Networking "Access is Denied" error

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When my network was working correctly, I could select a folder on one
of the computers, enable sharing for said folder and then access said
folder through the network from any of the other computers. Now, when I
go to My Network Places on another workgroup computer (all have the
same workgroup name), I can see the folder that I want to access, but
get the following error message when I try to open it.


"\\Amd2500a\outlook 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.

Access is denied."


There is one, and only one folder on each computer that I am able to
get into. That is the Shareddocs folder. I can open AND print files in
the main computer's Shareddocs folder using the printer that is USB
cabled to the main computer, through one of the other networked
computers.

User name and passwords are the same on the two computers I am working
on. I am the only user of the two, and I am the administrator on both.
Permissions on the folder that I am trying to share are set to
"everyone" with "full control"
All software firewalls are turned off (when I work on this issue)
All computers are running XP Pro
I can ping the machines from each other through the Linksys router.

Thank you very much in advance for any suggestion you may have.

Skip

 

[Brian A.]

Usernames must be different on each machine.
Aside from that temporarily disable any firewall to see if it is the cause
of the issue by blocking access.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Malke]

Usernames must be different on each machine.
Aside from that temporarily disable any firewall to see if it is the
cause of the issue by blocking access.

This is incorrect. You are probably thinking that *computer* names must
be unique which of course they must. In fact, for simple peer-to-peer
networking you *do* want to create identical user accounts and
passwords on all boxen. Besides, the OP says he had a working network
so we know it was correctly set up before the problem occurred.

The OP should look at his firewall settings as you suggest, although he
says they are all turned off when he is troubleshooting. The OP should
also ask himself the classic First Question Of Troubleshooting: what
changed between the time things worked and the time they didn't?
Install any Windows Updates? Any new software? Antivirus updates for an
av that has "Internet Worm Protection" like Norton? Etc.

Malke

 

[Brian A.]

This is incorrect. You are probably thinking that *computer* names must
be unique which of course they must.

That is correct on my thought.

In fact, for simple peer-to-peer

 

[skip]

Thank you gentlemen,

A friend sent the following link:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/filesharing.mspx


which states the following note: "Note The Sharing option is not
available for the Documents and Settings, Program Files, and Windows
system folders. In addition, you cannot share folders in other users'
profiles."

If it is the case that you cannot share folders in Documents and
Settings, that explains my dillema. I thought for sure, that in the
past, I have been able to share a whole drive (for example) and access
any of the folders on that drive through the network.

Am I loosing it? Please confirm whether it is possible to share folders
that are located in the Documents and Settings folder.

Thanks again for your help.

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