WinXP to Win2k Share

[Peter Adler]

I've seen statements that in order to share files on a WinXP box, "The
remote computer needs to have a user logged in with the same name and
password as a user account on the XP computer that it is connecting to"
(although my network at home can access files on my XPpro box from
either a Win95 or a Win98se box without setting up any special accounts
on the Win9x boxes).

Is the same true of Win2k?

That is, if I have a WinXP box and a Win2k box in the same workgroup,
can I access files on the Win2k box from XP without first setting up a
user on the XP box that has the same name and password as an account on
the 2k box?

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I've seen statements that in order to share files on a WinXP box, "The
remote computer needs to have a user logged in with the same name and
password as a user account on the XP computer that it is connecting to"
(although my network at home can access files on my XPpro box from
either a Win95 or a Win98se box without setting up any special accounts
on the Win9x boxes).

Is the same true of Win2k?

That is, if I have a WinXP box and a Win2k box in the same workgroup,
can I access files on the Win2k box from XP without first setting up a
user on the XP box that has the same name and password as an account on
the 2k box?

The following answer applies to computers in a workgroup, not to
computers in a domain.

Win2K uses the Windows NT/2000 authentication model for networked
access, which requires matching user accounts.

WinXP Home Edition never requires matching user accounts. Home
Edition uses a "simple file sharing" authentication model for
networked access, which authenticates all network users as "Guest".
If you haven't explicitly disabled network access by the Guest
account, Windows XP grants networked access to everyone, regardless of
user name. If you've explicitly defined a password for the Guest
account, networked users must enter that password.

By default, Windows XP Professional works the same as Home Edition.

You can explicitly disable "simple file sharing" in XP Professional,
which causes it to use the Windows NT/2000 authentication model for
networked access.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Peter]

Thanks. This is the clearest explanation I've seen. I thought I had
disabled the Guest account in XP, but (as clarified by MSKB articleQ300489)
I only removed it from the Fast User Switching Welcome screen.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

The following answer applies to computers in a workgroup, not to
computers in a domain.

Win2K uses the Windows NT/2000 authentication model for networked
access, which requires matching user accounts.

WinXP Home Edition never requires matching user accounts. Home
Edition uses a "simple file sharing" authentication model for
networked access, which authenticates all network users as "Guest".
If you haven't explicitly disabled network access by the Guest
account, Windows XP grants networked access to everyone, regardless of
user name. If you've explicitly defined a password for the Guest
account, networked users must enter that password.

By default, Windows XP Professional works the same as Home Edition.

You can explicitly disable "simple file sharing" in XP Professional,
which causes it to use the Windows NT/2000 authentication model for
networked access.

Thanks. This is the clearest explanation I've seen. I thought I had
disabled the Guest account in XP, but (as clarified by MSKB articleQ300489)
I only removed it from the Fast User Switching Welcome screen.[/QUOTE]

You're welcome, Peter. As you found, enabling/disabling the Guest
account in Control Panel | Users only determines whether someone can
log in as Guest at the keyboard. It has no effect on network access.

These commands enable/disable network access by the Guest account:

net user guest /active:yes
net user guest /active:no
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com