ES File Explorer file sharing questions

The share names ending in $ are "hidden" shares. They're not visible when you're accessing the machine from another Windows machine because Windows is designed to not show them. Most other clients (like ES File Explorer) will show them. That said, accessing those shares requires that you connect to the machine using an account that's a member of the local administrators group on that machine. It sounds like you're accessing both machines issuing a guest or non-administrator account, and that the first machine has most shares setup with no restrictions, whereas the second one is a bit more secure.

 

unless you know Windows OS intimately, stay away from any $ symbol folder....
you can royally muck things up fast in those folders.

on the other hand, you can change the defaults in the Windows folders options to show All Files, even the $ystem files....
But CAVEAT EMPTOR prevails...... delete something that is critical and you will be doing a new Windows install from scratch.

 

The permissions shown under Security are (or can be) specified at the object level (an object being a file or folder), and can be very granular. These apply to all users, whether accessing the files via a share or via the local console. Permissions shown under Sharing are much less granular, apply only to access via the specific share, and can further restrict (but not expand) a user's access beyond those listed under Security.