Windows XP Pro - 98SE file sharing

[Brian]

I am struggling with file sharing bewteen an XP Pro system
and 98SE system. Both are connected to a Linksys Router
and out to the internet via a cable modem. Both computers
successfully access the internet.

From the 98SE PC, I can see the XP Pro PC's SharedDocs
folder. When I try to open it I get an "Access Denied"
message, but I assume this is because 98SE cannot access an
NTFS file system? From the XP PC, I can see the 98SE
computer on the network. However, when I try to open it
and view its contents, I get a message saying that I might
not have permission to access the resource and that the
"Semaphore timeout period has expired."

On the 98SE system, I have the following network components
installed:
Client for Microsoft Networks
TCP/IP
File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks
Under File and Print sharing, I have both check boxes checked.

On the XP Pro system, I have the following network
components installed:
Client for Microsoft Networks
File and Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks
QoS Packet Scheduler
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

Any advice on how to make file sharing work correctly so
that I can move files between the systems would be appreciate.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[AL Waschka]

I had the same problem. You must turn off the firewall
in the XP machine. I am currently freely sharing files
between XP and 98SE machines with no problems. But...you
can not share a printer, at least an XP machine can not
reliably print to a printer shared from a 98SE machine.
I finally found an obscure reference in the knowledge
base that says that 98 can not provide the secure
environment required by XP. I was never able to get the
test page to print. It would hang the printer driver
screen. Applications would sometimes print, sometimes
not. I think it has to do with the type of sharing
inherent in XP and 98. XP appears to only
recognize "name-based" sharing where a name server is
required to keep a list of names and passwords. This
feature is inherent in XP but not in 98. 98 normally
uses permission-based (i think the term is correct) where
you can set each shared resource to be accessible or not,
but to use name-based sharing you have to have a name
server which apparently is only available if you have
a "domain".

Sorry this is so long, but wanted to ive you everything I
found out. Bottom line is file sharing works between XP
and 98 but you have to turn off the firewall. I had to
upgrade my server to XP to get print sharin to work.

Good Luck,

Al

 

[Brian]

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, this didn't
resolve the issue. My ICS firewall was already disabled on
my XP machine. Just to see what would happen, I enabled
it. When it is enabled, the 98SE machine can't open that
machine in Network Neighborhood (it fails saying that the
machine doesn't exist on the network). With it disabled, I
can open the machine in Network Neighborhood, but receive
an "Access is denied" message when I try to open the
SharedDocs folder.

The firewall doesn't affect the behavior with regard to the
XP machine accessing shared files on the 98SE machine
(this doesn't work under either scenario).

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Guest]

I resolved the access problem from the XP machine to the 98
SE machine. The problem was that Symantec Desktop Firewall
had been installed on the SE machine. It was not enabled,
but when I uninstalled the program, everything started
working. Weird.

Brian

 

[Guest]

In order for print and file sharing to work successfully both ways between WinXP and Win9x (win95, win98, win98se, WinMe) machines, on non-domain networks, there are a few conditions that need to be met:

1) ICS/ICF must be turned off on WinXP, otherwise WinXP can see Win9x, but not the other way around

2) you need to log on to the machines (on Win9x it is not compulsory, but you need to log on in order to access other machines on the network) - logon to Micorosfot Windows Network rather than Windows Logon or Windows Family Logon

3) in order to PRINT successfully to a printer shared on a WinXP machine from a Win9x machine, you need to logon to Win9x using a corresponding username and password that exists on the WinXP machine, ie. you need to have a similar user account on WinXP that has print permission.

Generally, you should have no problem retrieving files on Win9x machines or printing to Win9x machines from a WinXP machine. if you have problems, chances are you did not logon to the Win9x machines.

One other thing, if you have problem reading/writing to a WinXP machine's shared folder from a Win9x machine, your security/sharing permissions are not set correctly or set too high. Easiest workaround is to share the folder the file is in on the Win9x machine and then read them from the WinXP machine, and to create a default folder on the Win9x machines for all file transfers with write permission and transfer the files from WinXP. This might not be the most convenient method, but it is a guaranteed one.

There are other work arounds, but they are complex, requiring modifying security permissions. These are the easiest and safest to implement for a home environment.

Hope this helps!

P/S: I'm still looking around to solution to print to WinXP from Win9x without having to type in an existing username/password by modifying WinXP security permissions, I know it's out there somewhere but can't seem to remember where or how... anyone??

 

[John Ross]

Can you tell me where to turn off the ICS/ICF in WinXP?
Tx.
JR

In order for print and file sharing to work successfully both ways between

WinXP and Win9x (win95, win98, win98se, WinMe) machines, on non-domain
networks, there are a few conditions that need to be met:

1) ICS/ICF must be turned off on WinXP, otherwise WinXP can see Win9x, but not the other way around

2) you need to log on to the machines (on Win9x it is not compulsory, but

you need to log on in order to access other machines on the network) - logon
to Micorosfot Windows Network rather than Windows Logon or Windows Family
Logon

3) in order to PRINT successfully to a printer shared on a WinXP machine

from a Win9x machine, you need to logon to Win9x using a corresponding
username and password that exists on the WinXP machine, ie. you need to have
a similar user account on WinXP that has print permission.

Generally, you should have no problem retrieving files on Win9x machines

or printing to Win9x machines from a WinXP machine. if you have problems,
chances are you did not logon to the Win9x machines.

One other thing, if you have problem reading/writing to a WinXP machine's

shared folder from a Win9x machine, your security/sharing permissions are
not set correctly or set too high. Easiest workaround is to share the folder
the file is in on the Win9x machine and then read them from the WinXP
machine, and to create a default folder on the Win9x machines for all file
transfers with write permission and transfer the files from WinXP. This
might not be the most convenient method, but it is a guaranteed one.

There are other work arounds, but they are complex, requiring modifying

security permissions. These are the easiest and safest to implement for a
home environment.

Hope this helps!

P/S: I'm still looking around to solution to print to WinXP from Win9x

without having to type in an existing username/password by modifying WinXP
security permissions, I know it's out there somewhere but can't seem to
remember where or how... anyone??

 

[John Ross]

Got it.
JR

Can you tell me where to turn off the ICS/ICF in WinXP?
Tx.
JR

between
WinXP and Win9x (win95, win98, win98se, WinMe) machines, on non-domain
networks, there are a few conditions that need to be met: but
not the other way around but
you need to log on in order to access other machines on the network) - logon
to Micorosfot Windows Network rather than Windows Logon or Windows Family
Logon
from a Win9x machine, you need to logon to Win9x using a corresponding
username and password that exists on the WinXP machine, ie. you need to have
a similar user account on WinXP that has print permission.
or printing to Win9x machines from a WinXP machine. if you have problems,
chances are you did not logon to the Win9x machines. machine's
shared folder from a Win9x machine, your security/sharing permissions are
not set correctly or set too high. Easiest workaround is to share the folder
the file is in on the Win9x machine and then read them from the WinXP
machine, and to create a default folder on the Win9x machines for all file
transfers with write permission and transfer the files from WinXP. This
might not be the most convenient method, but it is a guaranteed one.
security permissions. These are the easiest and safest to implement for a
home environment.
without having to type in an existing username/password by modifying WinXP
security permissions, I know it's out there somewhere but can't seem to
remember where or how... anyone??

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

In order for print and file sharing to work successfully both ways between WinXP and Win9x (win95, win98, win98se, WinMe) machines, on non-domain networks, there are a few conditions that need to be met:

1) ICS/ICF must be turned off on WinXP, otherwise WinXP can see Win9x, but not the other way around

2) you need to log on to the machines (on Win9x it is not compulsory, but you need to log on in order to access other machines on the network) - logon to Micorosfot Windows Network rather than Windows Logon or Windows Family Logon

3) in order to PRINT successfully to a printer shared on a WinXP machine from a Win9x machine, you need to logon to Win9x using a corresponding username and password that exists on the WinXP machine, ie. you need to have a similar user account on WinXP that has print permission.

Generally, you should have no problem retrieving files on Win9x machines or printing to Win9x machines from a WinXP machine. if you have problems, chances are you did not logon to the Win9x machines.

One other thing, if you have problem reading/writing to a WinXP machine's shared folder from a Win9x machine, your security/sharing permissions are not set correctly or set too high. Easiest workaround is to share the folder the file is in on the Win9x machine and then read them from the WinXP machine, and to create a default folder on the Win9x machines for all file transfers with write permission and transfer the files from WinXP. This might not be the most convenient method, but it is a guaranteed one.

There are other work arounds, but they are complex, requiring modifying security permissions. These are the easiest and safest to implement for a home environment.

Hope this helps!

P/S: I'm still looking around to solution to print to WinXP from Win9x without having to type in an existing username/password by modifying WinXP security permissions, I know it's out there somewhere but can't seem to remember where or how... anyone??

I have some comments, "wkhai":

1) Very good suggestion.

2) All three logon types are OK on a peer-to-peer network. The only
time that you need to use the Microsoft Networks logon is to connect
to a client/server domain.

3. In my experience, that isn't necessary if the machine that has the
shared printer runs XP Home Edition. It might be necessary if the
machine runs XP Professional and has disabled simple file sharing.

The solution to your P/S might be found here:

Windows XP Professional File Sharing
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_filesharing/index.htm
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

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