Shared Folder NIGHTMARE!!!!

[Darren M Taylor]

I am having one hell of a nightmare.
Having spent the last 3 days trying to resolve a shared folder problem...

Background.... I have 6 pc's all wired/wireless networked very happily. All
running XP pro SP2 and all able to access internet with no problems at all.
Several of the PC's have shared folders/drives which until recently were
accessible by all the other PC's.

NOT ANY MORE....

Since Thursday, I have 1 PC (which i shall call server because it has most
of the shared folders and is the only PC wired to the network) which will
not allow any of the others to access it's shared folders/printers.
I have meticulously searched all the websites, KB etc and followed all the
advice they can offer but still no luck
I can ping from any PC to the server and vice versa, it is listed on the
workgroup and yet still no luck connecting to the shared folders.
Now, I followed one help thread and it did take me a little further forward.
Basically, if i use the
net use x: \\servername\sharedfolder command to connect to the shared folder
it works!!!!! and i see the shared folder as a mapped network drive. BUT
THAT ONLY HELPS SO MUCH... and i have briefcase files which will not work
that way.

I have tried renaming, re-installing TCPIP, disabling simple file sharing,
everything ...but nothing has worked.

I would really be very appreciative if anyone could possibly help coz i
really am tearing whats left of my hair out!!

Many TIA

D

 

[Guest]

Hi Darren,

Sounds like you are having a tough time of it there!

A few things to consider ( though you may well already have done and you use
of a mapped drive suggest these may be already done):

1) As you have XP SP2 then the good old windows firewall may be worth a look
0 try turning it off & see how you go (make sure you have some security in
place!)

2) as you are happy with the net use command - you could also try the
net view \\servername
and see how you do - this should show you the shares on the server, and
don't forget that you can substitute IP address for servername

3) on the subject of IP addreses, if these have changed its worth checking
wherever (if anywhere local!) you are getting your DNS resolution from, check
the HOSTS file if you have one.

btw - using Offline Files is generally more efficient than briefcase in W2k
& later.

Give these items a try & let us know how you get on.

Regards,

Jason

 

[Darren M Taylor]

Hi Jason

Thanks for the tips so far. Please could you explain the HOSTS file you
mentioned.
I have checked what i 'think' is the hosts file you talked about
(\windows\system32\drivers\etc) but it just seems to be a sample file. I
have a file called hosts and a file called lmhosts.sam
Could you help with this? should i be looking on 'server' or on the other
pc's?
If i try net view, i get error 5 which is to do with permissions i believe.
So i can map the drive with net set, but can't see the shares using net view
(although i can view all the shares on the other pc's)
I will try the turning the firewall off, but i'm sure i've tried that
already.
Hope you can help further

Darren

 

[Guest]

Hi again Darren,

The HOSTS file just allows you to set an association between an IP address
and a host name - if you only have the .SAM files, then you aren't using the
file, thats fine.

If you are getting a permissions error on NET VIEW then this may suggest
that the user context that you are in does not have permissions on the server
- when you use the NET USE method, do you then get prompted for a password?

If you try

net use \\servername /user:username

where the servername is the name of your server and the username is the name
of a user with known good permissions on that server, - you will probably be
asked for the password for that user ... then retry your other access
methods (briefcase etc) and see if you have success - if this does work then
you need to add the user name under which you log on to the client PC to the
server's user list - and make sure you do have passwords (and that they match
across systems!)

Let me know if this reveals anything new.

Regards,

Jason

 

[Darren M Taylor]

Hi Jason

OK....i'll try and follow that.
when i use net view i get error 53. I tried the net use \\servername
/user:username that you suggested, but somehow the format wasn't accepted
and it didnt work.
However, I have this evening managed to access the shared folder on the
server from my laptop, although my laptop uses the same account name and
paasword as the 'server'. perhaps this may account for how i am able to see
the shared folders on the server???
However, i can see shared folders from 1laptop to another laptop, both of
which have different usernames and passwords!!!
I am convinced that the problem must lie in the permissions allowing access
to the shared folders although just how to set that up is a different
matter!!!!
If i go into permissions on the server, i am able to set permissions for
local users on the 'server' however i am not able to set permissions for any
other users/computers on the network (workgroup).
I guess what i may need to know is how to set permissions for other
workgroup pc's / users....????

Darren

 

[Guest]

Hi again,

The net use should, at least, not give you an error, it is a way to tell
your computer that when attempting to connect to the server (we'll call it
SVR1) it should use the user name (we'll calll him FRED1), so should appear:

net use \\svr1 /user:fred1

IF however your system has already has an established link then you should
do this:

net use \\svr1 /delete

first - to break any link - don't worry its just a session based security
command and won't actually delete anything real!

You can then try the net use again.

I'm assuming your server is a Windows XP machine too - or at least is NOT a
domain controller (these are quite differernt for security purposes)
therefore security is pretty similar to your other XP systems. Within what is
know as a peer-to-peer or workgroup environment each system should know the
usernames and passwords for the users on other systems that it should trust -
if you have totally open file sharing (NOT recommended) then this is not
essential, but I wouldn't go there.

You have a couple of levels of permissions to look at:
1) Share level permissions - these define who can connect to the share on a
system and the MAXIMUM rights of that user for the session - this is usually
one of : NONE, READ-ONLY, CHANGE or FULL - this is set under the Permissions
button on the Sharing tab for a folder - default on XP (SP2) is Everyone -
READ

2) file level permissions - this is only a concern when you are using an
NTFS formatted drive - you can easily tell as if you go to the properties of
a file or folder on an NTFS drive you will get a Security tab - settings are
found there for file level security.

Give the net use \\svr1 /delete a go with the /user net use after doing that
and see how you go.

I'm off soon but will probably be around for a little while if you re-post,
otherwise I'll look forward to hearing of your progress tomorrow.

Regards,

Jason

 

[Darren M Taylor]

Hi Jason

OK>>>>> I think i've figured the problem...
ALTHOUGH FIXING IT IS A DIFFERENT STORY
i just created a new user account on the pc that WASNT accessing the shared
folder on 'server'
the account i created used the same username and password that i am using on
the laptop (which could access the shared folders) and also the same
username as i use on the 'server'
VOILA.... I could then access the shared folder...
SO... this HAS to be an issue with allowing a different user on another
worgroup pc to access the shared folders.
THE QUESTION NOW IS... HOW THE HELL DO I SET THIS PERMISSION???
I have looked at the permissions for the shared folders and everything i
tried has pretty much no effect... still can't access themn.
WHAT AM I DOING WRONG!!!

ARGGGHHHHHHH

PLEASE HELP......

YOURS

frustrated!!!!

 

[Darren M Taylor]

OK

Figured out the syntax for net use.
Said "the command completed sucessfully"
But still cant access the shared folders.
Yes, i am running xp pro. most of the drives are ntfs partitions.
Have gone to permissions for shared folders/drives. They are set to
"EVERYONE" and "FULL CONTROL"
If i go to permissions/add, i get the option to add 'from this location' and
the name of my server. however, i cannot then add the names from any other
pc's and i guess this is what i am needing to do...???

 

[Guest]

Hi,

Well, theres the rub - there are (outside of a domain type structure) no
ways to differentiate between where the requests come from, sorry.

What we may be able to gleam from this is where the problem really lies - as
something just isn't doing what its supposed to.

If you now share a folder on the 2nd PC - can you see it okay from the
notebook? Can you NET VIEW \\PC2 ?

Unless there is some filtering configured on SVR1 then your rights shoud be
exactly the same.... to check filtering (on the server) open the properties
of your network card, then select TCP/IP from the list - properties. On here
click advanced, on next window options, then select TCP/IP filtering, click
properties - I would expect to find the Enable TCP/IP filtering etc box NOT
checked, this would mean no filtering configured.

I'm assuming no firewall and no routers between the clients and the server.

Can you supply the IP addresses and Subnet Masks for the systems involved
(you can mail me at MS_SUPPORT# @ #ciscohelp# . com (put together & take out
the #s) and please put MS_SUPPORT in the subject line too - if you don't want
to post the info here. (I get too much spam as it is - so I have to obfuscate
the email address!)

Lets hope we get you sorted out while there still some hair left, eh?



Jason

 

[Ross Durie]

This behaviour is by design which makes me wonder how you had file sharing
working between multiple computers in the first place. See
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_filesharing/index.htm

 

[Darren M Taylor]

Hi Jason

Yes, there is NO filtering enabled.
I am using a router (wireless).
yes i can view shared folders on other PC's, so problem would appear to be
with rights on 'server'
IP address for server 192.168.2.2 subnet mask 255.255.255.0
IP address for other PC's 192.168.2.3 192.168.2.4 192.168.2.5 all with
same subnet mask

 

[Darren M Taylor]

OK....
have gotten a little further
I created a user account on server using the same username/password as the
person using PC2.
VOILA... i can now access the shared folders even when logged onto PC2 under
a different user name.
The problem now of course is that i get 2 accounts listed on the logon
screen on server (WHICH I DONT WANT)
Is there a way i can now keep the user i have created oin server, but remove
the name from the logon screen?
That would ceratinly solve the problem.

 

[Guest]

HI Darren,

Well - I think we've nailed the problem to a security issue, rather than
anything else.

I'm afraid I don't use the 'names on the startup screen' type of logon, so I
can't advise how to get rid of some names and leave others, sorry. You could
try to change some of the group memberships.

Your alternative is to setup the same user on all the other machines as on
the 'server'.

Post back or email me if you are still haveing problems or have any more
issues.

ttfn,

Jason

 

[Darren M Taylor]

Hi Jason

It's strange because this 'security issue' appears only to take place in one
direction and only between certain computers.
I don't have the 'server' username registered to PC2 and yet i can see it's
shared folders....
So if this is a security issue, how do i resolve it?

Darren

 

[Guest]

Hi again,

Well the inconsistency is what really concerns me.

If one system can attach to a share using an identity then another should be
able to attatch to the same share with the same identity - are we saying that:

1) your server ISN'T using simple file sharing
2) all of your 'clients' are using different login names and passwords,
which are not replicated on the server
3) they can all (except 1?) attatch to the same share and access all files
in the same way without problems?

If so I would suggest removing the File & Printer sharing for Microsoft
networks (on the server) and then re-adding it, because somerhing in there
has got screwed up!

Let me know how you get on.

Jason

 

[Darren M Taylor]

I tried that about 3 or 4 days ago....didnt help

 

[B Hope]

I have been trying to follow this thread and found it interesting that it
worked when you created a second user account on the 'server'. Why not
create a user account on the server for each PC using the same username and
password that each PC would use for itself and then to avoid loads of names
at the log on go to Control Panel|User Accounts|Change the way users log on,
deselect the Welcome Screen.

Barry

 

[Darren M Taylor]

Thanks...
thats exactly what i have done....

I have been trying to follow this thread and found it interesting that it
worked when you created a second user account on the 'server'. Why not
create a user account on the server for each PC using the same username and
password that each PC would use for itself and then to avoid loads of names
at the log on go to Control Panel|User Accounts|Change the way users log
on, deselect the Welcome Screen.

Barry