on W11.  Heard also of Netgear no longer supporting Readyshare.  I'm pretty sure they stopped supporting the XR500 .... but Readyshare???

     

    So, hard to get a straight answer.  EVERYTHING works great on W10.  W11 Pro will not even find Readyshare.  Yes, SMB 1 is on.  It's hard to remember but I vaguely remember it did but that would have been a long time ago.  I'm at wits end with this.  In your amazing wisdom, can you make any comment?  You have always been so helpful.  Thank you in advance.

    • FURRYe38's avatar
      FURRYe38
      Guru - Experienced User

      Also with Win11 there has been some issues going on with Privacy settings as well:

      I've noticed changes and differences between Win 10 and Win 11 and 11 being more problematic. Something about the background running services maybe failing on Win 11. 

      I noticed that when selected Private, other PCs on same network are need but the master PC or the viewing PC that your working on is NOT seen on the networking window. Win 10, you see ALL PCs including the master PC that your working with. MS hasn't really responded to changes in behaviors. 

       

      Yes if you have SMB 1.0 enabled in Win 11, Readyshare resources should be accessible from networking or map drive operations. How I access my 2012 era NAS devices. 

       

    • Netduma-Fraser's avatar
      Netduma-Fraser
      NetDuma Partner

      ReadySHARE isn't one of our features so I couldn't say for certain if there is a specific reason it's not working on W11 BUT:

      • On W11 they have it recommended now & by default the network set as public, you'll need to set this to private for sharing to work (Network & Internet > Up top where it says properties for your active connection  it'll say public or private, you can click that specifically to change it - keep in mind if you use ethernet and WiFi interchangeably that one may be set as public and the other as private and vice versa)
      • Network & Internet > Advanced Network Settings > Advanced Sharing Settings > Private Networks (once you've made the change) > Network Discovery On

       

      I don't know if that will help or not, however, I use an Apple Time Capsule as a pseudo home streaming server and it only uses SMB 1.0 like ReadySHARE and everything I mentioned, as far as I am aware is what I have enabled/changed to make it work on W11.

  • Can't comment on another router but you may just need to enable SMB 1 on Windows 11 for it to work. Windows Search Bar - Turn Windows features on or off > Scroll down to SMB 1.0 and enable, see if it works after that