Shared Folders Inaccessible

[Guest]

I seem to have a bit of a problem with some of my shared folders on a home
network of two computers. One is Windows 98 and the other XP Home. I have
shared folders on 98 and they are set up with seperate passwords for
read-only access and full access. I could access them fine until recently,
since I decided to turn off the Guest account. Now I can still access them
okay if I remove the network password protection, but with it set the
passwords don't work, the logon screen just remains as if the password is
wrong. But like I said I haven't had problems with this before. Why would
switching off the Guest account affect this, and how can I fix it without
turning it back on ?

 

[Chuck]

I seem to have a bit of a problem with some of my shared folders on a home
network of two computers. One is Windows 98 and the other XP Home. I have
shared folders on 98 and they are set up with seperate passwords for
read-only access and full access. I could access them fine until recently,
since I decided to turn off the Guest account. Now I can still access them
okay if I remove the network password protection, but with it set the
passwords don't work, the logon screen just remains as if the password is
wrong. But like I said I haven't had problems with this before. Why would
switching off the Guest account affect this, and how can I fix it without
turning it back on ?

Chrissy,

Is the server (the computer with the shared folders) the computer running
Windows 98? If so, is the server using Share Level Access, or User Level
Access? See the Microsoft white paper, referenced in my article:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html#OlderOS>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html#OlderOS

If access is based upon the Guest account, then turning Guest off will indeed
cause your problem. Why did you disable Guest without knowing the possible
consequences, and why do you not want to re enable it? Did you turn Guest off,
on the server (Windows 98), or on the client (Windows XP)? Or both?

 

[Guest]

Yes the server would be the Windows 98 machine, technically as that is the
one also connected to the Internet. It uses share level access, there is
little point or value in using user level access as Windows 98 itself can not
administer proper user accounts with privileges etc.....
Furthurmore I turned off the Guest Account in XP (the client), Windows 98
does not have any such guest accounts. While the Guest account is integral
to XP and can't actually disabled, I did not realise that turning it off
would potentially affect network access.
And I'm still not anywhere forward with this.

 

[Chuck]

Yes the server would be the Windows 98 machine, technically as that is the
one also connected to the Internet. It uses share level access, there is
little point or value in using user level access as Windows 98 itself can not
administer proper user accounts with privileges etc.....
Furthurmore I turned off the Guest Account in XP (the client), Windows 98
does not have any such guest accounts. While the Guest account is integral
to XP and can't actually disabled, I did not realise that turning it off
would potentially affect network access.
And I'm still not anywhere forward with this.

Chrissy,

I'm not sure exactly why turning the Guest account, on the client, would affect
server access on the server. But please turn Guest back on, and see if the
problem continues. Make no other changes please.

And rest assured that everybody here would like to see you forward with this as
soon as possible. But please work with us.

If turning Guest back on does NOT restore server access, and knowing that you
have read the recommended white paper (you did do that?), may I next suggest
that you read my tutorial on solving network problems. And my instructions on
providing background information, which may be necessary.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html

If turning Guest back on DOES restore server access, we'll work with you in
discovering why this is so.

 

[Guest]

Well I switched my Guest account back on, and to my surprise it still doesn't
work. I thought that was it, but I guess I jumped the gun there.
I just thought maybe it could have been ZoneAlarm Pro 6.1.737.000, I've just
installed that as well but its setup seems okay. Hmmmmmmm.......