can get to a share, but not browse to one

[Guest]

I have Vista Premium downstairs (media center PC) and Vista ultimte upstairs
(I also have an XP pro laptop and 2 media devices that want to read media
files from the Premium PC)

Ever since i installed Vista on both, i have had this problem. The Ultimate
PC (network name DABOSS) is fine, I can double click on it on Network on any
other PC and browse the shared folders, however I cannot do the same when
trying to access the Premium PC (network name MEDIACENTER). I can see it on
the network list, but when I try double click it, it comes up \\MEDIACENTER
is not accessible, you might not have permission to use this network
resource. COntact the administrator of this server to find out if you have
access permissions. Access is denied.

However, i can get to my shares directly on this PC from other PCs, by
setting up a shortcut or typing in directly - \\mediacenter\music
and i can browse and use these folders fine

This was not a major problem until yesterday, i could use the UNC name and
get access to whatever i needed, although i guess some backup software or
something in the future may need to browse to them. Yesterday i bought an
wireless internet radio that also plays media files from the PC, it can see
the PC, but as with accessing it from another PC, it cant access past the
MEDIACENTER name stage, and there is no way of typing anything like a UNC
path into this.
(this device CAN browse the folders on DABOSS however)

Now, I am pretty sure that i haven't done anything different on either PC to
make them behave differently.
Both are seemingly set the same - only vista firewall running (and it allows
file and printer sharing, altho i have also turned off the firewall to test
it, to no avail), Network and sharing shows
-network discovery on
-file sharing ON
-public folder sharing ON
-printer sharing ON
-password protected sharing OFF
-media sharing ON

IP settings etc are all default, except that i have set static IPs on
everything. It all goes through a Sky/Netgear DG834DT router. The PCs are
wired.

Anyone any ideas? I'm keeping fit running up and down stairs trying things!!

 

[Robert L [MVP - Networking]]

Sound like master browser issue. use browstat to troubleshoot it. Or this search result may help,

Computer BrowserThe computer browser is to display a directory of all known computers or domains that the computer can reach. The purpose of the browser service is to ...
www.chicagotech.net/browser.htm


Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
I have Vista Premium downstairs (media center PC) and Vista ultimte upstairs
(I also have an XP pro laptop and 2 media devices that want to read media
files from the Premium PC)

Ever since i installed Vista on both, i have had this problem. The Ultimate
PC (network name DABOSS) is fine, I can double click on it on Network on any
other PC and browse the shared folders, however I cannot do the same when
trying to access the Premium PC (network name MEDIACENTER). I can see it on
the network list, but when I try double click it, it comes up \\MEDIACENTER
is not accessible, you might not have permission to use this network
resource. COntact the administrator of this server to find out if you have
access permissions. Access is denied.

However, i can get to my shares directly on this PC from other PCs, by
setting up a shortcut or typing in directly - \\mediacenter\music
and i can browse and use these folders fine

This was not a major problem until yesterday, i could use the UNC name and
get access to whatever i needed, although i guess some backup software or
something in the future may need to browse to them. Yesterday i bought an
wireless internet radio that also plays media files from the PC, it can see
the PC, but as with accessing it from another PC, it cant access past the
MEDIACENTER name stage, and there is no way of typing anything like a UNC
path into this.
(this device CAN browse the folders on DABOSS however)

Now, I am pretty sure that i haven't done anything different on either PC to
make them behave differently.
Both are seemingly set the same - only vista firewall running (and it allows
file and printer sharing, altho i have also turned off the firewall to test
it, to no avail), Network and sharing shows
-network discovery on
-file sharing ON
-public folder sharing ON
-printer sharing ON
-password protected sharing OFF
-media sharing ON

IP settings etc are all default, except that i have set static IPs on
everything. It all goes through a Sky/Netgear DG834DT router. The PCs are
wired.

Anyone any ideas? I'm keeping fit running up and down stairs trying things!!

 

[Guest]

thanks for that, i tried it, and its coming up that its a permissions issue.
So i set the same username and password on both machines and i can browse
fine now.. however, this is still a problem!
the 2 media network devices that i want to be able to connect to and browse
the mediacenter machine, do not allow me to enter a username or password,
this is why i need simple file sharing with no password..
it works in one direction! to the DABOSS vista ultimate PC (ah which i have
just realised has always had a password on it, but the media device can read
it.. i'll try it and come back to you!!!)

 

[Guest]

it works..!
i did miss something off the original post, sorry, i thougth i had everything
the MEDIACENTER pc had just one user on it, wtih no password, so it booted
up just by pressing the on button..
the DABOSS pc, has a few users on it, 2 with passwords

the media device does access the DABOSS machine without asking for a
username and password for some reason, wheras it will not access the
MEDIACENTER one without. I have found an updated firmware for the device tho
that lets me add username and password, so it works.
unfortunately it now means that the mediacenter will not boot directly, it
needs input to log it in, but its not a major problem..
i am sure that there is some issue somewhere here with simple file sharing
and no password etc, but it works nearly perfectly now..

thanks again

 

[Robert L [MVP - Networking]]

Thank you for the update.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
it works..!
i did miss something off the original post, sorry, i thougth i had everything
the MEDIACENTER pc had just one user on it, wtih no password, so it booted
up just by pressing the on button..
the DABOSS pc, has a few users on it, 2 with passwords

the media device does access the DABOSS machine without asking for a
username and password for some reason, wheras it will not access the
MEDIACENTER one without. I have found an updated firmware for the device tho
that lets me add username and password, so it works.
unfortunately it now means that the mediacenter will not boot directly, it
needs input to log it in, but its not a major problem..
i am sure that there is some issue somewhere here with simple file sharing
and no password etc, but it works nearly perfectly now..

thanks again