File sharing in vista

[Tiffany]

Hi,

I am trying to create remote file sharing among my colleagues. We want to
use a desktop (with no wireless connection) with business vista as the server
and create all the sharing folders in the desktop. After that, we connect to
the desktop through a common workgroup. We have done all the setup but we
simply can't remotely connect to the desktop at all. The error msg is

0x80070035 and network diagnostics pinged the remote host but did not
receive a response. Cannot communicatge with the "Desk Computer Name - ip
address"

Can someone teach me and show me what is the problem? Don't refer me to
another websites because I have already checked and I still don't understand.

Thank you.

 

[Gordon]

Hi,

I am trying to create remote file sharing among my colleagues. We want to
use a desktop (with no wireless connection) with business vista as the server
and create all the sharing folders in the desktop. After that, we connect to
the desktop through a common workgroup. We have done all the setup but we
simply can't remotely connect to the desktop at all. The error msg is

0x80070035 and network diagnostics pinged the remote host but did not
receive a response. Cannot communicatge with the "Desk Computer Name - ip
address"

Can someone teach me and show me what is the problem? Don't refer me to
another websites because I have already checked and I still don't understand.

Thank you.

Firstly, if the number of machines in the workgroup that will access
this central PC is more than five or six, then you should seriously
think about getting a proper Server OS, firstly for ease of
administration, and secondly because there is a limit to the number of
CONCURRENT connections that can be made to a machine in a workgroup
environment with a desktop OS. (XP Pro had a limit of 10 - don't know
about Vista - and be aware that one machine can make more than one
connection at any one time).

 

[Malke]

Hi,

I am trying to create remote file sharing among my colleagues. We want to
use a desktop (with no wireless connection) with business vista as the
server and create all the sharing folders in the desktop. After that, we
connect to the desktop through a common workgroup. We have done all the
setup but we simply can't remotely connect to the desktop at all. The
error msg is

0x80070035 and network diagnostics pinged the remote host but did not
receive a response. Cannot communicatge with the "Desk Computer Name - ip
address"

Can someone teach me and show me what is the problem? Don't refer me to
another websites because I have already checked and I still don't
understand.

Please explain what method you are using to connect remotely. Then explain
what operating systems all the computers are using and how your network is
set up.

Malke

 

[Tiffany]

1) through a common workgroup. Using private network for all computers,
enabled network discovery and file sharing in all the computers
2) All the computers are using Window Vista Business
3) If i use a wireless laptop (A) as server, all the computers are able to
remotely access the folders in A. However, when I use a wired desktop as
server, all the computers have problem connecting to the desktop. I have 4
wireless laptops and i desktop.

Kindly advise.

Thanks

 

[Malke]

1) through a common workgroup. Using private network for all computers,
enabled network discovery and file sharing in all the computers
2) All the computers are using Window Vista Business
3) If i use a wireless laptop (A) as server, all the computers are able to
remotely access the folders in A. However, when I use a wired desktop as
server, all the computers have problem connecting to the desktop. I have 4
wireless laptops and i desktop.

OK, we had a miscommunications issue because of semantics. "Connecting
remotely" means something quite different from what you think it means. It
means to connect from *outside* your Local Area Network, like when you need
to get into your work computer from home. I think this is not what you
really meant. From what you've written above, you are doing a simple Local
Area Network file/printer sharing.

Because we're still missing a great deal of information about your
computers, I'll give you my general network troubleshooting steps. Go
through them, taking the bits you need. Offhand, I'd guess that you don't
have matching user accounts/passwords on the desktop and/or its firewall is
misconfigured.

Also you need to be aware that there is an inbound concurrent connections
limitation of 10 connections in Vista Business. This doesn't mean users or
computers. One computer can make multiple connections to a server or, in
your case, a pseudo-server. If more than 5 "client" workstations are
connecting to the pseudo-server, you may bump into that limitation and
should consider replacing Vista Business with a real server operating
system.

In addition, if you are using a computer as a file or application server,
that computer should be connected to the network *wired* and should have a
static IP address. This is probably not the cause of your network sharing
issues, but I mention it to be thorough.

Here are general network troubleshooting steps. Not everything may be
applicable to your situation, so just take the bits that are. It may look
daunting, but if you follow the steps at the links and suggestions below
systematically and calmly, you will have no difficulty in setting up your
sharing.

Excellent, thorough, yet easy to understand article about File/Printer
Sharing in Vista. Includes details about sharing printers as well as files
and folders:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx

Problems sharing files between computers on a network are generally caused
by 1) a misconfigured firewall or overlooked firewall (including a stateful
firewall in a VPN); or 2) inadvertently running two firewalls such as the
built-in Windows Firewall and a third-party firewall; and/or 3) not having
identical user accounts and passwords on all Workgroup machines; 4) trying
to create shares where the operating system does not permit it.

A. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area Network (LAN)
traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, this means allowing File/Printer
Sharing on the Exceptions tab. If you aren't running a third-party firewall
or have an antivirus/security program with its own firewall component, then
you're fine. With third-party firewalls, I usually configure the LAN
allowance with an IP range. Ex. would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254.
Obviously you would substitute your correct subnet. Refer to any third
party security program's Help or user forums for how to properly configure
its firewall. Do not run more than one firewall. DO NOT TURN OFF FIREWALLS;
CONFIGURE THEM CORRECTLY.

B. For ease of organization, put all computers in the same Workgroup. This
is done from the System applet in Control Panel, Computer Name tab.

C. Create matching user accounts and passwords on all machines. You do not
need to be logged into the same account on all machines and the passwords
assigned to each user account can be different; the accounts/passwords just
need to exist and match on all machines. DO NOT NEGLECT TO CREATE
PASSWORDS, EVEN IF ONLY SIMPLE ONES. If you wish a machine to boot directly
to the Desktop (into one particular user's account) for convenience, you
can do this:

Start Orb>Search box>type: netplwiz [enter]
Click on Continue (or supply an administrator's password) when prompted by
UAC

Uncheck the option "Users must enter a user name and password to use this
computer". Select a user account to automatically log on by clicking on the
desired account to highlight it and then hit OK. Enter the correct password
for that user account (if there is one) when prompted. Leave it blank if
there is no password (null).

Malke

 

[Tiffany]

i went through all the steps in the link you gave me before. That is how i
learn to configure file sharing for my company. I can do file sharing using
one of the laptops as file server but when i tried to switch the file server
to a desktop, the file sharing is not working anymore.

I have checked all the possible causes and think a misconfigured firewall or
overlooked firewall (including a stateful firewall in a VPN); or
inadvertently running two firewalls such as the built-in Windows Firewall and
a third-party firewall are most probable. How should do troubleshoot for
these two areas. I have no clue at all. I look into
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx#EBAA
but still don't know how to do it. I am not an IT expert. Could you kindly
guide me. Thank you very much.

1) through a common workgroup. Using private network for all computers,
enabled network discovery and file sharing in all the computers
2) All the computers are using Window Vista Business
3) If i use a wireless laptop (A) as server, all the computers are able to
remotely access the folders in A. However, when I use a wired desktop as
server, all the computers have problem connecting to the desktop. I have 4
wireless laptops and i desktop.

OK, we had a miscommunications issue because of semantics. "Connecting
remotely" means something quite different from what you think it means. It
means to connect from *outside* your Local Area Network, like when you need
to get into your work computer from home. I think this is not what you
really meant. From what you've written above, you are doing a simple Local
Area Network file/printer sharing.

Because we're still missing a great deal of information about your
computers, I'll give you my general network troubleshooting steps. Go
through them, taking the bits you need. Offhand, I'd guess that you don't
have matching user accounts/passwords on the desktop and/or its firewall is
misconfigured.

Also you need to be aware that there is an inbound concurrent connections
limitation of 10 connections in Vista Business. This doesn't mean users or
computers. One computer can make multiple connections to a server or, in
your case, a pseudo-server. If more than 5 "client" workstations are
connecting to the pseudo-server, you may bump into that limitation and
should consider replacing Vista Business with a real server operating
system.

In addition, if you are using a computer as a file or application server,
that computer should be connected to the network *wired* and should have a
static IP address. This is probably not the cause of your network sharing
issues, but I mention it to be thorough.

Here are general network troubleshooting steps. Not everything may be
applicable to your situation, so just take the bits that are. It may look
daunting, but if you follow the steps at the links and suggestions below
systematically and calmly, you will have no difficulty in setting up your
sharing.

Excellent, thorough, yet easy to understand article about File/Printer
Sharing in Vista. Includes details about sharing printers as well as files
and folders:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx

Problems sharing files between computers on a network are generally caused
by 1) a misconfigured firewall or overlooked firewall (including a stateful
firewall in a VPN); or 2) inadvertently running two firewalls such as the
built-in Windows Firewall and a third-party firewall; and/or 3) not having
identical user accounts and passwords on all Workgroup machines; 4) trying
to create shares where the operating system does not permit it.

A. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area Network (LAN)
traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, this means allowing File/Printer
Sharing on the Exceptions tab. If you aren't running a third-party firewall
or have an antivirus/security program with its own firewall component, then
you're fine. With third-party firewalls, I usually configure the LAN
allowance with an IP range. Ex. would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254.
Obviously you would substitute your correct subnet. Refer to any third
party security program's Help or user forums for how to properly configure
its firewall. Do not run more than one firewall. DO NOT TURN OFF FIREWALLS;
CONFIGURE THEM CORRECTLY.

B. For ease of organization, put all computers in the same Workgroup. This
is done from the System applet in Control Panel, Computer Name tab.

C. Create matching user accounts and passwords on all machines. You do not
need to be logged into the same account on all machines and the passwords
assigned to each user account can be different; the accounts/passwords just
need to exist and match on all machines. DO NOT NEGLECT TO CREATE
PASSWORDS, EVEN IF ONLY SIMPLE ONES. If you wish a machine to boot directly
to the Desktop (into one particular user's account) for convenience, you
can do this:

Start Orb>Search box>type: netplwiz [enter]
Click on Continue (or supply an administrator's password) when prompted by
UAC

Uncheck the option "Users must enter a user name and password to use this
computer". Select a user account to automatically log on by clicking on the
desired account to highlight it and then hit OK. Enter the correct password
for that user account (if there is one) when prompted. Leave it blank if
there is no password (null).

Malke

 

[Malke]

i went through all the steps in the link you gave me before. That is how i
learn to configure file sharing for my company. I can do file sharing
using one of the laptops as file server but when i tried to switch the
file server to a desktop, the file sharing is not working anymore.

I have checked all the possible causes and think a misconfigured firewall
or overlooked firewall (including a stateful firewall in a VPN); or
inadvertently running two firewalls such as the built-in Windows Firewall
and a third-party firewall are most probable. How should do troubleshoot
for these two areas. I have no clue at all. I look into
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx#EBAA
but still don't know how to do it. I am not an IT expert. Could you kindly
guide me. Thank you very much.

OK, if sharing works on everything except the desktop, then something is set
wrong on the desktop.

1. What antivirus/firewall is installed? If you have Norton or McAfee,
uninstall it. Now try.

2. Are all the user accounts/passwords for the other machines also on the
desktop?

3. Do you have VPN software installed? If yes, look in its preferences and
turn off the stateful firewall.

4. Have you created shares with the correct permissions? Are the shares in a
permitted place? What is the full path to a share (ex. C:\General Office\)
Vista doesn't allow sharing the root of a drive; if you really need to do
this you must take special steps.

I'm happy to try and help but you have to give me more to work with.

Malke

 

[Tiffany]

Hi Malke,


1. What antivirus/firewall is installed? If you have Norton or McAfee,

uninstall it. Now try.

If I uninstall the Norton and McAfee, will my desktop vulnerable to virus
attack? The desktop is the file server and suppose to store all the company
information, so the security of the desktop is very important. Kindly advise.

2. Are all the user accounts/passwords for the other machines also on the
desktop? Yes

3. Do you have VPN software installed? If yes, look in its preferences and
turn off the stateful firewall. No.


4. Have you created shares with the correct permissions? Are the shares in a
permitted place? What is the full path to a share (ex. C:\General Office\)
Vista doesn't allow sharing the root of a drive; if you really need to do
this you must take special steps.

The shared folders are in the D drive. Is it ok?

Once again thank you very much for your help.

 

[Malke]

Tiffany wrote:

Comments inline:

1. What antivirus/firewall is installed? If you have Norton or McAfee,
If I uninstall the Norton and McAfee, will my desktop vulnerable to virus
attack? The desktop is the file server and suppose to store all the
company information, so the security of the desktop is very important.
Kindly advise.

You must have an antivirus on the pseudo-server. Uninstall Norton or McAfee
and AFTER YOU GET THE NETWORKING STRAIGHTENED OUT install a better
antivirus such as NOD32 (commercial) or Avast (free). You are presumably
behind a router and will be protected when you are getting the networking
set up. You're not going to be doing any surfing while you're getting this
done, after all. The built-in Windows Firewall is fine for what you want to
do. Set File/Printer Sharing to Allow in the Exceptions tab (just put a
check mark in the box).

No.

Then the issue isn't one involving a VPN firewall.

The shared folders are in the D drive. Is it ok?

Yes, since you are not sharing out the entire D: drive, just the folders.
Unless you want specialized permissions on the folders (ex. Jack can
read/write but Jill can only read), then set the security to Everyone.
"Everyone" means all user accounts on the pseudo-server and if you've added
all the user accounts/passwords (Item 2. above) you'll be set there.

Malke