Why wouldn't MS make all Windows compatible in networking?

[Legendary]

I'm creating a file storage place for my dorm floor for school and I have it set up so that in order to get on, users have to enter the guest password for my computer (not very safe, I know, but I'm at NYU and computer h4x0rs are few and far between). This works on every computer except computers that run Windows XP Pro. Now, I'm running Windows XP Pro myself, so I don't understand what is wrong...
Here's the setup, users who want to get on type in \\Computer (where computer is the network name of my comp) and then they're greeted with a password prompt. Computers with Windows ME, 98 and XP Home can all input the network pass for my Guest account and then access. However, XP pro people input the same password and get denied. I have no idea what is going on, does anyone have a clue? Even a Mac *cue music* can get onto this network share. Is it some configurable option that only XP pro can get to (kind of like gpedit.msc)? So many people on my floor are running XP pro that without getting this to work with that, it seems useless. Thanks in advance.

 

[conjur]

1st off...wrong forum. There's a Networking forum here. But, are you using Netbeui on the other non-XP machines? Didn't MS yank Netbeui from XP?

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: conjur
1st off...wrong forum. There's a Networking forum here. But, are you using Netbeui on the other non-XP machines? Didn't MS yank Netbeui from XP?

You have to install it yourself. Just go to the network properties and add it.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

All Windows versions are compatible in networking, it's a configuration error on your part causing the problem.

The chances are that client machines which cannot connect are trying to authenticate as the user logged onto the local machine, rather than as guest. You can force the client to connect as guest by opening a command prompt and typing:

"Net Use \\<server>\ipc$ <password> /user:<server>\guest"

eg Net Use \\fileshare\ipc$ 123345 /user:fileshare\guest

If that completes successfully, try then going to \\Computer as normal and it should work.



I'd guess that the issue is to do with Simple File Sharing. Make sure that it's disabled on all the machines taking part as it does funny things to authentication using the guest account. (Tools -> Folder Options -> View, then uncheck "Use Simple File Sharing" at the bottom of the screen." This should give you the option to connect as a guest when you browse to a share on another PC.