Sometimes when I access a shared folder (with the local and remote
computers all running Windows XP Professional) by simply typing \
\computer_name\share_name in the address bar, I get a login prompt and
everything works fine. However, sometimes, I get an error message "\
\computer_name\share_name is not accessible. You might not have
permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of
this server to find out if you have access permissions. Access is
denied." When I just type \\computer_name in the address bar I can see
the shared folders, but clicking on them gives the same error message.
However, when I go to Tools->Map Network Drive, and connect that way,
it works fine.

Can anybody tell me what dictates whether or not you can access a
shared folder without mapping it?

Craig Wenger <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:0f8b03f9-b524-4fce-92e3-(E-Mail Removed)
m:

> Sometimes when I access a shared folder (with the local and remote
> computers all running Windows XP Professional) by simply typing \
> \computer_name\share_name in the address bar, I get a login prompt
> and everything works fine. However, sometimes, I get an error
> message "\ \computer_name\share_name is not accessible. You might
> not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the
> administrator of this server to find out if you have access
> permissions. Access is denied." When I just type \\computer_name
> in the address bar I can see the shared folders, but clicking on
> them gives the same error message. However, when I go to
> Tools->Map Network Drive, and connect that way, it works fine.
>
> Can anybody tell me what dictates whether or not you can access a
> shared folder without mapping it?
>

Yes, you can access a shared folder without mapping it.

If you try to connect to a share on Computer A from Computer B and
the user name that you are logged on to on computer B matches a user
name on computer A but the user names on the two computers have
different passwords, then the connection is immediately rejected.

If there is no user name on computer A that matches the user that
you are logged onto on computer B then you are presented with a
login prompt window.

You can force connections with a provided set of credentials by
bringing up a command window (Start->Run->"cmd") and entering the
command:
net use \\computer_name\share_name password /user:computer_name\user_name

Note that you can only connect to a computer under a single
credential at a time. If you are already connected to the machine
as a different user, you must first disconnect before reconnecting
with the different username credentials.

Also note that Windows XP Pro has a 10 concurrent connection limit.

HTH,
John

On Aug 27, 5:47*pm, John Wunderlich <jwunderl...@lycos.com> wrote:
> Craig Wenger <craig.wen...@gmail.com> wrote innews:0f8b03f9-b524-4fce-92e3-(E-Mail Removed)
> m:
>
> > Sometimes when I access a shared folder (with the local and remote
> > computers all running Windows XP Professional) by simply typing \
> > \computer_name\share_name in the address bar, I get a login prompt
> > and everything works fine. However, sometimes, I get an error
> > message "\ \computer_name\share_name is not accessible. You might
> > not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the
> > administrator of this server to find out if you have access
> > permissions. Access is denied." When I just type \\computer_name
> > in the address bar I can see the shared folders, but clicking on
> > them gives the same error message. However, when I go to
> > Tools->Map Network Drive, and connect that way, it works fine.
>
> > Can anybody tell me what dictates whether or not you can access a
> > shared folder without mapping it?
>
> Yes, you can access a shared folder without mapping it.
>
> If you try to connect to a share on Computer A from Computer B and
> the user name that you are logged on to on computer B matches a user
> name on computer A but the user names on the two computers have
> different passwords, then the connection is immediately rejected.
>
> If there is no user name on computer A that matches the user that
> you are logged onto on computer B then you are presented with a
> login prompt window.
>
> You can force connections with a provided set of credentials by
> bringing up a command window (Start->Run->"cmd") and entering the
> command:
> * net use \\computer_name\share_name password /user:computer_name\user_name
>
> Note that you can only connect to a computer under a single
> credential at a time. *If you are already connected to the machine
> as a different user, you must first disconnect before reconnecting
> with the different username credentials.
>
> Also note that Windows XP Pro has a 10 concurrent connection limit.
>
> HTH,
> * John

Thanks for the help John. But I don't think that is the whole story.
Computer B is logged on with a username that is definitely not on
Computer A, and I still get rejected. I think I just figured it out
though. The problem is the username and the computer name of computer
A is the same. I guess there was a reason why Windows warned me about
doing that...

John,
I don't have password access turned on. Please see my post about asking for
a username/password. Am trying to access a shared folder on an external usb
hard drive on my desktop from my laptop. Both have the same username, but no
password required. Only the shared folder on the external hard drive is
requiring this. All other shares work as advertised. Can you help with
this???
Thank you.
Ernie