Severe Windows XP network File/Printer Sharing problems

[Guest]

A similar problem to the one Nick, just below, presents...

My configuration:

* Laptop XP SP2
* Desktop XP Home SP2 (the "server")
* Both connected to a DLink 604 router with firewall included. The Dlink is
in turn connected to a ADSL modem.
* Both computers are connected to the same Workgroup and has their MS
firewalls disabled.

My problem:

I want to use the desktop as a "server" and access files and the attached
printer from the laptop. It does't work at all. No computers turns up at My
Network Places when I want to show the computers in the workgroup.

I have tried to follow article-ID 308007 in my trouble shooting:

The following works:
1) Both computers can access Internet without any problem.
2) Both computers can ping eachother with both IP-address and Computer Names
3) Have made Run cmd> net user guest /active:yes successfully on both
computers from the Administrator accounts.
4) I have "reinstalled" the TCP/IP on the desktop according to article-ID
299357 with >netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt

5) File sharing according to Article-ID 304040 are made for Shared files at
the desktop XP Home to level 5; ie total access read/write for all users at
the LAN. Confirmed with >fsmgmt.msc for both computers.

6)>Command>net view \\localcomputer works when looking at itself, also
showing the shared folders.

This don't work:
7)>Command>net view \\remotecomputer gives "System error 5 has occured.
Access is denied."

Would be very grateful for any idea of how to further proceed!

Best regards,
Sten-Olof

 

[Guest]

Tried the cure for Nick with >net stop/start browser and can now see both
computers in Networkplaces, thanks!....but I still cannot get access....I
still get "System error 5 has occured" when I try >net view
\\myservername..../Sten-Olof

 

[Chuck]

Tried the cure for Nick with >net stop/start browser and can now see both
computers in Networkplaces, thanks!....but I still cannot get access....I
still get "System error 5 has occured" when I try >net view
\\myservername..../Sten-Olof

Access denied errors can have several causes:
- Improper permissioning, lack of authentication / authorisation.
- Improper name resolution.
- Browser problems.
- Firewall problems.

Is the laptop running XP Home or Pro?

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 properly set on each computer.

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, check the Local Security Policies (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".

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, if you set the above Local Security Policy to
"Guest only", enable the Guest account, using Start - Run - "cmd" - type "net
user guest /active:yes" in the command window. 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.

On XP Home, and on XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the
Guest account is enabled, on each computer. Enable Guest, with Start - Run -
"cmd", then type "net user guest /active:yes" in the command window. Ensure
that the password for Guest is blank, with Start - Run - "control
userpasswords2"; select Guest, click Reset Password, click OK without entering a
new password.

On XP Pro, if you're going to use Guest authentication, check your Local
Security Policy (Control Panel - Administrative Tools) - User Rights Assignment,
on the XP Pro computer, and look at "Deny access to this computer from the
network". Make sure Guest is not in the list. Look at "Access this computer
from the network", and make sure that Everyone is in this list.

Run "ipconfig /all" on both computers, make sure that Node Type on both is
compatible.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=160177

I'm not sure of the result of the browser stop / start procedure recommended to
Nick.
- Stop browser on Computer A.
- Stop browser on Computer B.
- Start browser on Computer B.
- Start browser on Computer A.

On a LAN with just two computers, you only need the browser running on one.
- Stop browser on Computer A.
- Stop browser on Computer B.
- Start browser on Computer B.

The browser requires anonymous access, so look at registry key
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa], value restrictanonymous.
<http://www.microsoft.com/windows200...2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/regentry/46688.asp>
<http://www.jsifaq.com/subf/tip2600/rh2625.htm>
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=246261
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296403

The above articles refer to Windows 2000. Remember WinXP is NT V5.1, and Win2K
is NT V5.0.

Have you used the Registry Editor before? If not, it's a scary tool, but it's
pretty simple once you get used to it. Here are a couple articles that might
help:
<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...home/using/productdoc/en/tools_regeditors.asp>
<http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/registry>

Just remember to backup the key (create a registry patch) for
[HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa] before making any changes, if
appropriate.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[G. Patricks]

Sten -

Look in Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Local Security
Policy > Local Policies > User Rights Assignments on the computer you
can't access. Be sure the "Access this computer" and "Deny access to
this computer" are not locking everyone out. Access should be to
"Everyone" and all should belong to the "Everyone" group..

I'm assuming you have sharing enabled on this box, etc..

Gary