can't access a shared folder

  • Thread starter Thread starter bevinb
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bevinb

Hi, we just set up a network between 2 xp pro machines. I want to
access a shared file which sits on the server as we want to backup
files on the client to it. If I set the backup path to the Shared
Folders file, it works fine. But this folder is not in shared
folders, and we don't want to move it there. But if I change the path
to where it sits, I get a message from my software saying "failed to
create backup file". I don't know much about this but assume it has
something to do with firewall settings or permissions. I have
permissions on that shared folder set to all. So what do I need to
do? We have Windows Firewall running, and a firewall provided by our
ISP, Telus, on both machines.


A little more detail - the purpose of the network is to share a
database powered by Adaptive Server Anyhwere v9. There is no problem
with the client acessing the files on the server for that....

Thanks for any help, Bevin B.
 
bevinb said:
Hi, we just set up a network between 2 xp pro machines. I want to
access a shared file which sits on the server as we want to backup
files on the client to it. If I set the backup path to the Shared
Folders file, it works fine. But this folder is not in shared
folders, and we don't want to move it there. But if I change the path
to where it sits, I get a message from my software saying "failed to
create backup file". I don't know much about this but assume it has
something to do with firewall settings or permissions. I have
permissions on that shared folder set to all. So what do I need to
do? We have Windows Firewall running, and a firewall provided by our
ISP, Telus, on both machines.


A little more detail - the purpose of the network is to share a
database powered by Adaptive Server Anyhwere v9. There is no problem
with the client acessing the files on the server for that....
Click to expand...

I assume that when you say a "server", you really mean that you are using
one of the XP Pro machines as a pseudo-server and you don't have a third
computer running a server OS.

I suspect the issue has to do with having 2 firewalls, not having matching
user accounts/passwords on both boxen, and/or using Simple File Sharing.
See below for general network troubleshooting.

For XP, start by running the Network Setup Wizard on all machines (see
caveat in Item A below).

Problems sharing files between computers on a network are generally caused
by 1) a misconfigured firewall or overlooked firewall (including a stateful
firewall in a VPN); or 2) inadvertently running two firewalls such as the
built-in Windows Firewall and a third-party firewall; and/or 3) not having
identical user accounts and passwords on all Workgroup machines; 4) trying
to create shares where the operating system does not permit it.

A. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area Network (LAN)
traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, this means allowing File/Printer
Sharing on the Exceptions tab. Normally running the Network Setup Wizard on
XP will take care of this for those machines.The only "gotcha" is that this
will turn on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you aren't running a
third-party firewall or have an antivirus with "Internet Worm
Protection" (like Norton 2006/07) which acts as a firewall, then you're
fine. With third-party firewalls, I usually configure the LAN allowance
with an IP range. Ex. would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you
would substitute your correct subnet. Do not run more than one firewall. DO
NOT TURN OFF FIREWALLS; CONFIGURE THEM CORRECTLY.

B. For ease of organization, put all computers in the same Workgroup. This
is done from the System applet in Control Panel, Computer Name tab.

C. Create matching user accounts and passwords on all machines. You do not
need to be logged into the same account on all machines and the passwords
assigned to each user account can be different; the accounts/passwords just
need to exist and match on all machines. DO NOT NEGLECT TO CREATE
PASSWORDS, EVEN IF ONLY SIMPLE ONES. If you wish a machine to boot directly
to the Desktop (into one particular user's account) for convenience, you
can do this. The instructions at this link work for both XP and Vista:

Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm

D. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab).

E. Create shares as desired.

Malke
 
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