LAN problem: can't browse network computers

[Frankie V. Fernandez, MD]

I have a PC with XP SP2 professional and a laptop running XP SP2 home. The
PC is connected to the internet and the laptop shares the internet
connection without any problems through a lan cable.
However, I cannot get the computers to share files and folders. I get this
message whenever I browse my network:

\\compname, is not accessible.You might not have the permission to use the
network resources.Contact the administrator of this server to find out if
you have the access permission.

I have done everything I know, including setting the computer browser
service and enabling NETBIOS over TCP/IP in both computers, and turned on
file sharing in windows explorer and network setup wizard.

Are there somethings else I should do?

Thanks in advance!

Frankie

 

[Guest]

Frankie,

This problem manifests itself when you have user names and passwords which
do not match on the two windows XP computers. The first thing to do is make
sure the user names are the same on both machines. There are other things you
can do if that doesn’t work but that usually solves most problems like this.

 

[Frankie V. Fernandez, MD]

Thanks for the reply! But wouldn't that mean that i have to re-install the
operating system at least on one computer to have the username and passwords
identical? I would rather not do that if there are other ways.
What do you mean by the user name and password? I am the administrator for
both computers but used different log in names and passwords for booting up?
Can I instead create users in each computer with the same name and password?

Frankie

 

[Guest]

Frankie,

My reply was based on my experience with multi user machine workgroups –
where this problem usually manifests itself. I take it from your reply that
you have two computers with just one admin account on each and the account
was created when you computers were set up. Likewise, there are no passwords.

I think the ‘no passwords’ bit is the problem here.

Give this a try….

Go to
Control Panel Settings > Administrative Tools > Local Security Policies >
Local Policies / Security Options
Scroll to
Account – Limit local account use of blank password – Disable
Network Access – Let everyone permissions apply to anonymous users – Enable

and …

Go to
My Network Places > View Network Connections >
Right click your network and properties
Then the authentication tab
Tick – Authenticate as guest when computer information is not available.

That might work.

Note1 - If you are using a 3rd party firewall tool, such as Norton, make
sure that it is set uo correctly for network access (the allow network access
from local IP address in the 192.168..... range) This is often the cause of
access problems.
Note 2 and WARNING – if you do the above you are starting to open you
computer up to attack from the internet make sure you have a firewall in
place and set up on your internet connection.

Martyn

 

[Malke]

Thanks for the reply! But wouldn't that mean that i have to re-install
the operating system at least on one computer to have the username and
passwords
identical? I would rather not do that if there are other ways.
What do you mean by the user name and password? I am the administrator
for both computers but used different log in names and passwords for
booting up? Can I instead create users in each computer with the same
name and password?

You most certainly do *not* have to reinstall the operating system!

1. XP Home only authenticates as Guest (Simple Sharing). XP Pro by
default does this but may have been set up differently for you. So go
to the XP Pro machine and *enable* Simple Sharing from the Folders>View
tab.

OR

2. Leave Simple Sharing *disabled* on the Pro machine and create
identical users and passwords (no password - blank - is really a null
password) on both machines. You do this from the User Accounts applet
in Control Panel. You don't need to be logged into that particular user
account to share files either.

3. If you choose to create passwords and identical user accounts, for
convenience you can set the machines to automatically log onto your
account so you don't have to enter the password every time.

Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm

4. As always, make sure you are only running one firewall and that
whatever firewall you are using is set to allow the Local Area Network
traffic as trusted. Running the Network Setup Wizard enables the XP SP2
Windows Firewall. If you aren't running a third-party firewall or have
an antivirus with "Internet Worm Protection" (like Norton 2005/06)
which acts as a firewall, then you're fine. If you have third-party
firewall software, configure it to allow the Local Area Network traffic
as trusted. I usually do this with my firewalls with an IP range. Ex.
would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would substitute your
correct subnet.

Then create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users'
home directories (My Documents) or Program Files, but you can share
folders inside those directories. A better choice is to simply use the
Shared Documents folder.

If that doesn't work for you, here is an excellent network
troubleshooter by MVP Hans-Georg Michna. Take the time to go through it
and it will usually pinpoint the problem area(s) -
http://winhlp.com/wxnet.htm

Malke