LAN Passwords and Shares

[Jim]

My LAN logon access is inconsistant. A simple network,
all XP Pro, The problem is ...
As administrator I can log on station 1 and
access (Thru network neighborhood or explore) shared
folders on stations 2-4 without any password required,
but station 5 requires a Password.
From station 2, I can access 1, 4 & 5 but a password is
required for station 3. ?? Strange ...
From station 4, a password is required to access
all of the others except station 1. ?? Stranger ...

What I want is to require a password to access the shared
folders at all the workstations.
I've tried to match the Security Options and User Rights
Assignments, but there is obviously something else. Any
suggestions?
...


..

 

[Chuck]

My LAN logon access is inconsistant. A simple network,
all XP Pro, The problem is ...
As administrator I can log on station 1 and
access (Thru network neighborhood or explore) shared
folders on stations 2-4 without any password required,
but station 5 requires a Password.
From station 2, I can access 1, 4 & 5 but a password is
required for station 3. ?? Strange ...
From station 4, a password is required to access
all of the others except station 1. ?? Stranger ...

What I want is to require a password to access the shared
folders at all the workstations.
I've tried to match the Security Options and User Rights
Assignments, but there is obviously something else. Any
suggestions?

Jim,

When a password is required, what account name is shown? Your admin account?
Or Guest? Can you access after entering a password, or are you unable to access
altogether?

Is this a domain, or workgroup, authentication?

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 SFS consistently set on each computer. If you want a password
to be used, disable SFS on all computers.

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 above Local Security Policy to "Guest only", enable
the Guest account, thru Local User Manager (Start - Run - "lusrmgr.msc"). If
"Classic", setup and use a common non-Guest account on all computers. Whichever
account is used, give it an identical, non-blank password on all computers.

For XP Home, OR for XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the
Guest account is enabled, on each computer. For XP Pro, enable Guest using
Local User Manager (Start - Run - "lusrmgr.msc"); for XP Home, Start - Run -
"cmd" - type "net user guest /active:yes" in the command window.

Do any of the computers have a software firewall (ICF / WF, or third party)? If
so, you need to configure them for file sharing, by opening ports TCP 139, 445
and UDP 137, 138, 445, and / or by identifying the other computers as present in
the Local (Trusted) zone. Firewall configurations are a very common cause of
(network) browser, and file sharing, problems.

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

 

[Jim]

Thanks Chuck, I had not setup common non-guest accounts
(nor was I aware of the "lusrmgr.msc" command for guest
account) If this works I'll sleep tonight.
ps - workgroup/no firewall

-----Original Message-----

 

[Chuck]

Thanks Chuck, I had not setup common non-guest accounts
(nor was I aware of the "lusrmgr.msc" command for guest
account) If this works I'll sleep tonight.
ps - workgroup/no firewall

Jim,

Please let us know if that helps. The purpose of these forums is to learn from
each other.

And please don't contribute to the spread and success of email address mining
viruses. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep yourself a bit
safer when posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest of the
internet - read this article.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

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

 

[Jim]

It helped some. I got one kink out of the fishing line
but the rest is still there. I'm thinking this is too
complicated for this type of forum. I better get someone
more experienced to this hands on. Thanks though!

-----Original Message-----

 

[Chuck]

It helped some. I got one kink out of the fishing line
but the rest is still there. I'm thinking this is too
complicated for this type of forum. I better get someone
more experienced to this hands on. Thanks though!

Jim,

If you let us know what kinks are left in your fishing line, someone here may be
able to unkink the rest of it. You have nothing to lose but time.

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