XP Peer to Peer Network: all OK except for this ...

[Duncan Williamson]

Dear All,

I have connected a laptop and deskptop via a crossover
cable using Windows XP networking capabilities. I share a
printer with no bother, I share an internet connection
with no bother, in fact the network is no bother except
that with Windows Explorer on the desktop I cannot read
any of the folders and files that I have share enabled on
the laptop. I CAN access all folders and files on the
desktop from the laptop, though.

I have worked my way through Windows XP help but to no
avail. I have tweaked everything I can find but still,
ACCESS IS DENIED.

What have I missed that must be so simple and so obvious
that I can't see it?

Anyone?

Thanks in advance if you can help.

Duncan

 

[Chuck]

Dear All,

I have connected a laptop and deskptop via a crossover
cable using Windows XP networking capabilities. I share a
printer with no bother, I share an internet connection
with no bother, in fact the network is no bother except
that with Windows Explorer on the desktop I cannot read
any of the folders and files that I have share enabled on
the laptop. I CAN access all folders and files on the
desktop from the laptop, though.

I have worked my way through Windows XP help but to no
avail. I have tweaked everything I can find but still,
ACCESS IS DENIED.

What have I missed that must be so simple and so obvious
that I can't see it?

Anyone?

Thanks in advance if you can help.

Duncan

Duncan,

Which version of XP on the desktop and laptop?

If XP Pro on either, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel - Folder
Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled.

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".

If you set the Local Security Policy to "Guest only", make sure that the Guest
account is enabled, and has an identical, non-blank, password on all computers.
If "Classic", setup and use a common account with identical, non-blank, password
on all computers.

Please provide ipconfig information for each computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\ipconfig.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.

Do either of the computers have a software firewall (ICF or third party)? If
so, you need to configure them for file sharing, by opening ports TCP 139, 445
and UDP 137, 138, 445, and / or by identifying the other computers as present in
the Local (Trusted) zone. Firewall configurations are a very common cause of
(network) browser and file sharing problems.

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

 

[Bill Castner]

A clean and usefull guide can be found here:
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm

But the short version: make as new usernames and passwords on
Computer A, the usernames and passwords on Computer B. Make as new
usernames and passwords on Computer B, the usernames and passwords on
Computer A.

Best,
Bill Castner

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----


Duncan,

Which version of XP on the desktop and laptop?

If XP Pro on either, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel - Folder
Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled.

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".

If you set the Local Security Policy to "Guest only", make sure that the Guest
account is enabled, and has an identical, non-blank, password on all computers.
If "Classic", setup and use a common account with identical, non-blank, password
on all computers.

Please provide ipconfig information for each computer.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "ipconfig /all
c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\ipconfig.txt in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.

Do either of the computers have a software firewall (ICF or third party)? If
so, you need to configure them for file sharing, by opening ports TCP 139, 445
and UDP 137, 138, 445, and / or by identifying the other computers as present in
the Local (Trusted) zone. Firewall configurations are a very common cause of
(network) browser and file sharing problems.

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

I wish I could report good news Chuck, but no. I did what
you suggested but here's what's happened.

I am running Windows XP Home on both computers.

Even before I did anything you suggested, my internet
connectivity on my desktop chopped itself off. I can no
longer browse the net or check my emails through Outlook
on the desktop. Honestly, I did nothing to make that
happen!

I tried ipconfig /all >c:/ipconfig.txt as you suggested,
again on both machines. Both machines whirred and clicked
and did the ipconfig but did they write to the file? Did
they beggary! I searched for them, but nothing. I event
tried to get them written to another folder but nothing.

I despair of the time I waste on these piddling things
I'm afraid. I had a massive network problem last year and
MS themselves took an hour and a half on the phone to
unravel it. This problem looks as if it's heading the
same way!

If it's of interest, the IP address on the laptop is
169.254.250.60 and it's similar on the desktop. I asked
Windows to assign those itself. I thought the IP address
should start with 192 ...

If you can shed any more light I'd be truly grateful.

Duncan

 

[Guest]

I run XP Home, Bill and have still got the problem.
Please see my reply to Chuck and if you can help I really
would be grateful.

Duncan

-----Original Message-----
A clean and usefull guide can be found here:
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharin g.htm

But the short version: make as new usernames and passwords on
Computer A, the usernames and passwords on Computer B. Make as new
usernames and passwords on Computer B, the usernames and passwords on
Computer A.

Best,
Bill Castner

 

[Chuck]

I wish I could report good news Chuck, but no. I did what
you suggested but here's what's happened.

I am running Windows XP Home on both computers.

Even before I did anything you suggested, my internet
connectivity on my desktop chopped itself off. I can no
longer browse the net or check my emails through Outlook
on the desktop. Honestly, I did nothing to make that
happen!

I tried ipconfig /all >c:/ipconfig.txt as you suggested,
again on both machines. Both machines whirred and clicked
and did the ipconfig but did they write to the file? Did
they beggary! I searched for them, but nothing. I event
tried to get them written to another folder but nothing.

I despair of the time I waste on these piddling things
I'm afraid. I had a massive network problem last year and
MS themselves took an hour and a half on the phone to
unravel it. This problem looks as if it's heading the
same way!

If it's of interest, the IP address on the laptop is
169.254.250.60 and it's similar on the desktop. I asked
Windows to assign those itself. I thought the IP address
should start with 192 ...

If you can shed any more light I'd be truly grateful.

Duncan

Duncan,

Try "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt".

Is the Guest account enabled on all computers, with an identical, non-blank
password on each?

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