messed up file sharing

[Gary]

Hi, I am using XP home on 3 comps and XP pro on another.
I have all comps linked together (ethernet and a wireless
router). All comps can use the internet and all comps
can see each other on the network. the problem is I can
only access files on the two newer comps. I can access a
printer on one of the older ones and print just fine but
I cannot access files on the older comps(1 XP home, 1 XP
pro). I can ping any comp from any other one but I get an
access denied error when I try to open the computer.
The files are shared and like I said I can print to a
printer that is hooked up to one of the none shareable
computers.
Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Chuck]

Hi, I am using XP home on 3 comps and XP pro on another.
I have all comps linked together (ethernet and a wireless
router). All comps can use the internet and all comps
can see each other on the network. the problem is I can
only access files on the two newer comps. I can access a
printer on one of the older ones and print just fine but
I cannot access files on the older comps(1 XP home, 1 XP
pro). I can ping any comp from any other one but I get an
access denied error when I try to open the computer.
The files are shared and like I said I can print to a
printer that is hooked up to one of the none shareable
computers.
Thanks in advance for any help.

Gary,

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

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.

On XP Home, or 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.

 

[David]

How do you enable the guest account?

How do you set the Local Security Policy?

David

 

[Chuck]

How do you enable the guest account?

How do you set the Local Security Policy?

David

David,

Both Computer Management and Local Security Policy are under Control Panel -
Administrative Tools.

The Guest account is enabled under Computer Management - Local User and Groups -
Users.

Network Access is under Local Security Policy - Local Policies - Security
Options.

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