Sharing Folders with Windows 98

[mcp6453]

Friend has a Windows 98 computer, an older XP SP2 computer, and a new XP SP3
computer. He has folders shared on the SP2 machine that are readily accessible
with the 98 machine. The folders on the SP3 computer can be seen from the 98
computer, but they cannot be changed, and files cannot be dragged from the 98
computer to the SP3 computer. Therefore, there is something different about the
SP3 computer.

All computers have the same user account with a blank password. Simple file
sharing is enabled on both XP machines. "Allow others to change files" is
checked on both XP computers. The Guest accounts are disabled. We have done a
machine-to-machine comparison to try to figure out the differences between the
two XP machines, but we have not been successful.

Have we overlooked something, or is there a difference in the way folders are
shared between SP2 and SP3? All drives are formatted FAT32. (I know. Not my choice.)

We temporarily enabled the Guest account on the SP3 machine, but it did not make
any difference in the ability of the 98 box to be able to move files to it.

 

[Bill in Co.]

Friend has a Windows 98 computer, an older XP SP2 computer, and a new XP
SP3
computer. He has folders shared on the SP2 machine that are readily
accessible
with the 98 machine. The folders on the SP3 computer can be seen from the
98
computer, but they cannot be changed, and files cannot be dragged from the
98
computer to the SP3 computer. Therefore, there is something different
about
the SP3 computer.

All computers have the same user account with a blank password. Simple
file
sharing is enabled on both XP machines. "Allow others to change files" is
checked on both XP computers. The Guest accounts are disabled. We have
done a
machine-to-machine comparison to try to figure out the differences between
the
two XP machines, but we have not been successful.

Have we overlooked something, or is there a difference in the way folders
are
shared between SP2 and SP3? All drives are formatted FAT32. (I know. Not
my
choice.)
We temporarily enabled the Guest account on the SP3 machine, but it did
not
make any difference in the ability of the 98 box to be able to move files
to it.

I wonder if this is another one of those (so-called) "improvements, in the
interests of increased security", by the further locking down of the systems
having SP3 installed?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Friend has a Windows 98 computer, an older XP SP2 computer, and a new XP
SP3 computer. He has folders shared on the SP2 machine that are readily
accessible with the 98 machine. The folders on the SP3 computer can be
seen from the 98 computer, but they cannot be changed, and files cannot be
dragged from the 98 computer to the SP3 computer. Therefore, there is
something different about the SP3 computer.

All computers have the same user account with a blank password. Simple
file sharing is enabled on both XP machines. "Allow others to change
files" is checked on both XP computers. The Guest accounts are disabled.
We have done a machine-to-machine comparison to try to figure out the
differences between the two XP machines, but we have not been successful.

Have we overlooked something, or is there a difference in the way folders
are shared between SP2 and SP3? All drives are formatted FAT32. (I know.
Not my choice.)

We temporarily enabled the Guest account on the SP3 machine, but it did
not make any difference in the ability of the 98 box to be able to move
files to it.

Try this:
- Disable "Simple File Sharing".
- Create a non-blank password for the account you use on the WinXP PC.
- Log on as the same user/password on the Win98 machine.

 

[mcp6453]

Try this:
- Disable "Simple File Sharing".
- Create a non-blank password for the account you use on the WinXP PC.
- Log on as the same user/password on the Win98 machine.

We will try that, but if it works, the technique is only part of the
explanation. Windows 98 has full access to XP SP2. Are you saying that security
in SP3 has changed? (I'm not trying to put words into your mouth.)

 

[Jim Dell]

We will try that, but if it works, the technique is only part of the
explanation. Windows 98 has full access to XP SP2. Are you saying that
security in SP3 has changed? (I'm not trying to put words into your mouth.)

Is the Guest account enabled on the SP3 PC?

Jim

 

[mcp6453]

Is the Guest account enabled on the SP3 PC?

Jim

The Guest accounts are disabled on all machines.

 

[Twayne]

Friend has a Windows 98 computer, an older XP SP2 computer, and a new
XP SP3 computer. He has folders shared on the SP2 machine that are
readily accessible with the 98 machine. The folders on the SP3
computer can be seen from
the 98 computer, but they cannot be changed, and files cannot be
dragged from the 98 computer to the SP3 computer. Therefore, there is
something different about the SP3 computer.

All computers have the same user account with a blank password.
Simple file sharing is enabled on both XP machines. "Allow others to
change
files" is checked on both XP computers. The Guest accounts are
disabled. We
have done a machine-to-machine comparison to try to figure out the
differences between the two XP machines, but we have not been
successful.

Have we overlooked something, or is there a difference in the way
folders are shared between SP2 and SP3? All drives are formatted
FAT32. (I know. Not my choice.)
We temporarily enabled the Guest account on the SP3 machine, but it
did not make any difference in the ability of the 98 box to be able
to move files to it.

I'd start by seeing if each machine can ping the other; in all
directions.

Check the firewall logs on all 3 machines. There may be a blocked
contact attempt that you overlooked. Over wires, FAT/NTFS etc are
pretty meaningless, plus XP can see either, BUT win98 can not read/write
an NTFS file so watch for that to get in the way, too.

Cheers,

Twayne