Sharing Windows folder and Program Files folder

[Tom Gunby]

I am trying to enable network sharing (in a workgroup of
XP and Win 98 machines) for the Windows folder and Program
Files folder of a desktop running XP Pro. Have reviewed
the help files and KB and understand the contents of these
folders are hidden by design. Have enabled the "show
hidden files" and disabled the "hide system files"
checkboxes in folder options on the desktop but still
get "Access in denied" dialog when trying to access these
particular folders over the network. The puzzling thing
is that the Windows and Program Files folders on a laptop
running XP Pro on the same network are accessible but I
don't remember how I accomplished it. Is there a
workaround or will a utility like TweaiUI do the job?
Thanks.

 

[jaybe]

I am trying to enable network sharing (in a workgroup of XP and Win 98
machines) for the Windows folder and Program Files folder of a desktop
running XP Pro. Have reviewed the help files and KB and understand the
contents of these folders are hidden by design. Have enabled the "show
hidden files" and disabled the "hide system files" checkboxes in folder
options on the desktop but still get "Access in denied" dialog when trying
to access these particular folders over the network. The puzzling thing
is that the Windows and Program Files folders on a laptop running XP Pro
on the same network are accessible but I don't remember how I accomplished
it. Is there a workaround or will a utility like TweaiUI do the job?

You need to setup some users on the XP machine that have access to the
files in question, and then log in as those users on the 98 machines. For
instance, create a user on the XP box called user with password password.
Use the administrator account to give user whatever access to the
files you think is necessary. Then log into the 98 machines with
username user and password password.

 

[Kent W. England [MVP]]

I am trying to enable network sharing (in a workgroup of
XP and Win 98 machines) for the Windows folder and Program
Files folder of a desktop running XP Pro. Have reviewed
the help files and KB and understand the contents of these
folders are hidden by design. Have enabled the "show
hidden files" and disabled the "hide system files"
checkboxes in folder options on the desktop but still
get "Access in denied" dialog when trying to access these
particular folders over the network. The puzzling thing
is that the Windows and Program Files folders on a laptop
running XP Pro on the same network are accessible but I
don't remember how I accomplished it. Is there a
workaround or will a utility like TweaiUI do the job?
Thanks.

The answer depends on whether you are using simple file sharing or
"complicated" file sharing and whether your file system is NTFS or FAT32.

Since you are using XP Pro, you can disable simple file sharing from the
Folder Options control panel. Do this if you have accounts on XP that
mirror logon accounts for w98. If you don't want to setup account
mirrors, then leave simple file sharing enabled, but disable it for now
to see the NTFS security tabs.

Check Program Files and Windows for read permission for Guest account
access. "Read" access includes
Read & Execute
List Folder Contents
Read.

These should already be on. Then go to the sharing tab and share these
folders and give permission to Everyone for access. Then turn simple
file sharing back on and see if the w98 users can access those shares
without being asked for a password. Make sure you have a firewall to
protect your local network from outsiders accessing these shares.