Domain and Workgroup

[Guest]

I have a laptop that is configured for my office domain.

I also have a home network that has a workgroup.

I would really like to be able to access the storage on other computers from
my laptop, but can't figure out how to do that without disabling the domain.

If it matters, the computer I most want to access is Vista, not XP. But the
laptop is XP pro.

I can ping the computers from each other while on my home wireless network.

Any ideas?

 

[Guest]

Try naming the workgroup the same name as the domain.

 

[Guest]

Thank you Mark. I actually had thought of that, but the domain name is
longer than what Vista allows in the workgroup field. I tried truncating the
".com" off and that didn't work. I also tried using only the root part of
the domain - the part that is the company's primary web address and that
didn't work.

I presume, based on the wizards and knowledge base articles I have read that
a user on a computer can only belong to a domain or a workgroup. I would
also guess that if I set up a different user profile, it could be part of the
workgroup. However, that would mean logging off and on each time I want to
switch the way I am working, defeating the purpose.

I was hoping that given that the machines could ping each other, that there
was some way of setting up a network resource or "something" where I could
specify the IP address of the Vista computer, and from there see the drives
on it.

Maybe there is some other way. I am out of ideas.

L

 

[Guest]

Well, I've not tried it, but what about using an environmental variable
storing the longer workgroup name (%myGroup%)

 

[Guest]

Thanks again. You have now gone past my knowledge. Can you point me to an
article or something that can show me how to set up and use global variables?

 

[Guest]

System app in Control Panel, Advanced tab, Environmental variable button,
systen vars, New button.

You use the "%" delimiter to express the variable. I would try %mygroup, or
maybe %mygroup%

 

[CreateWindow]

Hi Lenny,

You can create a user on the target machine(s) called fred (or whatever) and
give it admin rights. Set a nice password for this user.

Now, from any machine you should be able to Map a network drive using this
username/password. The password can be saved for you automatically.

To mape to the root of the drive use \\otherpc\C$ as the share name.
Turn OFF simple file sharing in Explorer / Tools / Folder Options / View

CreateWindow
http://mymessagetaker.com

 

[Guest]

CreateWindow: Did as you suggested and when I went to map network drive, it
said that path was not found. I also tried adding a network place with that
path and it also said path not found. Still, I can ping each computer from
the other.

Mark: Did as you suggested and nothing shows up. I don't think it takes
the environmental variable. It looks like it is literal in its
interpretation.

L

 

[CreateWindow]

Hi lenny,

Can you map a network drive to other PC's using IP thus \\192.168.0.4\c$
(or whatever your PC's have as IP's).

If so - then there is a workgroup mismatch between machines. I have edited
the hosts file in the past to fix that sort of thing for home networks.
C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\

Like, add lines in the host file with notepad:

192.168.0.5 kitchen
192.168.0.3 bedroom

If you get desperate.... ?

Cheers,
CreateWindow

 

[Guest]

I am getting some inconsistent results mapping to drives on other computers.
But I was able to do if from the work laptop to one of them. So I am not
sure what this means about conflicts. Of course, that was not the one that
has the files that I want access to.

Exploring the path below, when I open "etc" there are no files there. I
don't really know about host files, and how to create one there if that is
what will help.

Thanks for your ongoing interest and support.

L

 

[Guest]

update:

really close now I would guess. Not sure what I did, but now the Vista
Machine can connect to the Work Laptop and see shared folders. When logging
in I used "domain\userid" and my password.

Also, the laptop can see the vista machine (and others in the network)
meaning that when I map network drive, it asks me for a userID and password.
However, I am not able to logon. If I just type a user id, rejects, but
comes back with "computername/userid" in the ID box. Yet still it won't
accept the password. I have tried with multiple users on the same computer.
I have tried typing the workgroupname ahead of the userID with a "\". I am
out of ideas.

So close, yet.....

Thanks for any ideas.

L

 

[Guest]

Further update:

I set up an account on the Vista machine without a password on it. Then
went to map the drive from the work laptop. When the logon screen came up,
put the ID in and entered. It "went away" for a while, then came back with
"Logon failure: user account restriction. Possible reasons are blank
passwords not allowed, logon hour restrictions, or a policy restriction has
been enforced."

I believe that I am now in the world of Vista settings may the god shelp us
all.

 

[Guest]

This should clear up HOSTS files for you
How to Configure a Static Client for Windows XP Internet Connection Sharing
: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309642/en-us

The password prompt problem reminds me of the 'logon as guest' condition.
This problem comes from the default behavior of XP to classify all network
logons as 'guest' rights, unless a matching userid/pass exists on the
workgroup machine they are trying to access. (or their id was added expressly
to that folders share settings (permissions)

 

[Guest]

I tried adding the specific accounts that I would log in through on the
drives/folders that I want to access. But it is still not connecting. I
tried turning passwords required on and off, but to no help.

I am beginning to suspect that the Vista machine does not like that I am
running on an unencrypted network (I am out in the country and noone can come
by and poach). Because it says something about private and public networks
when I ask it to share media.

I feel like I am looking in through the chainlink fence. Thanks for all the
help. Before I was looking at the top of a mountain across a deep divide.

L

 

[Guest]

more:


I tried adding the specific accounts that I would log in through on the
drives/folders that I want to access. But it is still not connecting. I
tried turning passwords required on and off, but to no help.

I am beginning to suspect that the Vista machine does not like that I am
running on an unencrypted network (I am out in the country and noone can come
by and poach). Because it says something about private and public networks
when I ask it to share media.

I feel like I am looking in through the chainlink fence. Thanks for all the
help. Before I was looking at the top of a mountain across a deep divide.

 

[Guest]

create a password for the guest account, and try that for logging on.