File Sharing Problems with Windows XP

[Michael List]

I have two desktops running XP sp1 and a laptop running XP sp2. From
either desktop I can copy files to my laptop but not from it. The same
is true from my laptop, I can copy to the other machine but not from it.
I’m using simple file share on all machines. I’ve tried un-sharing
and then re-sharing but that did not help. I hope someone has a
solution to this problem. If not, is there anyway to completely turn
off the protections on both machines?

 

[Chuck]

I have two desktops running XP sp1 and a laptop running XP sp2. From
either desktop I can copy files to my laptop but not from it. The same
is true from my laptop, I can copy to the other machine but not from it.
I’m using simple file share on all machines. I’ve tried un-sharing
and then re-sharing but that did not help. I hope someone has a
solution to this problem. If not, is there anyway to completely turn
off the protections on both machines?

Michael,

Please provide ipconfig information for each computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\ipconfig.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.

Did you enable the Guest account, using Start - Run - "cmd" - type "net user
guest /active:yes" in the command window, on both computers?.

Are there any personal firewalls installed on either computer?

Cheers,

Cheers,
Chuck

 

[Michael List]

Thanks for the quick response. What is strange, is that files written
before the new laptop was added can be read and written to by either
machine - only new files can't be read. Answers to your questions are
listed below:

Michael,

Please provide ipconfig information for each computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\ipconfig.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.

Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : desk1
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 3Com 3C920 Integrated Fast
Ethernet Controller (3C905C-TX Compatible)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-B0-D0-E4-5C-0A
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.30
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 206.141.192.60
206.141.193.55
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Lap1
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Atheros AR5004G Wireless
Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-F5-03-B6-89
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family
Fast Ethernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-02-3F-D8-CD-33
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.32
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 206.141.192.60
206.141.193.55

Did you enable the Guest account, using Start - Run - "cmd" - type "net user
guest /active:yes" in the command window, on both computers?.

Guest accounts are enabled on both machines - no change

Are there any personal firewalls installed on either computer?

Firewalls are disabled on both machines

 

[Chuck]

Thanks for the quick response. What is strange, is that files written
before the new laptop was added can be read and written to by either
machine - only new files can't be read. Answers to your questions are
listed below:


Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : desk1
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 3Com 3C920 Integrated Fast
Ethernet Controller (3C905C-TX Compatible)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-B0-D0-E4-5C-0A
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.30
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 206.141.192.60
206.141.193.55
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Lap1
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Atheros AR5004G Wireless
Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-F5-03-B6-89
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family
Fast Ethernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-02-3F-D8-CD-33
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.32
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 206.141.192.60
206.141.193.55


Guest accounts are enabled on both machines - no change


Firewalls are disabled on both machines

Michael,

Please provide some more details re your answers above. You say
"...files written before the new laptop was added can be read and written to by
either machine - only new files can't be read.".

Do you have files in previously existing folders - some readable, others not?
Or different folders only? Is the problem with files created, or updated -
what about a file created before, but updated after - is it readable?

And what do you mean by "can't be read"? Can you not see them? Or see but not
open them? Can you write to all files that you can open?

Is this XP Home or Pro?

And what firewalls are disabled (what brand)?

Cheers,

Cheers,
Chuck

 

[Michael List]

Michael,

Please provide some more details re your answers above. You say
"...files written before the new laptop was added can be read and written to by
either machine - only new files can't be read.".

Do you have files in previously existing folders - some readable, others not?
Or different folders only?

Files created before the addition of the laptop are readable but those
created or modified after are not

Is the problem with files created, or updated -

what about a file created before, but updated after - is it readable?

And what do you mean by "can't be read"? Can you not see them? Or see but not
open them?

I can see them but not open them - "accessed denied" message appears
when I try to open them.

Can you write to all files that you can open?

Yes

Is this XP Home or Pro?

XP Pro on all machines

And what firewalls are disabled (what brand)?

What is supplied with XP Pro

 

[Chuck]

Files created before the addition of the laptop are readable but those
created or modified after are not

Is the problem with files created, or updated -

I can see them but not open them - "accessed denied" message appears
when I try to open them.

Can you write to all files that you can open?

Yes

XP Pro on all machines

What is supplied with XP Pro

Michael,

Windows XP includes Internet Connection Firewall (ICF - pre-SP2), or Windows
Firewall (WF - SP2). Both firewalls will block file sharing if not properly
configured.

I have to ask my previous question again. Do you have any cases where some
files (in one folder) are readable, but others (in the same folder) are not?
Does this condition apply to folders (files) in both desktops? Do all files
(that you've tried opening / writing to) with this problem have the same problem
(or not), when accessed from both of the other computers, equally?

Have you always been running Simple File Sharing on all 3 computers? If you had
Advanced File Sharing enabled (SFS disabled) on either desktop at one time, did
you change to SFS on both at the same time? Did you change to SFS at the same
time as you added the laptop? If you ever used AFS, was it Guest only, or
non-Guest, authentication?

Please re enable Advanced File Sharing on one of the desktops temporarily, then
examine Properties - Sharing and Security, for one of the shares. Note that
under AFS, you can set access to specific folders (and even specific files if
desired), and limit access to each to specific users (or Guest). Do you see any
differences for the problem folders (files?)?

Note that, under AFS, you have to set access under both Sharing - Permission,
and under Security, for network access to be permitted (you can cause denial of
access by the wrong setting in either list).

Michael, the more detailed you can analyse this situation, the more likely you
will be able to determine a) what the problem is, and b) which computer(s) the
problem originates on. I can only ask the questions - and you can ask other
questions, but only you can supply the answers.

And Michael, please don't contribute to the spread and success of email address
mining viruses. Posting your email address openly will get you more unwanted
email, than wanted email. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep
yourself a bit safer when posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest
of the internet - read this article.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

Cheers,
Chuck

 

[Michael List]

Michael,

Windows XP includes Internet Connection Firewall (ICF - pre-SP2), or Windows
Firewall (WF - SP2). Both firewalls will block file sharing if not properly
configured.

I have turned off ICF on both desktops and WF on the laptop.

I have to ask my previous question again. Do you have any cases where some
files (in one folder) are readable, but others (in the same folder) are not?
Does this condition apply to folders (files) in both desktops? Do all files
(that you've tried opening / writing to) with this problem have the same problem
(or not), when accessed from both of the other computers, equally?

For files created before the addition of the new laptop:
Using Word Perfect on either desktop, I can open a file located on
the Laptop (or visa versa), edit and save it to the laptop.
I can copy files to and from any machine using Windows Explorer.

For files created after the addition of the new laptop:
Using Word Perfect on either Desktop, (or visa versa) I receiving
the following message when I try to open a file: "This document
(document name) is in use or is specified as read only. You may edit
the document, but you must save it with a new name. Continue?" which is
followed by: "Access denied: you do not have rights to do this". On
either Desktop when I try to copy a file in Windows Explorer from the
Laptop I receive the error message: "Cannot copy Lap1 Access Denied".
However from the Laptop, I can copy files from either Desktop

Have you always been running Simple File Sharing on all 3 computers? If you had
Advanced File Sharing enabled (SFS disabled) on either desktop at one time, did
you change to SFS on both at the same time? Did you change to SFS at the same
time as you added the laptop? If you ever used AFS, was it Guest only, or
non-Guest, authentication?

I've always run simple file sharing on all 3 computers - never had
advanced file sharing enabled.

Please re enable Advanced File Sharing on one of the desktops temporarily, then
examine Properties - Sharing and Security, for one of the shares. Note that
under AFS, you can set access to specific folders (and even specific files if
desired), and limit access to each to specific users (or Guest). Do you see any
differences for the problem folders (files?)?

Enabled AFS on the Laptop, checked one of the problematic files which
had one group called users, set permissions to full control, disabled
AFS and was able to read, write and copy the file from either Desktop.
Older files had more users and there permissions were already set to
full control.

Note that, under AFS, you have to set access under both Sharing - Permission,
and under Security, for network access to be permitted (you can cause denial of
access by the wrong setting in either list).

While under AFS (on the Laptop), I viewed Local Users and Groups and
didn't see anything I thought was out of the ordinary. However Local
Securities Settings gave me the error message: "The group security
settings that apply to this machine could not be determined. The error
returned when trying to retrieve these settings from the local security
database (%windir%\security\database\secedit.sdb) was: The Parameter is
Incorrect" when I viewed Account Policy, Local Policy User Right
Assignment and Security Options. This error did not occur on either
Desktop.

Michael, the more detailed you can analyse this situation, the more likely you
will be able to determine a) what the problem is, and b) which computer(s) the
problem originates on. I can only ask the questions - and you can ask other
questions, but only you can supply the answers.

And Michael, please don't contribute to the spread and success of email address
mining viruses. Posting your email address openly will get you more unwanted
email, than wanted email. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep
yourself a bit safer when posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest
of the internet - read this article.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

Cheers,
Chuck

It seems to me that the problem originates on the new Laptop. If I add
my old Laptop, running 98SE to the network all three machines work fine
with the new laptop creating the problem. What does the secedit.sdb
file do? Will a corrupt file cause the problem I'm having?

Michael

 

[Chuck]

I have turned off ICF on both desktops and WF on the laptop.


For files created before the addition of the new laptop:
Using Word Perfect on either desktop, I can open a file located on
the Laptop (or visa versa), edit and save it to the laptop.
I can copy files to and from any machine using Windows Explorer.

For files created after the addition of the new laptop:
Using Word Perfect on either Desktop, (or visa versa) I receiving
the following message when I try to open a file: "This document
(document name) is in use or is specified as read only. You may edit
the document, but you must save it with a new name. Continue?" which is
followed by: "Access denied: you do not have rights to do this". On
either Desktop when I try to copy a file in Windows Explorer from the
Laptop I receive the error message: "Cannot copy Lap1 Access Denied".
However from the Laptop, I can copy files from either Desktop


I've always run simple file sharing on all 3 computers - never had
advanced file sharing enabled.


Enabled AFS on the Laptop, checked one of the problematic files which
had one group called users, set permissions to full control, disabled
AFS and was able to read, write and copy the file from either Desktop.
Older files had more users and there permissions were already set to
full control.


While under AFS (on the Laptop), I viewed Local Users and Groups and
didn't see anything I thought was out of the ordinary. However Local
Securities Settings gave me the error message: "The group security
settings that apply to this machine could not be determined. The error
returned when trying to retrieve these settings from the local security
database (%windir%\security\database\secedit.sdb) was: The Parameter is
Incorrect" when I viewed Account Policy, Local Policy User Right
Assignment and Security Options. This error did not occur on either
Desktop.


It seems to me that the problem originates on the new Laptop. If I add
my old Laptop, running 98SE to the network all three machines work fine
with the new laptop creating the problem. What does the secedit.sdb
file do? Will a corrupt file cause the problem I'm having?

Michael,

Knowing how complex all the parts of Windows are, I'd not be surprised if
secedit.sdb was at least a co-symptom of your problem. See if this helps
(Remember that Win2000 is NT V5.0, and WinXP is V5.1):
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=278316

I'm intrigued by the fact that you have problematic files, and also "Older files
had more users and there permissions were already set to full control.". Were
there older files on the laptop? From before your getting the laptop? Or do
you have 2 laptops AND 2 desktops? Which laptop has the problem files? Which
laptop did you enable AFS (aka UDCFS) on in your test?

Cheers,
Chuck

 

[Michael List]

Michael,

Knowing how complex all the parts of Windows are, I'd not be surprised if
secedit.sdb was at least a co-symptom of your problem. See if this helps
(Remember that Win2000 is NT V5.0, and WinXP is V5.1):
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=278316

Chuck,
Did the above and received the same error messages as before when
viewing Local Security Settings. I found that secedit.sdb had been saved
to mydocuments\security\database. I copied the file over to
windows\security\database and the error messages disappeared when
viewing Local Security Settings but the other problems still exist.

I'm intrigued by the fact that you have problematic files, and also "Older files
had more users and there permissions were already set to full control.". Were
there older files on the laptop? From before your getting the laptop? Or do
you have 2 laptops AND 2 desktops? Which laptop has the problem files? Which
laptop did you enable AFS (aka UDCFS) on in your test?

I guess I didn't make this clear enough, but the Desktop machines are
located in two different places and depending on where I am depends on
which machine I'm using. So therefore, at some point during the day, all
three machines will be synchronized and have identical files on them. I
first noticed the problem the day after I bought the laptop (earlier
this week), trying to synchronize files using Lap Link and I received
"Access Denied" errors.

Unfortunately the two desktop machine are located 38 miles apart so
needless to say I've been doing a bit od driving over the last 24 hours.

Here's what I've come up with. Files created or modified on either
desktop and saved to a given desktop or even written to the laptop may
be synchronized with Lap Link or copied from or to using windows
explorer. Files created or modified on the Laptop can not be copied or
synchronized from either desktop. However I can move them from the
Laptop to either Desktop using windows explorer. The other thing I
noticed is that using windows explorer from either Desktop, I receive
"Access Denied" messages when I try to view directories such as
Documents and Settings, Program Files and Windows. From the Laptop, I
have full access of all directories on either laptop. So it seems to me
that I need to change something to allow full access to all my files on
the Laptop. Also on all three machines, I share the entire C drive, not
just certain directories.

Michael