Help! I can't get WinXP file sharing to work properly

[KingNothing]

I have a WinXP desktop and a Win2K laptop. Initially I couldn't get the two to see each other, but then I installed the "unsupported" NetBEUI protocol on my WinXP desktop and then I could access my laptop's shares just fine.

I still cannot access my desktop shares, however. I'm trying to share the entire C drive. I have the Guest account enabled. Neither my Win2K laptop nor my roommates Win98 desktop can access my WinXP desktop's shares. They can see the computer in the workgroup, but that's it. I had simple file sharing enabled initially and had no success, so I disabled it to see if messing with the permissions would help.

My computer used to have Win2K on it, and when it did it talked to my laptop just fine.

For the record, I don't like WinXP that much, but Win2K doesn't support my graphics card correctly so I'd like to make WinXP work if possible.

 

[ndee]

I think you need to setup "home networking" somewhere in the Network Neighborhood. Just a wild guess.

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: ndee
I think you need to setup "home networking" somewhere in the Network Neighborhood. Just a wild guess.

<-- steps away to swear loudly

Thanks. 🙂 I still hate XP though. Since when do you need a wizard to make this work??? I hate wizards that don't tell you what they're doing.

 

[faZZter]

Frustrating isn't it...to miss something like that?

Honestly though, WIN XP has got to be the easiest operating system to quickly set up a home network on (once you find that!). You can just tell it what computer is to be the gateway (if needed) and BAM there it is set up and working in a few minutes, no hassles. Nice that you can even share non networkable printers too. Sweet.

 

[ndee]

Originally posted by: KingNothing

Originally posted by: ndee
I think you need to setup "home networking" somewhere in the Network Neighborhood. Just a wild guess.

<-- steps away to swear loudly

Thanks. 🙂 I still hate XP though. Since when do you need a wizard to make this work??? I hate wizards that don't tell you what they're doing.

No prob 🙂 Yes, XP is a b!tch 😉

 

[Fritzo]

What are you guys talking about??? XP uses NTFS file security, and that's been around for nearly a decade now.

The problem with sharing the C drive is that it's by default shared as an administrative drive. If you're logged in as an administrator, you might be able to access it by mapping a drive to \\machine name\C$ (Note the $ after a share name makes it invisible on the network). With permissions, the most restricive permission is going to take presidence, so the hidden share is going to over-ride your visible share. Try sharing a specific folder instead and see if that works.

BTW- Why would you use netbeui? Set your IP address in TCP/IP to the first three digits of the IP address on your other computers (ie- 192.168.0.X), make your subnet mask 255.255.255.0, make sure you're in the same workgroup, and you shoud be able to see eachother just fine.

 

[athithi]

Originally posted by: KingNothing

Originally posted by: ndee
I think you need to setup "home networking" somewhere in the Network Neighborhood. Just a wild guess.

<-- steps away to swear loudly

Thanks. 🙂 I still hate XP though. Since when do you need a wizard to make this work??? I hate wizards that don't tell you what they're doing.

You're not alone

I had so much trouble networking my XP desktop with my W2k laptop that I finally gave up and went back to 2K even though I had to re-install everything. I've now sworn off XP forever and ever and ever :| FYI, the stupid wizard works only with XP, 98 and Me. NT and 2K are no-go for some stupid reason. Honestly, I haven't found one single use for XP so far. I know a lot of people like it and find it useful. But I would never again install XP - haven't even got in on the MS XP Pro Kit deal because of this. I wouldn't take it if I got it free 😛

 

[ndee]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
What are you guys talking about??? XP uses NTFS file security, and that's been around for nearly a decade now.

The problem with sharing the C drive is that it's by default shared as an administrative drive. If you're logged in as an administrator, you might be able to access it by mapping a drive to \\machine name\C$ (Note the $ after a share name makes it invisible on the network). With permissions, the most restricive permission is going to take presidence, so the hidden share is going to over-ride your visible share. Try sharing a specific folder instead and see if that works.

BTW- Why would you use netbeui? Set your IP address in TCP/IP to the first three digits of the IP address on your other computers (ie- 192.168.0.X), make your subnet mask 255.255.255.0, make sure you're in the same workgroup, and you shoud be able to see eachother just fine.

He _has_ to install this home networking thingie, believe me.

 

[Fritzo]

Fritzo <---- Microsoft Certification in Windows XP

The Network Wizard just synchronizes the IP addresses and workgroups of the computers, then gives you the option to share the Internet connection on the PC. It's a bit restrictive and can actually cause more problems than it fixes...it is definately NOT required to network XP. If you have the following set on your PC's, you'll be able to see each other:

1) IP addresses are on the same subnet (ie numbers are same.same.same.different)
2) Subnet mask is set to 255.255.255.0
3) Workgroup is set the same on each PC
4) There is an active share visible on each PC (folder, printer, etc).
5) The ICF should NOT be turned on on the LAN adapter

You should be able to ping the IP address of each PC on the network. If you can do that, you can share files. The networking setup is nearly identical to Windows 2000, so I don't see where the problem is coming in.