In WinXP Pro Sudden Loss of Permission to Access Shared Files on Another Computer in LAN

[AA Smith]

We have a LAN consisting of several computers. It has been setup and
running WinXP Pro for several years. We're now running SP2.

Tonight, I've been working with FP2002 using files on another computer; I'll
call that computer LAN2 and call the one I'm currently using LAN1. I am the
Administrator of these computers and the network. I have always had access
to the shared files on LAN2 from LAN1. However, in the midst of working
with FP2002 tonight, I got an error when trying to save a web page, telling
me I don't have permission to access LAN2.

No one has touched LAN2 for many; long before I even started working with
FP2002 on LAN1. No one has been in that room all evening. When I started
using FP2002 earlier this evening, it opened my web pages on LAN2 with no
problem. And I've saved web pages back to LAN2 frequently as the evening
progressed with no problem until moments ago.

After encountering this error, I tried navigating to LAN2 with Windows
Explorer, but again I got the no permission error when I tried to open LAN2.
I am able to access shared files on all other computers in the LAN at
present, so the problem would not appear to rest with LAN1. I even
restarted WinXP on LAN1, but still I get the no permission error when I try
to access LAN1.

I just tried to access LAN2 by using Start>Run and typing \\LAN2. That
resulted in an error that read: "The network path was not found."

I am at a loss as to what might have caused this sudden loss of access to
LAN2. So, I shall greatly appreciate your help on this.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

We have a LAN consisting of several computers. It has been setup and
running WinXP Pro for several years. We're now running SP2.

Tonight, I've been working with FP2002 using files on another computer; I'll
call that computer LAN2 and call the one I'm currently using LAN1. I am the
Administrator of these computers and the network. I have always had access
to the shared files on LAN2 from LAN1. However, in the midst of working
with FP2002 tonight, I got an error when trying to save a web page, telling
me I don't have permission to access LAN2.

No one has touched LAN2 for many; long before I even started working with
FP2002 on LAN1. No one has been in that room all evening. When I started
using FP2002 earlier this evening, it opened my web pages on LAN2 with no
problem. And I've saved web pages back to LAN2 frequently as the evening
progressed with no problem until moments ago.

After encountering this error, I tried navigating to LAN2 with Windows
Explorer, but again I got the no permission error when I tried to open LAN2.
I am able to access shared files on all other computers in the LAN at
present, so the problem would not appear to rest with LAN1. I even
restarted WinXP on LAN1, but still I get the no permission error when I try
to access LAN1.

I just tried to access LAN2 by using Start>Run and typing \\LAN2. That
resulted in an error that read: "The network path was not found."

I am at a loss as to what might have caused this sudden loss of access to
LAN2. So, I shall greatly appreciate your help on this.

Have you tried rebooting LAN2?
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Ron Lowe]

We have a LAN consisting of several computers. It has been setup and
running WinXP Pro for several years. We're now running SP2.

Tonight, I've been working with FP2002 using files on another computer;
I'll call that computer LAN2 and call the one I'm currently using LAN1. I
am the Administrator of these computers and the network. I have always
had access to the shared files on LAN2 from LAN1. However, in the midst
of working with FP2002 tonight, I got an error when trying to save a web
page, telling me I don't have permission to access LAN2.

No one has touched LAN2 for many; long before I even started working with
FP2002 on LAN1. No one has been in that room all evening. When I started
using FP2002 earlier this evening, it opened my web pages on LAN2 with no
problem. And I've saved web pages back to LAN2 frequently as the evening
progressed with no problem until moments ago.

After encountering this error, I tried navigating to LAN2 with Windows
Explorer, but again I got the no permission error when I tried to open
LAN2. I am able to access shared files on all other computers in the LAN
at present, so the problem would not appear to rest with LAN1. I even
restarted WinXP on LAN1, but still I get the no permission error when I
try to access LAN1.

I just tried to access LAN2 by using Start>Run and typing \\LAN2. That
resulted in an error that read: "The network path was not found."

I am at a loss as to what might have caused this sudden loss of access to
LAN2. So, I shall greatly appreciate your help on this.

There are several possibilities.

There may be a hardware failure, so the machines
are no longer physically conected.
This could be either LAN card, a cable, or
any switch, hub, or router in between.

There could be a name resolution problem on LAN1.
This would prevent the name LAN2 from being resolved.

There could be something like a firewall on LAN2 is blocking you.

You need to fault-find a bit more.

Is the link light on at each computer?
Is each computer showing a valid IP address?
To thst this, go to a command prompt on each
machine and issue the command

ipconfig /all

Now, Let's start with pinging IP address and name.

On LAN1, go to a command prompt and issue these commands:
ping <LAN2's IP Address>
ping LAN2

each of these should give 4 replies.

Then, on LAN2, go to a command prompt and issue these commands:
ping <LAN1's IP Address>
ping LAN1

each of these should give 4 replies.

If there's a 3rd machine on the LAN, then include it in each
of the tests, and perform the tests from it, too.

 

[Guest]

I have the same problem on my 2 months old HP Compaq laptop using Windows XP
Pro SP2 and problem began after a reboot after an automatic update of windows
by Microsoft. No problems before that. Other 2 computers on network use XP
Home and both can see my laptop but the laptop cannot access the network. The
router shows that all 3 have consistent IP addresses and all have the same
network name "OFFICE". Occasionally (maybe 10% of the time) the network
appears after I use the network setup wizard but only lasts for a matter of
minutes. All 3 computers can access the internet and email and all show up on
the list of connected computers when I view them using the Belkin router
utility. I beleive that this is a serious Microsoft Windows XP flaw but
Microsoft say I need to get support from HP who don't want to know about the
problem.

 

[AA Smith]

Hi, Steve!

I haven't rebooted it yet. I fell asleep right after posting...
Will check that out shortly. Thanks for your help.

 

[AA Smith]

Thanks, Ron!


I'll check these tests/suggestions out. I sincerely appreciate your help.

 

[AA Smith]

Hi, again, Steve!

Turns out a reboot of LAN2 solved the problem. Strange...

I sincerely appreciate your help!

 

[AA Smith]

Hello, again, Ron!

I tried Steve's suggestion & rebooted LAN2. That solved the problem.
Strange.... Nevertheless, I DO sincerely appreciate your help!

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Hi, again, Steve!

Turns out a reboot of LAN2 solved the problem. Strange...

I sincerely appreciate your help!

You're welcome, Dick. I'm glad that my suggestion helped. Thanks for
reporting the result.

There might be something in the application or system log on LAN2 that
explains what caused the problem: Start | Run | eventvwr.msc.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com