STILL can't get file sharing to work.

[Mitch]

I've got 3 PC's running XP Home.
File/print sharing worked great for literally years.

C: drive crashed on one machine and I had to reinstall XP.
Now I get no sharing.

-Windows firewall disabled on all machines
-Sygate Personal Firewall running on all machines, set up with correct
exceptions as before the crash.
- Sygate set up for network sharing.
-File Sharing checked in adapter properties

I've gotten a little closer. I can see all the shared folders, but
when I click on one, I get the "is not accessible" error.

I can ping each machine from each other machine.

They are all on the same workgroup.

ARGH! I must be close.

 

[Malke]

I've got 3 PC's running XP Home.
File/print sharing worked great for literally years.

C: drive crashed on one machine and I had to reinstall XP.
Now I get no sharing.

-Windows firewall disabled on all machines
-Sygate Personal Firewall running on all machines, set up with correct
exceptions as before the crash.
- Sygate set up for network sharing.
-File Sharing checked in adapter properties

I've gotten a little closer. I can see all the shared folders, but
when I click on one, I get the "is not accessible" error.

I can ping each machine from each other machine.

They are all on the same workgroup.

ARGH! I must be close.

Have you created the same user accounts/passwords on all three machines?
If not, please do so. Also see:

If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center:

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.

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.

I think it is a good idea to create the identical user
accounts/passwords in any case when Vista machines are involved and it
isn't an onerous task with home/small networks.

5. Create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users'
home directories (My Documents) or Program Files, but you can share
folders inside those directories. A better choice is to simply use the
Shared Documents folder. See the first link above for details about
Vista sharing.


Malke

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

I've got 3 PC's running XP Home.
File/print sharing worked great for literally years.

C: drive crashed on one machine and I had to reinstall XP.
Now I get no sharing.

-Windows firewall disabled on all machines
-Sygate Personal Firewall running on all machines, set up with correct
exceptions as before the crash.
- Sygate set up for network sharing.
-File Sharing checked in adapter properties

I've gotten a little closer. I can see all the shared folders, but
when I click on one, I get the "is not accessible" error.

I can ping each machine from each other machine.

They are all on the same workgroup.

ARGH! I must be close.

Have you activated Guest, for network access, on each computer? XP Home = Guest
only sharing.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html#Activate>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html#Activate

And with Guest involved, check restrictanonymous.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/restrictanonymous-and-your-server.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/restrictanonymous-and-your-server.html

And make sure that your antivirus protection doesn't include an antiworm
component, that acts as a firewall.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[Mitch]

Have you created the same user accounts/passwords on all three machines?
If not, please do so.

Each PC has only one account: administrator, with my name as the
account name. One of them has a password, the other doesn't.
This is the same as it was when it was working all that time.

So I will put a password on and see if that changes anything.

I'm not even really worried about the laptop right now. It's the 2
desktops that I really need sharing, for my work.

 

[Mitch]

Have you activated Guest, for network access, on each computer? XP Home = Guest
only sharing.

I don't understand. Does this mean that in order to share, I need to
log in to this Guest account on each PC?

 

[Malke]

I don't understand. Does this mean that in order to share, I need to
log in to this Guest account on each PC?

No, it doesn't mean that. Please assign identical passwords/user
accounts to all three machines. Since you only have the one user account
(not a good idea btw - make an extra one for emergencies), make sure
that you didn't rename an account truly named "Owner" with your own name
or the like. Look under Documents and Settings to see what your user
accounts are really called.

Malke

 

[Jim]

I don't understand. Does this mean that in order to share, I need to
log in to this Guest account on each PC?

Not exactly.

Using simple file sharing, which is the only method with XP Home, you must
have:

1. An account which has guest privileges. The normal XP installation
creates the account "Guest" which meets this requirement.
It is customary to rename the account to a name of your choice.

2. This account must be active for net logon. You can do this operation
either through the control panel or by one of the net commands.

3. All sharable entities must use the account for logon. Note, when you
connect to a remote computer, you are in effect logging in to the
remoter computer. Life is much simpler when all of these accounts have the
same name and the same password.
After you have enabled files as sharable, you then create the mapping from
each computer via the net use command. That command was easiest
for me to use.

The websites of MVP Chuck and NVP Jack (to name only two) make these steps
quite clear.

Jim

 

[Mitch]

Look under Documents and Settings to see what your user
accounts are really called.

Under Documents and Settings I have All Users, Default User (which is
ghosted), and Mitch.

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

I don't understand. Does this mean that in order to share, I need to
log in to this Guest account on each PC?

No. It means that you have to, explicitly, say that Guest is allowed to provide
network access. That's how Simple File Sharing, and XP Home, provide network
access.

And that's irrelevant to what account you login locally. With Simple File
Sharing, ONLY Guest provides network access, and ONLY when properly activated.
Read details, please:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html#Activate>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html#Activate

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[Mitch]

Read details, please:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html#Activate>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html#Activate

Okay, I've done this.

From PC A, I can see the folders on PC B, but can't access them.
I can see the Laptop, but none if its shared folders are listed.

Nobody can see PC A.

Interestingly, PC A still lists all of PC B's shared folders, even
when PC B is turned off.

Now the XBox 360 can't connect to PC A.
Through all of this, I've been able to stream media from PC A
flawlessly, now it can't see it.

Wow, this is frustrating. I hope you gurus don't give up on me,
because I'm just lost. I wish I knew someone that could actually come
over and fix this.

 

[Jim]

Okay, I've done this.

From PC A, I can see the folders on PC B, but can't access them.

I take it that the mapped folders on PC B appear in "My Computer". If not,
please explain what "I can see" means.
Give the error message that happens when you try to open a folder.

I can see the Laptop, but none if its shared folders are listed.

Have you mapped these shared folders?

Nobody can see PC A.

Possibly because something on PC A is blocking ICMP packets. The usual
suspect is a malconfigured firewall.

Interestingly, PC A still lists all of PC B's shared folders, even
when PC B is turned off. Normal.

Now the XBox 360 can't connect to PC A.
Through all of this, I've been able to stream media from PC A
flawlessly, now it can't see it. Not surprising.

Wow, this is frustrating. I hope you gurus don't give up on me,
because I'm just lost. I wish I knew someone that could actually come
over and fix this.

Jim

 

[Mitch]

please explain what "I can see" means.
Give the error message that happens when you try to open a folder.

..... is not accessible. You might not have permission...

Have you mapped these shared folders?

Do you mean tried to map them to a network drive?
If so, yes.

Possibly because something on PC A is blocking ICMP packets. The usual
suspect is a malconfigured firewall.

I disconnected from the internet and turned off all firewalls, no
change.

All of the PC's can ping themselves, the router, the XBox, the
Nintendo Wii, and web address. No PC can ping any other PC.

 

[Mitch]

When I attempt to map a network drive, I get the error:
"Not enough server space is available to process this command."

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

When I attempt to map a network drive, I get the error:
"Not enough server space is available to process this command."

OK, that's a well known (but obscure) registry setting.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/server-functionality-affected-by.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/server-functionality-affected-by.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

Okay, I've done this.

From PC A, I can see the folders on PC B, but can't access them.
I can see the Laptop, but none if its shared folders are listed.

Nobody can see PC A.

Interestingly, PC A still lists all of PC B's shared folders, even
when PC B is turned off.

Now the XBox 360 can't connect to PC A.
Through all of this, I've been able to stream media from PC A
flawlessly, now it can't see it.

Wow, this is frustrating. I hope you gurus don't give up on me,
because I'm just lost. I wish I knew someone that could actually come
over and fix this.

And you're located where? ;-)

If the IRPStackSize fix (below) doesn't finish your problems, let's look at logs
from "browstat status", "ipconfig /all", "net config server", and "net config
workstation", from each computer, so we can diagnose the problem. Read this
article, and linked articles, and follow instructions precisely (download
browstat!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.