Server won't share the shared folder

[marsha]

I have installed a trial copy of windows 2003 server and have setup
file share. I put on the data file that all of our users need on that
computer
and shared that folder.

I set the workgroup to the same name and when I use this machine on the
network, it can see all the other computers and they can see it. But when
they try to access the server, the network dialog box comes up that ask
for user name and password.

I am unable to figure out how to give these users permission to access the
folder I shared. I really want to do this in the easiest way possible.

Do I have to setup Active Directory and Domain on this new server in order
to share the one folder????

Thanks much!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kurt]

No, you don't need active directory. If the clients are using professional
desktop operating systems (W2000Pro or XP Pro) you need to create user
accounts on the server that exactly match (username and password) the local
accounts of the users. Then you need to assign permissions for thos accounts
(at both the share and security tabs on the folder's properties page) for
those users with the appropriare level of access. If you don't have
professional desktops [XP Home :-( ], you'll need to enable the guest
account on the server, which pretty much negates the security.

....kurt

 

[marsha]

No, you don't need active directory. If the clients are using professional
desktop operating systems (W2000Pro or XP Pro) you need to create user
accounts on the server that exactly match (username and password) the local
accounts of the users. Then you need to assign permissions for thos accounts
(at both the share and security tabs on the folder's properties page) for
those users with the appropriare level of access. If you don't have
professional desktops [XP Home :-( ], you'll need to enable the guest
account on the server, which pretty much negates the security.

Hey Kurt,
I was hoping you would answer. I can't find where to enable guests. At
first, I just
want to enable the guest account on the server. Once I have satisfied
myself
that other aspects of everything works, I will go to a more secure
connection
method.

Thanks Much!!!!

 

[marsha]

No, you don't need active directory. If the clients are using professional
desktop operating systems (W2000Pro or XP Pro) you need to create user
accounts on the server that exactly match (username and password) the local
accounts of the users.

I thought it was only necessary to use xp pro and w2k if I was using a
domain.
But I thought it is was workgroup, they could be xp home for instance or any
OS. Did I misunderstand??

 

[Kurt]

No, you didn't misunderstand. Right-click "My Compter" on the desktop and
select "Manage". In the left pane, expand "Local Users and Groups", then
highlight "Users". In the right pane right-click the "Guest" account and
select properties. Uncheck the "Disable this Account" box. Then go to the
shared folder and make sure "Guest" has share permissions to at least read,
and NTFS permissions (on the security tab). There are several ways to do
this, but it might be easier to just add the guest account to the list at
the two levels. Or you could set permissions for the default "users" group
and add the guest account to that group.

....kurt

 

[marsha]

No, you didn't misunderstand. Right-click "My Compter" on the desktop and
select "Manage". In the left pane, expand "Local Users and Groups", then
highlight "Users". In the right pane right-click the "Guest" account and
select properties. Uncheck the "Disable this Account" box. Then go to the
shared folder and make sure "Guest" has share permissions to at least read,
and NTFS permissions (on the security tab). There are several ways to do
this, but it might be easier to just add the guest account to the list at
the two levels. Or you could set permissions for the default "users" group
and add the guest account to that group.

Thanks Kurt!!!! You are a life saver. I could get it working except from
two users
(one xp pro and one w2k). They opened the server right away and it didn't
ask their
user name and password as it did the others. And they can see the shared
folder, but
they can't access it.

Any thoughts??

Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kurt]

Maybe they're connecting using their own accounts rather thatn the guest
account? Do the accounts on the server matching their's have read/write
permissions to the folder (both share and NTFS)?

....kurt

 

[marsha]

Maybe they're connecting using their own accounts rather thatn the guest
account? Do the accounts on the server matching their's have read/write
permissions to the folder (both share and NTFS)?

I was thinking they were using the guest account rather than their own. I'm
not
sure how to tell.

Also, how do I check whether the accounts on the server matching their user
names
have permissions to the folder on both the share and the NTFS??

Thanks much!!!!!

 

[Kurt]

right-click the folder, select properties click the sharing tab, make sure
the share name is in the "share name" field, then click the permissions
button. If the accounts are not in there, add them. Or better, change the
permissions for the "users" group to read an write and make sure those
accounts are in the "users" group. Then click the "security" tab and add
users / groups and/or change the permissions for those already listed.

....kurt

 

[marsha]

right-click the folder, select properties click the sharing tab, make sure
the share name is in the "share name" field, then click the permissions
button. If the accounts are not in there, add them.

none of the users were there, so I added them all. But why three of the
users work perfectly??

Or better, change the
permissions for the "users" group to read an write and make sure those
accounts are in the "users" group.

I had already done that.

Then click the "security" tab and add
users / groups and/or change the permissions for those already listed.

I checked and there are 4 "Group or user names" listed just as I have typed
them below:
Administrators (SERVER\Administrators"
CREATOR OWNER
SYSTEM
Users (SERVER\Users)


Once again Kurt, you are so kind and I am so very thankful for your
help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!