File Sharing using Wireless Networking

[Karen]

Our family has 3, sometimes 4 computers that are all using
DSL via a wireless network. We have recently upgraded to
Windows XP Professional and prior to doing so, we were
able to file and printer share. Now, I can see my
husband's computer and he sees mine but when I try to
access his computer I get a message that says, his
computer is not accessible and that I might not have
permission to use this network resource. It also says
that I should contact the administrator (myself) of the
server to find out if I have access permissions and that
the network path was not found.

I would appreciate any help anyone can provide as the file
sharing feature was extremely useful as my computer does
not have a 3.5" disk drive and I have several files I need
to access that are on a 3.5" disk.

Thanks!

 

[Richard G. Harper]

In order to access files on each other's systems, you must ensure that you
have created a user with the same name (and password, if one is used) on
each PC you want to access over the network. For example, if you log in as
Karen on your computer, your husband's computer must also have a user named
Karen, and if you use a password to log on, the Karen user on his computer
must have the same password. You'll find the User tool in the Control
Panel.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Our family has 3, sometimes 4 computers that are all using
DSL via a wireless network. We have recently upgraded to
Windows XP Professional and prior to doing so, we were
able to file and printer share. Now, I can see my
husband's computer and he sees mine but when I try to
access his computer I get a message that says, his
computer is not accessible and that I might not have
permission to use this network resource. It also says
that I should contact the administrator (myself) of the
server to find out if I have access permissions and that
the network path was not found.

I would appreciate any help anyone can provide as the file
sharing feature was extremely useful as my computer does
not have a 3.5" disk drive and I have several files I need
to access that are on a 3.5" disk.

Thanks!

1. Permanently disable XP's built-in Internet Connection Firewall on
local area network connections -- it's for use only on a direct modem
connection to the Internet. Disable and un-install all other firewall
programs while troubleshooting. When un-installing a firewall
program, use the un-install procedure provided by the manufacturer .
Don't use Control Panel | Add or Remove Programs, which might not
completely un-install it.

For more information, see:

Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/ic_firewall.htm

2. Use only one protocol for File and Printer Sharing. If the network
needs more than one protocol, unbind File and Printer Sharing from all
but one of them. Details here:

Windows XP Network Protocols
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/network_protocols.htm

3. Make sure that NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled on all computers.
Details here:

Enable NetBIOS Over TCP/IP (NetBT)
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/netbt.htm

4. Run "ipconfig /all" on XP and look at the "Node Type" at the
beginning of the output. If it says "Peer-to-Peer" (which should
actually be "Point-to-Point") that's the problem. It means that the
computer only uses a WINS server, which isn't available on a
peer-to-peer network for NetBIOS name resolution.

If that's the case, run the registry editor, open this key:

HLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netbt\Parameters

and delete these values if they're present:

NodeType
DhcpNodeType

Reboot, then try network access again.

If that doesn't fix it, open that registry key again, create a DWORD
value called "NodeType", and set it to 1 for "Broadcast" or 4 for
"Mixed".

For details, see these Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:

Default Node Type for Microsoft Clients
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;160177

TCP/IP and NBT Configuration Parameters for Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314053
--
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

 

[Chuck]

Our family has 3, sometimes 4 computers that are all using
DSL via a wireless network. We have recently upgraded to
Windows XP Professional and prior to doing so, we were
able to file and printer share. Now, I can see my
husband's computer and he sees mine but when I try to
access his computer I get a message that says, his
computer is not accessible and that I might not have
permission to use this network resource. It also says
that I should contact the administrator (myself) of the
server to find out if I have access permissions and that
the network path was not found.

I would appreciate any help anyone can provide as the file
sharing feature was extremely useful as my computer does
not have a 3.5" disk drive and I have several files I need
to access that are on a 3.5" disk.

Thanks!

Karen,

On any XP Pro computer, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel -
Folder Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled. With XP Pro,
you need to have the SFS settings properly set on each computer.

With XP Pro, if SFS is disabled, 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".

With XP Pro, if you set the Local Security Policy to "Guest only", make sure
that the Guest account is enabled, and has an identical, non-blank, password on
all computers. If "Classic", setup and use a common account with identical,
non-blank, password on all computers.

For XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the Guest account is
enabled, with identical, non-blank passwords, on each computer.

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