File Shares between XP PRO and HOME

[Ron DiLauro]

I've been reading this thread and have a similar problem.
4 Machines:
2 Windows XP PRO (SP1) Computer: A Computer B
2 Windows XP HOME (SP1) Computer C Computer D
all connected via a Linksys Wireless Router

1) Computer B via Network Places to access all the files on Computers
A,C and D
2) Computers A,C, and D can ONLY access via NET USE X: \IPaddr\sharename
3) Using Network Places, they all fail) \\computer is not accessible,
You may
not have the permissions....

I've made sure that the IRPStackSize is setup on all of the machines
Guest Accounts are off
At one point, when I attempted to connect, I got the popup window but
the account name \\computer\guest was grayed out and no passwords were
recognized.
I have Integrity Client Firewall setup , with Zone permissions for my
home Lan IPs. Even if I shutdown the Firewall on all systems, I still
get the failures via Network Places. I know I can get what I need via
NET USE commands, but Id like to know what is wrong and why this
FileSharing via Network Places seem to be one way only. All the other
machines can use Network Places to access the file shares on each
system.
Some additional information:

When I use Simple Sharing, the XP PRO machine can see all the other
Shares on the 3 machines. The other 3 machines can see the Share
on the XP PRO machine by using NET USE commands

When I switched to Advanced Sharing, the XP PRO Machine can no longer
see any of the other computers. NET VIEW command shows only that one
machine.

Switching back to Simple Sharing, NET VIEW shows all the other computers
plus
it can see all the Shares

 

[Chuck]

I've been reading this thread and have a similar problem.
4 Machines:
2 Windows XP PRO (SP1) Computer: A Computer B
2 Windows XP HOME (SP1) Computer C Computer D
all connected via a Linksys Wireless Router

1) Computer B via Network Places to access all the files on Computers
A,C and D
2) Computers A,C, and D can ONLY access via NET USE X: \IPaddr\sharename
3) Using Network Places, they all fail) \\computer is not accessible,
You may
not have the permissions....

I've made sure that the IRPStackSize is setup on all of the machines
Guest Accounts are off
At one point, when I attempted to connect, I got the popup window but
the account name \\computer\guest was grayed out and no passwords were
recognized.
I have Integrity Client Firewall setup , with Zone permissions for my
home Lan IPs. Even if I shutdown the Firewall on all systems, I still
get the failures via Network Places. I know I can get what I need via
NET USE commands, but Id like to know what is wrong and why this
FileSharing via Network Places seem to be one way only. All the other
machines can use Network Places to access the file shares on each
system.
Some additional information:

When I use Simple Sharing, the XP PRO machine can see all the other
Shares on the 3 machines. The other 3 machines can see the Share
on the XP PRO machine by using NET USE commands

When I switched to Advanced Sharing, the XP PRO Machine can no longer
see any of the other computers. NET VIEW command shows only that one
machine.

Switching back to Simple Sharing, NET VIEW shows all the other computers
plus
it can see all the Shares

Ron,

Did you properly enable the Guest account, on all computers, using Start - Run -
"cmd" - type "net user guest /active:yes" in the command window? Also give it
an identical, non-blank password on all computers, with Start - Run - "control
userpasswords2"; select Guest, click Reset Password, and enter a password.

The Microsoft Browstat program will show us what browsers (I'm not talking about
Internet Explorer here) you have in your domain / workgroup, at any time.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305

You can download Browstat from either:
<http://www.dynawell.com/reskit/microsoft/win2000/browstat.zip>
<http://rescomp.stanford.edu/staff/manual/rcc/tools/browstat.zip>

Browstat is very small (40K), and needs no install. Just unzip the downloaded
file, copy browstat.exe to any folder in the Path, and run it from a command
window, by "browstat status". Make sure all computers list the same master
browser.
For more information about the browser subsystem (very intricate), see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188001
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=231312
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/prodspecs/ntbrowse.mspx>
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/win95/w95brows.mspx>

The browser requires anonymous access, so look at registry key
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa], value restrictanonymous.
<http://www.microsoft.com/windows200...2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/regentry/46688.asp>
<http://www.jsifaq.com/subf/tip2600/rh2625.htm>
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=246261
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296403

For browsing to work (for each computer to be listed by a browser), each
computer must have a restrictanonymous value of "0".

The above articles refer to Windows 2000. Remember Win2K is NT V5.0, and WinXP
is NT V5.1.

Have you used the Registry Editor before? If not, it's a scary tool, but it's
pretty simple once you get used to it. Here are a couple articles that might
help:
<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...home/using/productdoc/en/tools_regeditors.asp>
<http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/registry>

Just remember to backup the key (create a registry patch) for
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa] before making any changes, if
appropriate.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Ron DiLauro]

Ron,

Did you properly enable the Guest account, on all computers, using Start - Run -
"cmd" - type "net user guest /active:yes" in the command window? Also give it
an identical, non-blank password on all computers, with Start - Run - "control
userpasswords2"; select Guest, click Reset Password, and enter a password.

The Microsoft Browstat program will show us what browsers (I'm not talking about
Internet Explorer here) you have in your domain / workgroup, at any time.

Chuck, thanks for the info. Here is my current status:
1) NET USER guest /active:YES - Successful
2) control userpassword2 - Reset all Guest passwords
3) Regedit: restrictanonymous = 0
4) browstat status
At initial boot:
Computer A - Master Browser Computer D
Computer B - Master Browser Computer D
Computer C - Master Browser Computer D
Computer D - Master Browser Computer D

10 minutes after a reboot:
Computer A - Master Browser Computer A
Computer B - Master Browser Computer B
Computer C - Master Browser Computer D same Master
Computer D - Master Browser Computer D

5) After these updates, difference when using Network
Places, popup asks for password. Works fine.
But still no access to Computer D. Does not
accept the password and then onto the error
message about not having permission

6) NET USE commands work to all machines

 

[Chuck]

Chuck, thanks for the info. Here is my current status:
1) NET USER guest /active:YES - Successful
2) control userpassword2 - Reset all Guest passwords
3) Regedit: restrictanonymous = 0
4) browstat status
At initial boot:
Computer A - Master Browser Computer D
Computer B - Master Browser Computer D
Computer C - Master Browser Computer D
Computer D - Master Browser Computer D

10 minutes after a reboot:
Computer A - Master Browser Computer A
Computer B - Master Browser Computer B
Computer C - Master Browser Computer D same Master
Computer D - Master Browser Computer D

5) After these updates, difference when using Network
Places, popup asks for password. Works fine.
But still no access to Computer D. Does not
accept the password and then onto the error
message about not having permission

6) NET USE commands work to all machines

Ron,

Is there a personal firewall on either computer (now or ever in the past)?
Misconfigured firewalls are a common cause of this sort of problem.

Provide ipconfig information for each computer, as a start.
1) Start - Run - "cmd".
2) Type "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command window.
3) Open Notepad, make sure that Format - Word Wrap is NOT checked!.
4) Open file c:\ipconfig.txt from Notepad.
5) Copy and paste entire contents of the file into your next post.
6) Identify operating system (by name, version, and Service Pack level) with
each ipconfig listing.

What share(s) are you targeting in each "Net Use"? What account is mentioned in
the popup?

How many computers are connecting wirelessly to the router? How many computers
will be providing shares to the others? Serving data from wireless shares will
always be a problem.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Ron DiLauro]

Machine Setup:
LiNKSYS Wireless Router

(I didnt paste all the output from IPCONFIG /All to save space)

Common to all Computers:
Subnet Address: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server 192.168.1.1
DHCP Enabled
Router Wireless Security is set to MAC Filter addresses

COMPUTER "A" (wired) 192.168.1.101
Windows XP Home SP1

COMPUTER "B" (wired) 192.168.1.102
Windows XP Home SP1

COMPUTER "C" (wireless) 192.168.1.103
Windows XP PRO SP1

COMPUTER "D" (wireless) 192.168.1.104
Windows XP PRO SP1

All Computers use Simple Sharing and have Guest Accounts
with the same password except for COMPUTER "C" for business
security reasons. They all have SHARES for the C: drive
and for C:\Download

NET SHARE X: \\COMPUTERA\Download (For each Computer works)

I put COMPUTER "D" on a wired hookup and have the same results.

I run Symanetic Antivirus 9.03 with the latest virus list
I run Zone Labs Integrit Client, all with trusted zones to
include my home IP address range. I've stopped both Antivirus
and Zone Labs from starting up (via MSCONFIG), rebooted and
the results were the same.

I guess what I cant figure out yet is why the command line NET USE
works while the Network Places 'view' from all to computers
to Computer "D" fails. Compuer "D" can use both NET USE commands
as well as Network Places 'view' to all computers without any
problem.

 

[Chuck]

Machine Setup:
LiNKSYS Wireless Router

(I didnt paste all the output from IPCONFIG /All to save space)

Common to all Computers:
Subnet Address: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server 192.168.1.1
DHCP Enabled
Router Wireless Security is set to MAC Filter addresses

COMPUTER "A" (wired) 192.168.1.101
Windows XP Home SP1

COMPUTER "B" (wired) 192.168.1.102
Windows XP Home SP1

COMPUTER "C" (wireless) 192.168.1.103
Windows XP PRO SP1

COMPUTER "D" (wireless) 192.168.1.104
Windows XP PRO SP1

All Computers use Simple Sharing and have Guest Accounts
with the same password except for COMPUTER "C" for business
security reasons. They all have SHARES for the C: drive
and for C:\Download

NET SHARE X: \\COMPUTERA\Download (For each Computer works)

I put COMPUTER "D" on a wired hookup and have the same results.

I run Symanetic Antivirus 9.03 with the latest virus list
I run Zone Labs Integrit Client, all with trusted zones to
include my home IP address range. I've stopped both Antivirus
and Zone Labs from starting up (via MSCONFIG), rebooted and
the results were the same.

I guess what I cant figure out yet is why the command line NET USE
works while the Network Places 'view' from all to computers
to Computer "D" fails. Compuer "D" can use both NET USE commands
as well as Network Places 'view' to all computers without any
problem.

Ron,

The content of Network Places is provided by the browser. With servers attached
wirelessly, you have a chaotic environment that does not lend itself to client -
browser - server topology. The "Net Use" command, OTOH, is direct communication
between the client and the server.

Zone Alarm is well known here as a problem, especially when disabled in one way
or another. You have only two known solutions with it:
1) Re enable and configure properly.
2) Re enable and un install, using all procedures provided.
http://nh2.nohold.net/noHoldCust25/Prod_1/Articles55646/CompleteUninstallNonNT.html
http://www.donhoover.net/uninstall.html

Run browstat and ipconfig, and don't omit content please. Diagnosis my be in
the details.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.