Problem with sharing folders and files on a Windows XP Pro LAN

[Gustavus]

My LAN has four computers on it -- all running Windows XP Pro with SP3 installed. All are set to allow sharing on the local net, and have so far as I can tell done so perfectly up until now. If I go to one of the folders that was set to be shared before the change occurred -- say the Downloads folder which has a lot of files in it -- I can copy any of these files to any of the other computers, open, execute them etc. In other words the sharing is just what I have always seen. Now if I create a shared folder -- say Archive and put files in it -- the folder Archive will appear in the list of shared folders on all of the other machines, but if I attempt to copy a file or execute one, I get an error box saying it is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource etc.

The stange thing is that the older shared files and folders allow access just as they always did, but now I am unable to share files and folders -- although they do show up as shared in My Network Places on all of the machine. I would have expected all shared items to behave the same and can't imagine what is going on.

Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[JackMDS]

Make sure that the Software Firewall on each computer allows free local traffic. If you use 3rd party Firewall On, Vista/XP Native

Firewall should be Off, and the active Firewall has to adjusted to your Network IP numbers on what is some time called the Trusted Zone (consult your 3rd Party Firewall instructions.

General example, http://www.ezlan.net/faq#trusted

Vista File and Printer Sharing- http://technet.microsoft.com/e.../library/bb727037.aspx

Windows XP File Sharing - http://support.microsoft.com/d...x?scid=kb;en-us;304040 http://support.microsoft.com/d...x?scid=kb;en-us;304040

Printer Sharing XP - http://www.microsoft.com/windo...t/honeycutt_july2.mspx

Windows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357

Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista (Not need for XP-SP3) - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120

 

[Gustavus]

Thanks JackMDS for the quick reply. If the problem was with the firewall, why would older shared files still be accessible on other computers and not new ones? Here is an example of the sharing settings under properties for a shared file -- which cannot be accessed from any of the other computers

http://h.imagehost.org/0440/Shared.jpg

All of these settings are just the same as for folders that can be accessed.

Note added:
Permissions is set for everyone

 

[Gustavus]

JackMDS

I use ESET Security Suite -- AV and firewall -- but do have it set in the firewall to allow local network sharing.

http://h.imagehost.org/0026/Sharing2.jpg

This setting doesn't interfere with sharing older shared files and folders, so I doubt it is the culprit now.

 

[JackMDS]

It depends on how local traffic is handled by the Firewall, and whether it switchs Off Windows native firewall.

But I can not tell in your case since I do not use ESET.

I use PCTools Firewall and Avira Personal AV (Both are Free Products).

PCTools has to be set to allow Free traffic through the LAN.

 

[geokilla]

I get the same glitch with Windows XP Pro. I've learned that it's better to type in the computer's IP address since going to "My Network Place" doesn't show the folders that I shared. If they're not there in "My Network Place", it's definitely there when you type in the computer's IP in the run box.

Just a side note, try changing the computer Workgroups to a different name, like all 4 at "Gustavus" instead of "Home"