Newbie. Questions on file sharing

[Daniel]

Hi everybody

I have a smal soho network consisting of a netgear router, a brand new PC
equipped with Vista Ultimate (let's call it Vista PC), and another PC using
XP SP 3 (XP PC).
The mapping of the network is OK.

after struggling a bit and thanks to the help of great people on such
newsgroup, my network is now operational.

however, i observe the following:
- From Vista PC I can access all folders and files on XP PC.

- From XP PC I can only access the folders that I manually shared, on at a
time, on the Vista PC.

so I have 2 questions :
1/
Assuming I am user "Daniel" on the Vista PC, how can I share in one
operation all folders and files in the Users\Daniel folder ?

2/
I wanted to start from scratch and deactivate file and printer sharing. How
can I do that? Indeed, if I go to Control Panel > Network File sharing, I
cannot modify the settings in the Network discovery and file sharing
sections : the check boxes are "greyed".

Many thanks in adavance for your kind help.

with brgds,
Daniel

 

[Robert L. \(MS-MVP\)]

1. You may try to create the same username "Daniel" in XP PC.

2. It could be 3rd party software. This search result may help.
Vista issues
Vista Internet Connection Sharing · Vista Network Connectivity Drops
or Times out · Vista Network Discovery is grayed out ...
www.chicagotech.net/vista/vistanetissues.htm


--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
While WinXP, and Windows2000 allow a setting that can Share the whole C:\
drive, it is not a configuration allowed with Vista (it provides much better
security).
One way to provide more flexible sharing is to partition the Main Drive (or
add a second Drive) you can easily build your own designed folders system on
the second drive and share the drive as one shared (mapped) entity.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)

 

[Jimmy Brush]

Hello,

1/
Assuming I am user "Daniel" on the Vista PC, how can I share in one
operation all folders and files in the Users\Daniel folder ?

- Right-click your daniel folder
- Click share..
- Click advanced sharing...
- Check the box that says share this folder
- Click the permissions button
- Check all the allow box next to full control (Note - this screen doesn't
actually GRANT permission - that is done in the security tab. This screen is
only used to take permission away or limit permission. That's why I suggest
you make it wide open.)
- Click OK to close all the screens.

If you have password-protected sharing turned ON, you are done.

If you don't, you have to now change the security permissions on your folder
to allow 'everyone' to access it. This is necessary because without password
sharing, your computer doesn't know who is accessing your files.

Note: This could make your computer less secure

- Right-click your daniel folder
- Click the security tab
- Click the edit button
- Click the Add button
- Type 'Everyone' into the box and click OK
- Check the boxes next to the permissions you want to allow.
- Click OK.
- You will see many screens come up that say 'Error Applying Security'.
These are normal - you can ignore them. Keep clicking Continue when these
come up.

cannot modify the settings in the Network discovery and file sharing
sections : the check boxes are "greyed".

I have read some people report that their security software greys these out
and makes you change these settings from the security application (e.g.
onecare).

- JB

 

[Daniel]

Many thanks, Jack.

that sounds like a good idea, easy to implement. I have 2 drives.

Very best rgds,
Daniel

 

[Daniel]

Hi Jimmy,

Many thanks for your time and kind help. Your explanations are very clear.

I will try all this tmw. And will keep you posted on the results.

best regards,
Daniel

 

[Daniel]

Hello again, Jimmy.

Just to tell you that now everything is working fine!

thank you so much for your help, I am most grateful.

Just a small question : if I right click on my "Daniel" folder I cannot
see the Share option. To access Share I have to open Explorer, select
Desktop on the left pane of the window, then select "Daniel" folder on
the right pane and click the button Share in the toolbar.

How come? Is there an option to extend the right click menu? Is it
different from one version of Vista to another (I have Vista Ultimate)?

many thanks again,
best rgds,
Daniel

 

[Jimmy Brush]

Glad you got it working.

On my systems the share option is there. I tested it with the sharing wizard
both on and off. Not sure why yours is gone.

It's not a big deal, it is just a quick link to the "sharing" tab on the
properties screen.

- JB

 

[Jimmy Brush]

To clarify, are you talking about the daniel folder on your start menu? If
so, then it is normal that the share option would not be there. I was
refering to your user folder in explorer in my instructions.

- JB

 

[Daniel]

Hi Jimmy,

thank you for your concern.

Indeed it's not a big deal. I simply have to get used to the ergonomics of
Vista.

On my side, going into Explorer, here is what I observe :

Folders on the left pane :
Desktop
---Daniel (the share command is NOT available when I right click)
------Desktop (as from now on, the share commande is available in the
right click menu of every folder)
------Contacts
------Miscelaneous (not sure about the translation)
------Documents
-----------Personal folder 1
-----------Personal folder 2
-----------etc

What is confusing is that there are many different screens , layers and
links dealing with sharing. Right now I do not comprehend the structure.

so, again, to do what you suggested, I had to open Explorer, select >>>
Desktop (at the top of the left pane of the window),
then select the "Daniel" folder on the right pane and click the button
Share in the toolbar.

Main thing is that everything is OK.

I have been "playing" with Vista for 4 days now. Quite a change as compared
to XP (which I loved).
I am sure it's a good engine, with the accent put on security, which is a
good thing.
However, I am not so keen on the ergonomics I must say. Too many "fancies"
and many confusing features.
I'll see with the usage.

Many thanks again, Jimmy.

all my best,
Daniel
(Paris)