Two XP computers connected to a router. Why is networking so difficult?

[JamesLilli]

Win 98 was easy.
I have no idea what to do here under XP.
There are passwords and user names involved.
There doesn't appear to be any help files telling you exactly what to do.
The networking wizard certainly doesn't do much.

Is there any place I can find step by step instructions.
I would like all users on an single XP Home machine to have access to the files
(read and write)on a XP Pro machine harddrive both connected to the same router.
I have spent hours trying to figure out how to do this.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Win 98 was easy.

I have no idea what to do here under XP.
There are passwords and user names involved.
There doesn't appear to be any help files telling you exactly what to do.
The networking wizard certainly doesn't do much.

Is there any place I can find step by step instructions.
I would like all users on an single XP Home machine to have access to the files
(read and write)on a XP Pro machine harddrive both connected to the same router.
I have spent hours trying to figure out how to do this.[/QUOTE]

Run the Network Setup Wizard on each computer and tell it that the
computer connects to the Internet through a residential gateway
(router). Other connection options can block file sharing.

When you share a disk or folder on XP Pro, be sure to check the box
that allows other computers to change files.

If you've installed a firewall program on either computer, make sure
that it's configured to allow access by the other computer.

If you've explicitly disabled simple file sharing on XP Pro, create
matching user accounts -- same user name and password -- on each
computer.

If you've explicitly defined a password for the Guest account on XP
Pro, enter that password when prompted.

If those suggestions don't solve the problem, please reply to this
message in the news group (not by E-mail) with more information to
help other people understand the problem:

How are you trying to access XP Pro files from the XP machine? What
exactly happens when you do it? What is the complete and exact text
of all error messages?

--
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

 

[Guest]

Try this site:

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/

 

[Chuck]

Win 98 was easy.
I have no idea what to do here under XP.
There are passwords and user names involved.
There doesn't appear to be any help files telling you exactly what to do.
The networking wizard certainly doesn't do much.

Is there any place I can find step by step instructions.
I would like all users on an single XP Home machine to have access to the files
(read and write)on a XP Pro machine harddrive both connected to the same router.
I have spent hours trying to figure out how to do this.

James,

Your frustration is shared by many. Windows XP Pro is a challenge - Microsoft
designed it to be backwardly compatible with Windows 9x (95 / 98 / ME), and with
Windows NT / 2K. This dual personality causes everybody problems.

Simple File Sharing under Windows XP is similar (but not identical) to file
sharing under Windows 9x. Advanced File Sharing under Windows XP is similar to
file sharing under Windows NT / 2K.

Please follow each of Steve's suggestions carefully. Additionally, if your
Windows XP Pro uses Advanced File Sharing, check the Local Security Policy
(Control Panel - Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security
Options, look at "Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's
set to "Classic - local users authenticate as themselves".

When I initially setup my second XP Pro computer, it was an upgrade of XP Home.
And I couldn't get it to file share with my first XP Pro computer for anything.
Until somebody on one of these forums told me about the Local Security Policy
setting.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[JamesLilli]

Run the Network Setup Wizard on each computer and tell it that the
computer connects to the Internet through a residential gateway
(router). Other connection options can block file sharing.

This I've done.
Same workgroup on both

When you share a disk or folder on XP Pro, be sure to check the box
that allows other computers to change files.

This I've done.

If you've installed a firewall program on either computer, make sure
that it's configured to allow access by the other computer.

Firewalls disabled.

If you've explicitly disabled simple file sharing on XP Pro, create
matching user accounts -- same user name and password -- on each
computer.

File sharing enabled?
Which file sharing?
Under network or folder options?
I have both enabled.

If you've explicitly defined a password for the Guest account on XP
Pro, enter that password when prompted.

Prompted?
I need Guest accounts?
I'm lost. What do I do with the Guest accounts?

 

[JamesLilli]

James,

Your frustration is shared by many. Windows XP Pro is a challenge - Microsoft
designed it to be backwardly compatible with Windows 9x (95 / 98 / ME), and with
Windows NT / 2K. This dual personality causes everybody problems.

Simple File Sharing under Windows XP is similar (but not identical) to file
sharing under Windows 9x. Advanced File Sharing under Windows XP is similar to
file sharing under Windows NT / 2K.

Please follow each of Steve's suggestions carefully. Additionally, if your
Windows XP Pro uses Advanced File Sharing, check the Local Security Policy
(Control Panel - Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security
Options, look at "Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's
set to "Classic - local users authenticate as themselves".

Under which account do I do this.
I don't understand the significance of a Guest account.

 

[ben]

what is the IP layout?

 

[Chuck]

Under which account do I do this.
I don't understand the significance of a Guest account.

James,

You need to "do this" on your XP Pro computer, when logged in with any account
that has administrative authority.

The Guest account has significance:
1) Under Simple File Sharing, to enable access to all shared folders.
2) Under Advanced File Sharing, to enable access to specific shared folders,
when a non-Guest account isn't available or can't be used.

On your XP Home computer, you have to have the Guest account activated, for
access to it's shared folders from another computer.

On your XP Pro computer, you only need the Guest account activated, if:
1) You are using Simple File Sharing.
2) You are using Advanced File Sharing with the Local Security Policy set to
"Guest only".
3) You are using Advanced File Sharing, but a non-Guest account (your "two
identical user names with identical passwords") isn't setup on both computers.

<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...db-aef8-4bef-925e-7ac9be791028&DisplayLang=en>

I share your frustration with the complexity of all the rules, James. It
reminds me of reading an IRS (are you American?) tax form. You have to RTFM.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[JamesLilli]

what is the IP layout?

What IS an IP layout?

 

[JamesLilli]

James,

You need to "do this" on your XP Pro computer, when logged in with any account
that has administrative authority.

The Guest account has significance:
1) Under Simple File Sharing, to enable access to all shared folders.
2) Under Advanced File Sharing, to enable access to specific shared folders,
when a non-Guest account isn't available or can't be used.

On your XP Home computer, you have to have the Guest account activated, for
access to it's shared folders from another computer.

Do I have to use this Guest account?

On your XP Pro computer, you only need the Guest account activated, if:
1) You are using Simple File Sharing.
2) You are using Advanced File Sharing with the Local Security Policy set to
"Guest only".
3) You are using Advanced File Sharing, but a non-Guest account (your "two
identical user names with identical passwords") isn't setup on both computers.

<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...db-aef8-4bef-925e-7ac9be791028&DisplayLang=en>

I share your frustration with the complexity of all the rules, James. It
reminds me of reading an IRS (are you American?) tax form. You have to RTFM.

There's a manual?
I've spent days unsuccessfully trying to find a step by step set of instructions
for this.

First step run the Wizard.
The wizard wants to create a bridge. What's a bridge?
After that nothing.

I don't even know what the network settings are supposed to be.

These computers are three feet apart and I can't connect them to each other.

 

[JamesLilli]

Try this site:

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/

What do I look for?
I can't find anything that tells me how to configure two computers for
networking.

 

[JamesLilli]

James,

You need to "do this" on your XP Pro computer, when logged in with any account
that has administrative authority.

Is this a first step?
I create a Guest account on each computer.
Do these need the same passwords
Do I run the networking wizard from the Guest account?
What happens to the accounts I'm already using?
I hate to give them up.

I just wish I knew the order of all these steps and where they have to be
performed.

 

[JamesLilli]

I have "Network access: Sharing and security model for local accounts"
Guest only - local users authenticate as Guest.

I have no idea how to change this setting.

 

[Chuck]

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 19:22:50 GMT, (e-mail address removed) wrote:
^^^ Cute!

I have "Network access: Sharing and security model for local accounts"
Guest only - local users authenticate as Guest.

And that's why sharing doesn't work even though you setup the "two
identical user names with identical passwords"!!

I have no idea how to change this setting.

Right click on "Network access: Sharing and security for local accounts", select
Properties. That will open a popup window titled "Network access...". In that
window, the pull down list will show a value "Guest only...". Click anywhere in
the pull down list box, select "Classic...". Hit Apply - then OK.

After the "Network access..." value is changed, restart either computer and
test.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[JamesLilli]

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 19:22:50 GMT, (e-mail address removed) wrote:
^^^ Cute!


And that's why sharing doesn't work even though you setup the "two
identical user names with identical passwords"!!

Right click on "Network access: Sharing and security for local accounts", select
Properties. That will open a popup window titled "Network access...". In that
window, the pull down list will show a value "Guest only...". Click anywhere in
the pull down list box, select "Classic...". Hit Apply - then OK.

After the "Network access..." value is changed, restart either computer and
test.

No change.
XPPro still can't see the XPHome machine.
But the XPHome machine can see and access the XPPro box.

This works for me right now because the XPPro machine is my backup and rarely
used.

Thanks to everyone for the help. I'll try to see if I can solve this last part
of the puzzle when I have more time.