Can't Share Files with Mac - Domain Issue?

[Guest]

I am new to Windows and networking, but I recently acquired an HP Pavilion
with Windows XP MCE that I've been trying to network with my Macintosh (OS
10.4.6). Going through an Airport Base Station (802.11b/g) I can reach files
on my Mac from the PC but not the other way around. From discussions in this
forum I've gathered the hunch that I may have run up against one of the
limitations of XP MCE as opposed to XP Professional.

As readers may know, the standard method of sharing PC files from a Mac is
via SMB. Everything I've tried in the Connect to Server dialog results in an
error saying that data at the entered address could not be read or written.

But the most telling clue, I guess, is what I find on the PC side in the
Control Panel / System Properties / Computer Name. There's a field that is
grayed out, saying:

To use the Network Identification Wizard to join a domain and create a local
user account, click Network ID.

I've done a search for Network Identification Wizard on my computer and find
none. Forgive me for not quite understanding the definition of a Domain. My
question is, if I had this missing Wizard (which I presume exists on XP
Professional) would that enable my Mac to access the files on the PC? Or am I
doing something else wrong?

Finally, if my hunch is right and having XP Professional would fix the
problem, what is the best way to replace MCE with Professional? I've learned
that a direct "upgrade" is not possible. So if I want to install XP
Professional do I need to somehow remove MCE, reformat the drive or what?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Chuck]

I am new to Windows and networking, but I recently acquired an HP Pavilion
with Windows XP MCE that I've been trying to network with my Macintosh (OS
10.4.6). Going through an Airport Base Station (802.11b/g) I can reach files
on my Mac from the PC but not the other way around. From discussions in this
forum I've gathered the hunch that I may have run up against one of the
limitations of XP MCE as opposed to XP Professional.

As readers may know, the standard method of sharing PC files from a Mac is
via SMB. Everything I've tried in the Connect to Server dialog results in an
error saying that data at the entered address could not be read or written.

But the most telling clue, I guess, is what I find on the PC side in the
Control Panel / System Properties / Computer Name. There's a field that is
grayed out, saying:

To use the Network Identification Wizard to join a domain and create a local
user account, click Network ID.

I've done a search for Network Identification Wizard on my computer and find
none. Forgive me for not quite understanding the definition of a Domain. My
question is, if I had this missing Wizard (which I presume exists on XP
Professional) would that enable my Mac to access the files on the PC? Or am I
doing something else wrong?

Finally, if my hunch is right and having XP Professional would fix the
problem, what is the best way to replace MCE with Professional? I've learned
that a direct "upgrade" is not possible. So if I want to install XP
Professional do I need to somehow remove MCE, reformat the drive or what?

Stoonroon,

First, to have a domain, you'll need a domain controller, which is a computer
running a Microsoft Server OS, like Windows 2000 Server, or Server 2003. And XP
Pro - not Home or MCE, as you've surmised.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/11/windows-xp-which-edition-should-i.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/11/windows-xp-which-edition-should-i.html

So, unless you get a server, I don't see any benefit in your replacing XP MCE
with Pro. MCE has the components of Pro, excepting the ability to join a
domain. So why not stay as you are.

Now, if the XP computer can access the Mac, your connectivity and protocols are
good. I'd bet you have an authentication issue between the Mac and the XP
computers. Try enabling the Guest account, on the XP computer, for network
access.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html#Activate>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html#Activate

Make sure that you don't have any firewalls interfering.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html

If still no success, we'll try some diagnoses. But try the above first.