Sharing

  • Thread starter Thread starter Adam Neander
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A

Adam Neander

I have a peer to peer network in which I need the
computers to access eachother's program files folder and
windows folder. The older computer has no problems. The
computer I have recently purchased will not allow the
other computer to access these two folders. Both are
running Windows XP Professional. The older computer has
had XP since Mid 2002. The new computer had it put on by
the manufacturer two weeks ago. I believe the problem is
the Service Pack I which the old computer does not have
and the new computer does have.
 
"Adam Neander" said:
I have a peer to peer network in which I need the
computers to access eachother's program files folder and
windows folder. The older computer has no problems. The
computer I have recently purchased will not allow the
other computer to access these two folders. Both are
running Windows XP Professional. The older computer has
had XP since Mid 2002. The new computer had it put on by
the manufacturer two weeks ago. I believe the problem is
the Service Pack I which the old computer does not have
and the new computer does have.
Click to expand...

That's how Windows XP works when it's installed on an NTFS disk
partition using "Simple File Sharing". It doesn't allow sharing the
Documents and Settings, Program Files, or Windows folders. I don't
know why Microsoft designed it that way.

You can share subfolders within those folders, e.g. you can share
"C:\Program Files\Outlook Express" and access that folder from another
computer on the network.

Since you have Windows XP Professional, you can permanently disable
Simple File Sharing, which removes those sharing restrictions:

1. Open My Computer and click Tools | Folder Options | View.
2. Scroll to the end of the advanced settings.
3. Un-check "Use simple file sharing (recommended).
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
So, there is nothing you can do with Windows XP Home to share the Documents and Settings, Programs Files, and the Windows folders?
 
Sam said:
So, there is nothing you can do with Windows XP Home to share the
Documents and Settings, Programs Files, and the Windows folders?
Click to expand...

You can share subfolders within those folders, e.g. you can share
"C:\Program Files\Outlook Express" and access that folder from another
computer on the network.

You can re-install the operating system on a FAT or FAT32 disk
partition -- those disk formats don't have any sharing restrictions.
However, that would lose the benefits of NTFS, which is more reliable
and efficient and can use larger disks. You'd also need to re-install
all of your applications.

I've heard of two possible solutions for XP Home Edition on an NTFS
disk partition. Before I give them, I want to emphasize that:

1. They're un-supported, un-documented, and un-tested.

2. There's no guarantee that they'll work.

3. They might cause data loss or corruption.

4. Microsoft and your computer manufacturer probably won't offer
technical support if they cause problems.

5. Don't blame me if they cause problems. I warned you.

If you want to try them, at your own risk:

1. Back up all of your important data first so that you can restore it
in case of problems.

2. Run System Restore to create a restore point that you can go back
to in case of problems.

Here they are:

1. Start Windows XP in "Safe Mode with Networking" (which temporarily
disables "Simple File Sharing"), share the desired folder(s), set the
permissions, and reboot normally, or:

2. Follow the procedure shown here:

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_home_sectab.htm
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
Greetings Steve

Are you sure about that?

It's allowing me to share the Documents and Settings folder just fine in Windows XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled. I was able to access it over the network. The only ones that didn't allow me to share were the "Programs Files" and the "Windows" folder

____________________
Eric
 
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