File sharing and accounts

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In XP Pro using workgroups and file sharing - do I need the same account and
password on all systems?
That is - if account X logs on to system A and wants to share a folder on
system B, does system B need an account set up for account X ?
Thanks
 
Davenk said:
In XP Pro using workgroups and file sharing - do I need the same
account and password on all systems?
That is - if account X logs on to system A and wants to share a folder
on system B, does system B need an account set up for account X ?
Thanks
Click to expand...

If one or more of the computers is XP Pro:

a. If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab) and create identical user
accounts/passwords on all computers.

b. If you don't care about using Pro's advanced features, leave the
Simple File Sharing enabled. In that case you don't need the user
accounts/passwords on all machines.

Simple File Sharing means that Guest (network) is enabled. This means
that anyone without a user account on the target system can use its
resources. This is a security hole but only you can decide if it
matters in your situation.

Malke
 
Thanks. I was hoping that was the case. But...... when I try this I see the
folder, then get an error when opening that says I don't have permission.
Some folders are OK, but others can not be read. Ideas?
 
Davenk said:
Thanks. I was hoping that was the case. But...... when I try this I
see the folder, then get an error when opening that says I don't have
permission. Some folders are OK, but others can not be read. Ideas?
Click to expand...

Can't help you without more information such as exact error, Service
Pack level, if all machines are running XP Pro, how many machines, etc.
If you are only talking about a few machines and they are all Pro, just
go ahead and disable Simple Sharing on them and create identical user
accounts/passwords.

Check your permissions on the shares you are trying to access.

Malke
 
3 systems using workgroups and simple sharing
Windows firewall only on the ICS (dial) system
all XP Pro - all Sp2 - all at latest Windows update levels.
Error - \\SysA\Bobs shared stuff is not accesible. You might not have
permission to access. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if
you have permission. Access is denied.

I really want to keep it simple and not have to duplicate accounts on all
systems.
Davenk
 
Davenk said:
3 systems using workgroups and simple sharing
Windows firewall only on the ICS (dial) system
all XP Pro - all Sp2 - all at latest Windows update levels.
Error - \\SysA\Bobs shared stuff is not accesible. You might not have
permission to access. Contact the administrator of this server to find
out if
you have permission. Access is denied.

I really want to keep it simple and not have to duplicate accounts on
all systems.
Click to expand...

Well, I hardly think duplicating user accounts and passwords on only 3
systems isn't simple, but that's your choice. You'll need to turn off
simple sharing on the computer that is refusing access and look at the
permissions on the shares. After you fix the problem(s) you can disable
Simple Sharing again. Also, where are the shares you are trying to
access? With Simple Sharing off you may not be able to share out users'
home directories (My Documents), Program Files, or the Windows folder
(although not sharing Program Files and Windows is A Good Thing). Use
the Shared Documents folder instead.

Malke
 
I'm getting confused. The shares are in Shared Documents. Only simple
sharing has been defined. How would permissions get messed up? I've never
looked at permissions before. (My expertise is limited, so I prefer the
simplest approach).
 
Thanks for the resonses. It now works. All I did was redefine the network
stuff on each system. No changes to the parameters, just redid everything.
Spooky.
 
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