Unable to map drive to remote PC

[Guest]

A friend and I are trying to map network drives to each other's PCs over the internet. When either of us attempts to map a network drive to \\IPAddress\ShareName, we get "The network path ...... could not be found". When I attempt Net View \\IPAddress\ShareName, I get "System error 123 has occured --- the filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect". We are both able to ping each other's PCs. Here is as much background information as I can think of.

- both running XP Pro
- both have ICS disabled
- both of us have removed our routers out of the picture, so we're connected straight to the DSL modem
- both have Simple File Sharing turned off
- both have "Client for Microsoft Networks", "File & Printer Sharing for Microsoft NEtworks", and "TCP/IP" enabled in the Local Area Connection Properties. We also both have "Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP" enabled in the Advanced Properties of TCP/IP (WINS tab)

Neither of us has any other networking or internet-related problems. Is it possible that one (or both) of our ISPs (DSL providers) have somehow blocked File/Printer Sharing?

 

[Sooner Al]

Most if not all ISPs block the ports required for that to work for obvious security reasons. A safe
and secure way to do that is via a VPN tunnel. The VPN tunnel is encrypted making it safe to use
over the public internet.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...ndowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/conn_vpn.asp
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking/xp_vpn_server.htm
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking/xp_vpn.htm

For PPTP VPN, make sure TCP Port 1723 is open and GRE Protocol 47 traffic is enabled on any
firewall/NAT/router devices. Some routers call that "PPTP Pass Through" or "VPN Pass Through".

--
Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights...

A friend and I are trying to map network drives to each other's PCs over the internet. When

either of us attempts to map a network drive to \\IPAddress\ShareName, we get "The network path
....... could not be found". When I attempt Net View \\IPAddress\ShareName, I get "System error 123
has occured --- the filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect". We are both
able to ping each other's PCs. Here is as much background information as I can think of.

- both running XP Pro
- both have ICS disabled
- both of us have removed our routers out of the picture, so we're connected straight to the DSL modem
- both have Simple File Sharing turned off
- both have "Client for Microsoft Networks", "File & Printer Sharing for Microsoft NEtworks", and

"TCP/IP" enabled in the Local Area Connection Properties. We also both have "Enable NetBIOS over
TCP/IP" enabled in the Advanced Properties of TCP/IP (WINS tab)

Neither of us has any other networking or internet-related problems. Is it possible that one (or

both) of our ISPs (DSL providers) have somehow blocked File/Printer Sharing?

 

[Guest]

Thanks Sooner Al, we'll try that approach.