Small network, one pc inaccessible

[Robbie]

I have a small network of just a few pc's here. I have various folders and
printers etc shared on each pc, when I go to view workgroups and places I
can see all the computers. Usually I can double click a pc to access its
resources but one of the computers always says it is not accessible or I
might not have permissions, access denied. This has happened to me a few
times in the past too and I've never been able to understand why or how to
fix it.

All the pcs are XP Pro and are in the same workgroup. I've tried connecting
by IP or hostname with the same results. I've even gone extreme and turned
off windows firewall on the one computer and it made no difference.

FYI, the one computer that is inaccessible to everyone can view all the
other computers just fine.

On another note, while I can access other pc's some of them take a REALLY
long time before anything happens. Sometimes the window seems to crash until
it makes the connection. Any help appreciated.

 

[smlunatick]

I have a small network of just a few pc's here. I have various folders and
printers etc shared on each pc, when I go to view workgroups and places I
can see all the computers. Usually I can double click a pc to access its
resources but one of the computers always says it is not accessible or I
might not have permissions, access denied. This has happened to me a few
times in the past too and I've never been able to understand why or how to
fix it.

All the pcs are XP Pro and are in the same workgroup. I've tried connecting
by IP or hostname with the same results. I've even gone extreme and turned
off windows firewall on the one computer and it made no difference.

FYI, the one computer that is inaccessible to everyone can view all the
other computers just fine.

On another note, while I can access other pc's some of them take a REALLY
long time before anything happens. Sometimes the window seems to crash until
it makes the connection. Any help appreciated.

How many PCs?

What version of XP?

XP Pro allows only 10 (max) connections to a "shared" folder / printer
only.

XP Home is limited to 5 only.

 

[Robbie]

5 pcs total, but there aren't another other computers connected to me in the
first place. I've tried they all get the access denied message.

I have network printers installed (not shared though) that shouldn't count
as a connection, especially when I have no jobs going.

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

I have a small network of just a few pc's here. I have various folders and
printers etc shared on each pc, when I go to view workgroups and places I
can see all the computers. Usually I can double click a pc to access its
resources but one of the computers always says it is not accessible or I
might not have permissions, access denied. This has happened to me a few
times in the past too and I've never been able to understand why or how to
fix it.

All the pcs are XP Pro and are in the same workgroup. I've tried connecting
by IP or hostname with the same results. I've even gone extreme and turned
off windows firewall on the one computer and it made no difference.

FYI, the one computer that is inaccessible to everyone can view all the
other computers just fine.

On another note, while I can access other pc's some of them take a REALLY
long time before anything happens. Sometimes the window seems to crash until
it makes the connection. Any help appreciated.

Robbie,

The "... access denied ..." error can have many causes, and the personal
firewall problem is just one of the better known causes.
<http://networking.nitecruzr.net/2005/06/mysterious-error-5-aka-access-denied.html>
http://networking.nitecruzr.net/2005/06/mysterious-error-5-aka-access-denied.html

Are you using Guest access (Simple File Sharing, or Advanced File Sharing with
Guest only access)? If so, check restrictanonymous.
<http://networking.nitecruzr.net/2005/07/restrictanonymous-and-your-server.html>
http://networking.nitecruzr.net/2005/07/restrictanonymous-and-your-server.html

If you also have latency problems (but you do finally get a connection?), I'd
look at the protocol stack on each computer, and simplify if at all possible.
<http://networking.nitecruzr.net/2005/05/fix-network-problems-but-clean-up.html>
http://networking.nitecruzr.net/2005/05/fix-network-problems-but-clean-up.html

 

[Robbie]

Thanks, the problem was with Restrict anonymous. I changed the registry
setting just like in the link you provided an it works perfect.

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

Thanks, the problem was with Restrict anonymous. I changed the registry
setting just like in the link you provided an it works perfect.

Restrictanonymous again. Thanks for the feedback.