No explorer access on network but can ping

[Guest]

In networking a new Sony laptop with no floppy drive to a desktop, I didn't
create a Network setup disk but have attempted to configure manually. After
setting up hardware each machine can ping the other, but cannot see each
other in Windows Explorer Network Neighborhood. File & Printer share is
enabled, tried with firewall off, and don't see any way to set permissions
manually as both are using XP Home SP2.
Internet connections is shared and working so the laptop can use the desktop
for internet access ok, just can't see any local drive. I shared both C
drives with write permissions but not any individual folders.
Any thoughts on how to enable the share on the root drives?

 

[JasonA]

You have already done the most insecure thing - creating a share of the root
drive is sharing the C drive (unless of course you don't boot off your 1st
partition on your primary drive). The usernames (and preferably the
passwords) must be the same on both PC's) - no password - no connection
unless you change an advanced setting that allows a connection over the
network without a password. Can't remember where that is because I have
better security than that.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply Jason.

Neither computer has passwords set up. I have a similar setup in my home
that works this way. Both machines are logged in with Administrator
priveleges. User names are different in my home and that also works. Keep in
mind this is XP Home edition.
Thanks for the caution on sharing the C drive.
The only difference in setup between my home's system and that of the new
system that I am trying to configure is that I didn't use the Netowrk Setup
Floppy in the new one. I'm thinking that there is a place to set permissions
that I am missing...?

 

[JasonA]

I remember setting up an XP network and could not get connections to the
other XP PC because there is no passwords. However Windows 98 and ME don't
require passwords unless you have entered them - So Windows XP connection to
a Windows 95/98/ME share would still work with default settings.

 

[Guest]

As I mentined, both units are on XP Home, SP2. You are of course, correct, we
are not required to set passwords. Hence my consternation...

 

[Carey Holzman]

http://www.careyholzman.com/xp/home/xphome-1.htm

Follow the steps on each PC until you see Page not found. That means you
reached the end.

Carey

 

[Guest]

Thanks Carey. I'll go over all of those tomorrow ;-)