XP up-to-date portable cannot be accessed by other network machines

[EagleOne]

My XP portable can no longer be accessed by two other computers (one Vista, the other XP). I have
used this portable on the Wireless network for four years.

My portable can access other machines on the wireless MSHOME network.

Five times - I have disabled the File Sharing on the portable's Drive C;
then rebooted;
then "(Re) Shared Drive C:"
then rebooted

Still no luck.

In addition, I turned off Window's firewall, still no luck.

The only recent s/w change on the portable was .NET 3.51 and 2008 SQL Servicer.

If the issue is not firewall (because I turned it off on a test basis) and file-sharing os "ON" what
else can I check?

Are there Registry settings that I can check?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated!!

EagleOne

 

[John Wunderlich]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in

My XP portable can no longer be accessed by two other computers
(one Vista, the other XP). I have used this portable on the
Wireless network for four years.

My portable can access other machines on the wireless MSHOME
network.

Five times - I have disabled the File Sharing on the portable's
Drive C; then rebooted;
then "(Re) Shared Drive C:"
then rebooted

Still no luck.

In addition, I turned off Window's firewall, still no luck.

The only recent s/w change on the portable was .NET 3.51 and 2008
SQL Servicer.

If the issue is not firewall (because I turned it off on a test
basis) and file-sharing os "ON" what else can I check?

Are there Registry settings that I can check?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated!!

EagleOne

I'm unsure of exactly what you mean by "can no longer be accessed".
What happens (or doesn't happen) when you try?

Sometimes manually connecting with a command prompt will generate a
more useful error. What happens when you bring up a command window on
one of your other machines and enter the command:

net use * \\xpPortable\sharename

or

nbtstat -A <IP address of XP Portable>
or
nbtstat -a xpPortable
(note difference between "-A" and "-a")

where "xpPortable" is replaced with the name of your XP Portable
machine and "sharename" is the name of your network share on that
machine and "<IP address of XP Portable>" is replaced with its
numeric IP address

Does it ping by IP address?

HTH,
John

 

[EagleOne]

John,

On the subject portable I can see files and folders of the two other machines on the network.

But, from the two other machines I cannot "see" the portable's files and folders. I receive an
error \\xpPortable\sharename cannot be accessed.

 

[EagleOne]

I entered: net use * \\Dell_smartstep\Dell-C (C) and received:

"The network name cannot be found"

 

[John Wunderlich]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in

I entered: net use * \\Dell_smartstep\Dell-C (C) and
received:

"The network name cannot be found"

Assuming the computer name is correct, this looks a lot like a firewall
issue. In the Control Panel, the Windows Firewall should have the
"File and Printer Sharing" box checked under the "Exceptions" tab. Do
you have a Cisco VPN Client installed on the machine? It has a
firewall that is active even when the client isn't.

Can you ping Dell_smartstep from other computers by IP address?
What is the result of the command:
nbtstat -n
on the XP Portable machine?

What is the result of the command:
nbtstat -A <ip address of xpPortable>
run from one of the other computers on the network?

Enter the command:
ipconfig /all
on all machines and verify that the "Node Type" line is *not* P-Type
(peer-peer) on any machine.

HTH,
John

 

[EagleOne]

John, I really appreciate your time and knowledge.

File and printer sharing is checked.

Oddly, I can successfully ping the Dell_smartstep from both computers.

But net use * \\Dell_smartstep\Dell-C yields
"The network name cannot be found"

Where can I get nbstat.exe? I looked it up but am leery to download from any non-microsoft site.
It seemed that I could get it with Netbios but I am not sure whether NetBios is appropraite.

My "system" is "MSHOME" including 2 portables (1 XP; 1 Vista) and one desktop (XP).
My wireless is a D-link wireless system. Thus I believe I do not have a Cisco VPN.

Interestingly, my Vista computer reported that the Smartstep "error" MAY be a firewall issue.

EagleOne

 

[EagleOne]

Forgot to mention that I did turn off the Dell_Smartstep firewall just to test that firewall issue -
but to no avail.

 

[EagleOne]

On the Dell:

************************************************************************************************************************
************************************************************************************************************************
THIS IS INFORMATION FROM THE PORTABLE (Which cannot be accessed via Wireless Network)
************************************************************************************************************************


Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Duane>net use *\\Dell_smartstep\Dell-C
System error 67 has occurred.

The network name cannot be found.


C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>nbtstat -a \\Dellmartstep

Wireless Network Connection 13:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.102] Scope Id: []

Host not found.

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [0.0.0.0] Scope Id: []

Host not found.

C:\Documents and Settings\Duane>nbtstat -A 192.168.0.102

Wireless Network Connection 13:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.102] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
DELL_SMARTSTEP <00> UNIQUE Registered
DELL_SMARTSTEP <20> UNIQUE Registered
WORKGROUP <00> GROUP Registered
WORKGROUP <1E> GROUP Registered
WORKGROUP <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

MAC Address = 00-11-95-04-3A-13


Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [0.0.0.0] Scope Id: []

Host not found.

C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : dell_smartstep
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 13:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G DWL-G650 Ada
pter #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-95-04-3A-13
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.102
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, March 03, 2009 1:41:19 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, March 10, 2009 1:41:19 PM

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Eth
ernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-E2-80-1F-1F

******************************************************************************************
******************************************************************************************
THIS IS INFORMATION FROM THE TABLETOP (Has wireless)
******************************************************************************************

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>nbtstat -a 192.168.0.101

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.101] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
DENNIS-FZ905TBJ<00> UNIQUE Registered
MSHOME <00> GROUP Registered
DENNIS-FZ905TBJ<20> UNIQUE Registered
MSHOME <1E> GROUP Registered
MSHOME <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

MAC Address = 00-03-47-C2-EA-95


C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>nbtstat -a 192.168.0.102

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.101] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
DELL_SMARTSTEP <00> UNIQUE Registered
DELL_SMARTSTEP <20> UNIQUE Registered
WORKGROUP <00> GROUP Registered
WORKGROUP <1E> GROUP Registered
WORKGROUP <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

MAC Address = 00-11-95-04-3A-13


C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : dennis-fz905tbj
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connecti
on
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-03-47-C2-EA-95
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, March 03, 2009 2:00:10 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, March 10, 2009 2:00:10 PM

C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>

 

[John Wunderlich]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in

On the Dell:
[...]
C:\Documents and Settings\Duane>net use *\\Dell_smartstep\Dell-C
System error 67 has occurred.

Is this a typo? There should be a space between the '*' and the '\\'.

[...]
C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>nbtstat -a \\Dellmartstep

For this command to work, the '\\' should not be present. Also there
is an "_s" missing in the computer name. If the Dell_Smartstep should
reply when this command is executed from one of your other machines,
then it would indicate that the smartstep is answering to its name
(which seems to be the problem).

C:\Documents and Settings\Duane>nbtstat -A 192.168.0.102

Wireless Network Connection 13:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.102] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
DELL_SMARTSTEP <00> UNIQUE Registered
DELL_SMARTSTEP <20> UNIQUE Registered
WORKGROUP <00> GROUP Registered
WORKGROUP <1E> GROUP Registered
WORKGROUP <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

MAC Address = 00-11-95-04-3A-13

This is a normal output and indicates the machine is registering its
name. I notice that this machine is part of the "WORKGROUP" workgroup
while the other machines are part of the "MSHOME" workgroup. This
shouldn't hamper communications, but if you're desperate, try changing
the workgroup names to match on all computers. Since this is the only
machine in the "WORKGROUP" workgroup, it has declared itself the master
browser "__MSBROWSE__". In a given subnet, only one machine per
Workgroup/Domain should have this attribute. If more than one does,
it's a sure sign of a firewall problem.

C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>ipconfig /all

[snip]
This output looks normal to me.

***** THIS IS INFORMATION FROM THE TABLETOP (Has wireless)
**********************************************************
C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>nbtstat -a 192.168.0.101

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.101] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
DENNIS-FZ905TBJ<00> UNIQUE Registered
MSHOME <00> GROUP Registered
DENNIS-FZ905TBJ<20> UNIQUE Registered
MSHOME <1E> GROUP Registered
MSHOME <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

MAC Address = 00-03-47-C2-EA-95

This machine is the Master Browser for the "MSHOME" Workgroup.

C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>nbtstat -a 192.168.0.102
NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
DELL_SMARTSTEP <00> UNIQUE Registered
DELL_SMARTSTEP <20> UNIQUE Registered
WORKGROUP <00> GROUP Registered
WORKGROUP <1E> GROUP Registered
WORKGROUP <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

MAC Address = 00-11-95-04-3A-13

This indicates that your Dell Smartstep can be communicated with using
NetBT protocol -- at least by IP address. It would be interesting to
see the result of a
nbtstat -a dell_smartstep
command from this computer to see if the machine would answer by name
as well as IP address.

C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>ipconfig /all

This output looks normal.

I'm stumped. The Dell_Smartstep answers to an IP query and everything
else looks normal. It seems the only thing that isn't confirmed is
that the Dell_Smartstep answers to its name. This is determined from a
broadcast which might be filtered out on the smartstep (some kind of a
firewall?). Some additional things you can try (in any order):

1) Try putting all machines in the same workgroup.
2) On your laptop, try: Start -> Run -> \\dell_smartstep <click OK>
3) On your laptop, try: Start -> Run -> \\192.168.1.102
4) On your laptop, Start -> Search -> For Files of Folders
In the resulting window: "Printers Computers, or People"
In the resulting window: "A computer on the network"
then enter DELL_SMARTSTEP.

HTH,
John

 

[John Wunderlich]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in

John, I really appreciate your time and knowledge.

File and printer sharing is checked.

Oddly, I can successfully ping the Dell_smartstep from both
computers.

The TCP/IP networking is working, but the NetBT protocol is having
problems.

But net use * \\Dell_smartstep\Dell-C yields
"The network name cannot be found"

Where can I get nbstat.exe?

Should be "nbtstat.exe". It should be included with windows.
Copy it off one machine and put it on the other if it doesn't have it.

My "system" is "MSHOME" including 2 portables (1 XP; 1 Vista) and
one desktop (XP). My wireless is a D-link wireless system. Thus I
believe I do not have a Cisco VPN.

Usually this is only in corporate environments. But I had to mention
it.

Interestingly, my Vista computer reported that the Smartstep
"error" MAY be a firewall issue.

Firewalls can be elusive.

-- John

 

[EagleOne]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in

On the Dell:
[...]
C:\Documents and Settings\Duane>net use *\\Dell_smartstep\Dell-C
System error 67 has occurred.

Is this a typo? There should be a space between the '*' and the '\\'.

Correct. I did correct that.

[...]
C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>nbtstat -a \\Dellmartstep

For this command to work, the '\\' should not be present. Also there
is an "_s" missing in the computer name. If the Dell_Smartstep should
reply when this command is executed from one of your other machines,
then it would indicate that the smartstep is answering to its name
(which seems to be the problem).

C:\Documents and Settings\Duane>nbtstat -A 192.168.0.102

Wireless Network Connection 13:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.102] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
DELL_SMARTSTEP <00> UNIQUE Registered
DELL_SMARTSTEP <20> UNIQUE Registered
WORKGROUP <00> GROUP Registered
WORKGROUP <1E> GROUP Registered
WORKGROUP <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

MAC Address = 00-11-95-04-3A-13

This is a normal output and indicates the machine is registering its
name. I notice that this machine is part of the "WORKGROUP" workgroup
while the other machines are part of the "MSHOME" workgroup. This
shouldn't hamper communications, but if you're desperate, try changing
the workgroup names to match on all computers. Since this is the only
machine in the "WORKGROUP" workgroup, it has declared itself the master
browser "__MSBROWSE__". In a given subnet, only one machine per
Workgroup/Domain should have this attribute. If more than one does,
it's a sure sign of a firewall problem.

C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>ipconfig /all

[snip]
This output looks normal to me.

***** THIS IS INFORMATION FROM THE TABLETOP (Has wireless)
**********************************************************
C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>nbtstat -a 192.168.0.101

Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.101] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
DENNIS-FZ905TBJ<00> UNIQUE Registered
MSHOME <00> GROUP Registered
DENNIS-FZ905TBJ<20> UNIQUE Registered
MSHOME <1E> GROUP Registered
MSHOME <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

MAC Address = 00-03-47-C2-EA-95

This machine is the Master Browser for the "MSHOME" Workgroup.

C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>nbtstat -a 192.168.0.102
NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
DELL_SMARTSTEP <00> UNIQUE Registered
DELL_SMARTSTEP <20> UNIQUE Registered
WORKGROUP <00> GROUP Registered
WORKGROUP <1E> GROUP Registered
WORKGROUP <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered

MAC Address = 00-11-95-04-3A-13

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>nbtstat -a Dell_Smartstep

Wireless Network Connection 13:
Node IpAddress: [192.168.0.104] Scope Id: []

NetBIOS Remote Machine Name Table

Name Type Status
---------------------------------------------
DELL_SMARTSTEP <00> UNIQUE Registered
DELL_SMARTSTEP <20> UNIQUE Registered
MSHOME <00> GROUP Registered
MSHOME <1E> GROUP Registered
MSHOME <1D> UNIQUE Registered
..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered ***** Do I need to delete this? How?

MAC Address = 00-11-95-04-3A-13


Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [0.0.0.0] Scope Id: []

Host not found.

C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>

This indicates that your Dell Smartstep can be communicated with using
NetBT protocol -- at least by IP address. It would be interesting to
see the result of a
nbtstat -a dell_smartstep
command from this computer to see if the machine would answer by name
as well as IP address.


This output looks normal.

I'm stumped. The Dell_Smartstep answers to an IP query and everything
else looks normal. It seems the only thing that isn't confirmed is
that the Dell_Smartstep answers to its name. This is determined from a
broadcast which might be filtered out on the smartstep (some kind of a
firewall?). Some additional things you can try (in any order):

1) Try putting all machines in the same workgroup.
Completed.

2) On your laptop, try: Start -> Run -> \\dell_smartstep <click OK>

Win Explorer opens and Dell-C is displayed (among other items)
But if I double-click on Dell-C I get the error " \\dell_smartstep\Dell-C is not accessable"

3) On your laptop, try: Start -> Run -> \\192.168.0.104

Win Explorer opens and Dell-C is displayed (among other items)
But if I double-click on Dell-C I get the error " \\192.168.0.104\Dell-C is not accessable"

4) On your laptop, Start -> Search -> For Files of Folders
In the resulting window: "Printers Computers, or People"
In the resulting window: "A computer on the network"
then enter DELL_SMARTSTEP.

Interesting. The search found TWO instances of: Dell_Smartstep (Dell_Smartstep)
Mshome
Do I (and how; need to?) I delete/fix one?

 

[John Wunderlich]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in
[...]

..__MSBROWSE__.<01> GROUP Registered ***** Do I
need to delete this? How?

Don't worry about this. It will probably take care of itself.

[...]

Win Explorer opens and Dell-C is displayed (among other items)
But if I double-click on Dell-C I get the error "
\\dell_smartstep\Dell-C is not accessable"

This is good news. There appears to be no problem with the name
resolution (ie. no firewall problem)
Apparently what we have an access permissions problem.
The next thing we need to know is whether the Dell_Smartstep has XP
Home or XP Pro. If it is XP Pro, we need to know if Simple File
Sharing is enabled or disabled (Simple File sharing is always enabled
in XP Home). If you have XP Pro, double-click on any folder, then:
Tools -> Folder Options -> View (Tab)
Scroll down to the bottom and see if Simple File Sharing is enabled.

If you have XP Home or XP Pro with Simple File Sharing Enabled, then
all share access is through the "guest" account. Bring up a command
prompt and enter the command:
net user guest
examine the output and verify that the guest account is active. If
not, enter the command:
net user guest /active:yes
This should activate the guest account for network access to files.

If you have XP Pro with Simple File Sharing Disabled, then it helps to
have the same username/password configured on all machines. In
additition, there are two levels of security. If you right-click on
the Shared folder and select "Properties", there will be a "Sharing"
tab and a "Security" tab. Both must allow the connecting user access
to the folder/files. For more information, I recommend reading:

"XP Professional File Sharing"
<http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_filesharing/index.htm>

also the Microsoft Knowledge Base article:
"How to configure file sharing in Windows XP"

Win Explorer opens and Dell-C is displayed (among other items)
But if I double-click on Dell-C I get the error "
\\192.168.0.104\Dell-C is not accessable"

This is moot given step 2 above.

Interesting. The search found TWO instances of: Dell_Smartstep
(Dell_Smartstep)

Mshome
Do I (and how; need to?) I delete/fix one?

Don't worry about this now. It might be an artifact of switching the
Workgroup.


Good Luck & HTH,
John

 

[John Wunderlich]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in

Simple File Sharing is enabled on XP Pro

Status of the "guest" account below:

C:\Documents and Settings\Dennis>net user guest
User name Guest
[...]
Account active Yes

[^ The only line that matters here ^] [...]

Local Group Memberships *Guests *** s/b MSHOME?
Global Group memberships *None *** s/b MSHOME?

No. You are confusing "User Groups" with "Workgroups"

***** I did turn ON the "Guest Account"
in Control Panel > User Accounts

I don't believe that this is necessary as long as the account is
active.

ALSO, I disabled the limiting of blank passwords under Admin
Options Local security settings
Hmmmm.

[...]

Now I am really stumped.

1) Guest account is ON
2) Disabled the limiting of blank passwords
3) Simple filesharing ON
4) Removed filesharing then rebooted
5) Re-established filesharing then rebooted
6) Under My Network Places there is a link to Dell-C which opens
if DC'ed
7) BUT: Dell-C under MSHOME under MS Windows Network
under My Network Places
displays "\\dell_smartstep\Dell-C is not accessable"

OK. I'm down to my last two suggestions...

Embarrassingly enough, I recently had almost the exact same problem
that you are having right now. The _only_ difference is that my
problem was with a printer and yours is with file sharing. It took me
a full week to fix. The problem ended up being that one of my [ahem]
"entrepreneurial offspring" put a password on the Guest account. In
simple file sharing, all authentication is done through the Guest
account. If the same user name (i.e. "Guest") exists on both
computers, then Windows simply compares the passwords to authenticate.
If they don't match, you don't get access. Simple. No chance to input
a different password, No descriptive error message....
So, reset the Guest password on all machines and verify that it is
blank on all of your machines. Indications are that the Dell Smartstep
is the most likely machine with a non-blank guest password.


My only other suggestion is to right-click on your Dell-C share, select
"Properties", then "Security" tab and verify that the Guest user (or
"Everyone") has at least Read access privileges to that folder.

Fingers crossed,
John

 

[EagleOne]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in


I don't believe that this is necessary as long as the account is
active.

I'm not sure what your mean by "active." FYI, Neither XP machine permits me to establish a password
on the Guest account. On my desktop, the Guest account was "OFF" so I turned the Guest Account OFF
on my portable - to no avail.

Reason I did this was suggested in the info in the links sent previously.

Hmmmm.
<snip>



Embarrassingly enough, I recently had almost the exact same problem
that you are having right now. The _only_ difference is that my
problem was with a printer and yours is with file sharing. It took me
a full week to fix. The problem ended up being that one of my [ahem]
"entrepreneurial offspring" put a password on the Guest account. In
simple file sharing, all authentication is done through the Guest
account. If the same user name (i.e. "Guest") exists on both
computers, then Windows simply compares the passwords to authenticate.
If they don't match, you don't get access. Simple. No chance to input
a different password, No descriptive error message....
So, reset the Guest password on all machines and verify that it is
blank on all of your machines. Indications are that the Dell Smartstep
is the most likely machine with a non-blank guest password.

(Refer to my comment above)

My only other suggestion is to right-click on your Dell-C share, select
"Properties", then "Security" tab and verify that the Guest user (or
"Everyone") has at least Read access privileges to that folder.

Read and Write are selected.

Fingers crossed,
John

I have one card to play.

I backed-up a week ago when all was OK. Also, I am backing up at this moment. When completed, I'll
restore and ascertain if access is back. If not, I'll re-restore and move on.

Any thoughts re my plan?

EagleOne

 

[John Wunderlich]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in

I'm not sure what your mean by "active." FYI, Neither XP machine
permits me to establish a password on the Guest account. On my
desktop, the Guest account was "OFF" so I turned the Guest Account
OFF on my portable - to no avail.

There is a difference between "active/inactive" and "on/off". You
can turn the account on or off in the user control panel but the user
account still remains active in the background for network
connections. To make the account really inactive, you will have to
go to a command prompt and enter the command:
net user guest /active:no (or "yes" to activate)

Regarding resetting the Guest password -- from an administrator
account:

Start -> Run -> control userpasswords2
This brings up a window where you will be able to reset any user
password.

I have one card to play.

I backed-up a week ago when all was OK. Also, I am backing up at
this moment. When completed, I'll restore and ascertain if access
is back. If not, I'll re-restore and move on.

Any thoughts re my plan?

That is a good plan, too. For some reason I was under the impression
that you never had this computer working on the network. Before
doing a complete restore from backup, you might want to see if
"System Restore" has a restore point when you didn't have this
problem.

Start->All programs->Accessories->System Tools->System Restore

-- John

 

[EagleOne]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in
news:[email protected]:

There is a difference between "active/inactive" and "on/off". You
can turn the account on or off in the user control panel but the user
account still remains active in the background for network
connections. To make the account really inactive, you will have to
go to a command prompt and enter the command:

net user guest /active:no (or "yes" to activate)

I de-activate the Guest Account on all Computers (Do I have to uncheck
(Simple File Sharing?)

Regarding resetting the Guest password -- from an administrator
account:

Start -> Run -> control userpasswords2
This brings up a window where you will be able to reset any user
password.

I did not know this! That said, I did reset on all computers.

For some reason I was under the impression that you never had
this computer working on the network.

A week ago, all was working well as it had been for years.

Before doing a complete restore from backup, you might want to see if
"System Restore" has a restore point when you didn't have this problem.

Luckily, I have backups and Restore Points. That said restoring file sets, and Restore Points do
not solve the problem.

On my Portable I have a User that was "installed" during a very recent SDK install from Intuit. This
account is visible in the Control Panel > User Accounts. It has a password with limited rights. I
do not know what the password that "Intuit" programmed into it.

Should I reset it and/or delete that account?

How can I copy/paste it elsewhere so that I can re-install if it is not the issue?

Could having the Intuit account cause my challenge if neither other (2) machines have that password?

Thanks EagleOne

 

[EagleOne]

John,

I reset the password in the Intuit User Account.
Separately, I gave full Admin and then Limited Intuit User Account rights

Still have the same problem. Also, I have alternately turned on/off the Win Firewall to no avail.

Unless someone knows what other Registry entries to check/edit, I am stuck.

I wonder if I could have a hardware issue?

I fully understand if you have to move on. I sincerely appreciate your time and knowledge!
I certainly have learned quite a bit about how to work with computer security.

Thanks EagleOne

 

[John Wunderlich]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in

I de-activate the Guest Account on all Computers (Do I have to
uncheck
(Simple File Sharing?)

If you use Simple File Sharing, you _must_ activate the Guest account.
With Simple File Sharing, all file access is obtained through the Guest
account. Deactivating the Guest account will shut off all file an
printer sharing.

If you un-check Simple File Sharing, then you must authenticate by user
name from machine to machine. The easiest way is to have the same user
and password on all connecting machines.

On my Portable I have a User that was "installed" during a very
recent SDK install from Intuit. This account is visible in the
Control Panel > User Accounts. It has a password with limited
rights. I do not know what the password that "Intuit" programmed
into it.

Should I reset it and/or delete that account?

This user account should not come into play here unless you have simple
file sharing disabled and are logged onto another machine with the same
Intuit username.

How can I copy/paste it elsewhere so that I can re-install if it
is not the issue?

Probably create a system restore point.

Frankly, I'm at the end of my rope. It's not a hardware problem
because you can connect to the machine and it shows you that there's a
share there. Perhaps it uses a different port to open shares that's
blocked or corrupted.

You can try the following MS Knowledge Base Article:

"How to reset Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in Windows XP"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/299357>

or every once in a blue moon, the "LSPFix" program will straighten out
a networking problem when absolutly nothing else does -- it doesn't
hurt to try:

<http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>

It's been a great thread. You've been quite helpful.
Sorry I couldn't do much for you.
-- John

 

[EagleOne]

For sure, I will let you know via email if I ever get a solution.

I am very impressed with your desire to help and teach.

Thanks.

 

[EagleOne]

John,

Exactly reversed of your issue. I can access the printers but not the files. Oh well.

I attempted all your links nothing solved the challenge.

Thanks again, at least I know that the issue is not hardware.