XP File sharing gremlins

[John Larkin]

" \\Computer is not accessible. You might not have
permission to use this network resource. Contact the
administrator of this server to find out if you have
access permissions."

There it is. Same message every time I try to access two
home network computers: FYI: I am the ADMINISTRATOR and,
yes, I have given myself permission to access these
resources.

Computer A- Desktop with Windows XP Pro SP1
Computer B- Desktop (new) with Windows XP Home SP1
Computer C- Notebook with XP Home SP1 and Wireless Card

Router Linksys WRT54G (Wireless) with 4 port wired hub.

All computers have different names, all belong to the
same workgroup, all users have different names. All have
IP's assigned by router, all have same subnet. All can be
pinged from any direction.

None have firewalls enabled on LAN connections, network
does not share Internet connection. All computers use
separate Dial Up.

All TCP/IP connections also use NetBios. All TCP/IP
connections have file and printer sharing and client for
Microsoft Networks enabled. All computers have computer
browsers and servers running. All have guest accounts:
ON. All have shared network directories.

Computers A & B can see and access Computer C, that's it.
A can see but not access B
B can see but not access A
C can see but not access either A or B.

Other than the wholly unnecessary complexity of setting
up simple file and printer sharing in a home network
using Windows XP;

What's the problem?

And how do I reactivate file sharing ports in the event
they have been closed by some malicious spyware program?

Thank you for any assistance you can render. I have been
trying to resolve this problem for days. An exercise in
futility if ever there was one.

 

[melnick]

Try adding IPX protocol. I had the same problem and was trying everything.
When I did this I suddenly was able to share files.

 

[Chuck]

" \\Computer is not accessible. You might not have
permission to use this network resource. Contact the
administrator of this server to find out if you have
access permissions."

There it is. Same message every time I try to access two
home network computers: FYI: I am the ADMINISTRATOR and,
yes, I have given myself permission to access these
resources.

Computer A- Desktop with Windows XP Pro SP1
Computer B- Desktop (new) with Windows XP Home SP1
Computer C- Notebook with XP Home SP1 and Wireless Card

Router Linksys WRT54G (Wireless) with 4 port wired hub.

All computers have different names, all belong to the
same workgroup, all users have different names. All have
IP's assigned by router, all have same subnet. All can be
pinged from any direction.

None have firewalls enabled on LAN connections, network
does not share Internet connection. All computers use
separate Dial Up.

All TCP/IP connections also use NetBios. All TCP/IP
connections have file and printer sharing and client for
Microsoft Networks enabled. All computers have computer
browsers and servers running. All have guest accounts:
ON. All have shared network directories.

Computers A & B can see and access Computer C, that's it.
A can see but not access B
B can see but not access A
C can see but not access either A or B.

Other than the wholly unnecessary complexity of setting
up simple file and printer sharing in a home network
using Windows XP;

What's the problem?

And how do I reactivate file sharing ports in the event
they have been closed by some malicious spyware program?

Thank you for any assistance you can render. I have been
trying to resolve this problem for days. An exercise in
futility if ever there was one.

John,

On any XP Pro computer, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control
Panel - Folder Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or
disabled. With XP Pro, you need to have SFS properly set on each
computer.

With XP Pro, if SFS is disabled, check the Local Security Policy
(Control Panel - Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies -
Security Options, look at "Network access: Sharing and security
model", and ensure it's set to "Classic - local users authenticate as
themselves".

With XP Pro, if you set the Local Security Policy to "Guest only",
make sure that the Guest account is enabled, thru Local User Manager
(Start - Run - "lusrmgr.msc"), and has an identical, non-blank,
password on all computers. If "Classic", setup and use a common
non-Guest account, with identical, non-blank, password on all
computers.

For XP Home, OR for XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure
that the Guest account is enabled (for XP Pro, thru Local User Manager
(Start - Run - "lusrmgr.msc")), on each computer.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[John Larkin]

Chuck,

Thank you for your suggestions. I have enabled classic
access under Local Policies, Security Options, Network
Access; simple file sharing was already enabled. Must
everyone on each computer use a password when signing on
or are blank passwords valid?

XP Home Edition does not offer the simple file sharing
choice under Folder Options, View, Advanced Settings.

Nothing works and I suspect the problem is located deep
within the registry and, therefore, deep within XP's file
sharing programming.

I don't expect anyone at MS to admit this problem but let
me add that I have also spent 4 1/2 hours on the phone
with two levels of MS support and they can't solve this
problem either.

The procedure is unduly complicated and the XP O/S seems
to have more holes in it than a screen door after a hail
storm. I've already downloaded 20 XP Home Edition security
updates for a computer I bought last week.

Imagine if you had to know the firing order of the pistons
and the angle of the crankshaft in order to start your car?

Sorry, I'm just venting. Thanks for trying to help us
beleaguered souls.

John Larkin

 

[Michael D. Alligood]

John. Before you give up on this, try downloading and running this utility
on Computers A and B. It has worked for me in the past with similair issues.

--
Best of luck!

Michael D. Alligood
MCSA, MCP, CCNA, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW A, CIW CI

 

[Michael D. Alligood]

Sorry about that... http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html

--
Best of luck!

Michael D. Alligood
MCSA, MCP, CCNA, A+,
Network+, i-Net+, CIW A, CIW CI