Hi
Successful Sharing involves some general consideration in Network settings,
http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html
As well as specific adjustment of each computer according to what is allowed
to be shared.
Basic XP -
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...lesharing.mspx
Advanced XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304040
Vista - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/net.../vista_fp.mspx
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"Patricia" wrote in message
news:0B63C74A-E6A9-49A4-A476-7958336E48B5@microsoft.com...
>I have been trying to access the shared folders from my desktop to my
> laptops, with no success. I get the error message: "\\"computername" is
> not
> accessible. You may not have permission to use this network resource.
> Contact the network administrator..."
>
> The host computer is a Windows XP Pro; the laptops are Windows XP MCE and
> a
> Mac, respectively. I am not worried about the Mac, I just want to be able
> to
> share folders between the two XP's.
>
> Can anyone provide me with step by step instructions on how to set up each
> computer (preferred) or links where I might find instructions? Thanks.

Jack, maybe you can help me. pls xcuse the too-lengthy description:

I can’t get file and printer sharing to work on my wifi lan. It used to
work; some unknown thing happened and now it doesn’t work.

Running Windows XP Home on all three computers. The file attributes are set
to share with remote users (what ms calls "level 4"); the firewall is set
with “printing and file sharing” as an exception; the computer names and the
network name is the same on all three computers on the network; I’ve run the
network set-up wizard again on all three computers, just to see if that would
help; I’ve followed every step in the windows diagnostic and it doesn’t help.
The network works in the sense that all three computers are seen; all three
can access email and the web through the router that’s the center of the
network; it’s just that the file and printer sharing doesn’t work.

In the latest incarnation of the problem, the remote seeker is asked to
authenticate himself with a password. The only identity offered is “guest”
Of course “guest” never has a password; I think it’s impossible. By using
the “map the network” tool, it’s possible to change the identity that pops
up; I’ve done that, changed it to one of the identities on the target
computer, put in the password for that identity, but it’s not recognized.

The only thing I can find on the Microsoft knowledge base is: In almost the
last sentence of http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040/EN-US/ :

Remote users cannot authenticate by using an account that has a
blank password. This authentication is configured separately.

Seems to me I’ve “configured it separately” by the “map the network” route,
but clearly, whatever I’ve done has not worked.

So – can you help me access file sharing on a network that works in other
ways but not that?

Joel Bergsman



"Jack (MVP-Networking)." wrote:

> Hi
> Successful Sharing involves some general consideration in Network settings,
> http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html
> As well as specific adjustment of each computer according to what is allowed
> to be shared.
> Basic XP -
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...lesharing.mspx
> Advanced XP -
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304040
> Vista - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/net.../vista_fp.mspx
> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>
> "Patricia" wrote in message
> news:0B63C74A-E6A9-49A4-A476-7958336E48B5@microsoft.com...
> >I have been trying to access the shared folders from my desktop to my
> > laptops, with no success. I get the error message: "\\"computername" is
> > not
> > accessible. You may not have permission to use this network resource.
> > Contact the network administrator..."
> >
> > The host computer is a Windows XP Pro; the laptops are Windows XP MCE and
> > a
> > Mac, respectively. I am not worried about the Mac, I just want to be able
> > to
> > share folders between the two XP's.
> >
> > Can anyone provide me with step by step instructions on how to set up each
> > computer (preferred) or links where I might find instructions? Thanks.
>
>
>

"Bergsy" wrote in message
news:122C2A3C-D57E-4F80-AB8B-2C5DE3E9DA3F@microsoft.com...
> Jack, maybe you can help me. pls xcuse the too-lengthy description:
>
> I can't get file and printer sharing to work on my wifi lan. It used to
> work; some unknown thing happened and now it doesn't work.
>
> Running Windows XP Home on all three computers. The file attributes are
> set
> to share with remote users (what ms calls "level 4"); the firewall is set
> with "printing and file sharing" as an exception; the computer names and
> the
> network name is the same on all three computers on the network; I've run
> the
> network set-up wizard again on all three computers, just to see if that
> would
> help; I've followed every step in the windows diagnostic and it doesn't
> help.
> The network works in the sense that all three computers are seen; all
> three
> can access email and the web through the router that's the center of the
> network; it's just that the file and printer sharing doesn't work.
>
> In the latest incarnation of the problem, the remote seeker is asked to
> authenticate himself with a password. The only identity offered is
> "guest"
> Of course "guest" never has a password; I think it's impossible. By using
> the "map the network" tool, it's possible to change the identity that pops
> up; I've done that, changed it to one of the identities on the target
> computer, put in the password for that identity, but it's not recognized.
>
It take it from this that you are using guest authentication. It is correct
that the installation of XP creates a "guest" account which has no password.
However, it is by no means correct that this account can never have a
password. Any member of the administrators group can set a password for
this account. Furthermore, you should rename the guest account; not having
a password creates a security hole.
> The only thing I can find on the Microsoft knowledge base is: In almost
> the
> last sentence of http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040/EN-US/ :
>
> Remote users cannot authenticate by using an account that has a
> blank password. This authentication is configured separately.
>
> Seems to me I've "configured it separately" by the "map the network"
> route,
> but clearly, whatever I've done has not worked.
>
> So - can you help me access file sharing on a network that works in other
> ways but not that?
>
> Joel Bergsman
>
>
See if setting a password for the guest account solves your problem.
Jim
>
> "Jack (MVP-Networking)." wrote:
>
>> Hi
>> Successful Sharing involves some general consideration in Network
>> settings,
>> http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html
>> As well as specific adjustment of each computer according to what is
>> allowed
>> to be shared.
>> Basic XP -
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...lesharing.mspx
>> Advanced XP -
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304040
>> Vista - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/net.../vista_fp.mspx
>> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>>
>> "Patricia" wrote in message
>> news:0B63C74A-E6A9-49A4-A476-7958336E48B5@microsoft.com...
>> >I have been trying to access the shared folders from my desktop to my
>> > laptops, with no success. I get the error message: "\\"computername"
>> > is
>> > not
>> > accessible. You may not have permission to use this network resource.
>> > Contact the network administrator..."
>> >
>> > The host computer is a Windows XP Pro; the laptops are Windows XP MCE
>> > and
>> > a
>> > Mac, respectively. I am not worried about the Mac, I just want to be
>> > able
>> > to
>> > share folders between the two XP's.
>> >
>> > Can anyone provide me with step by step instructions on how to set up
>> > each
>> > computer (preferred) or links where I might find instructions? Thanks.
>>
>>
>>

thanks Jim but that doesn't work -- the 'user accounts' thingie lets me
change passwords on all established accounts except "guest" -- the only
options it offers for "guest" are to change the picture or close the account
(means not having it appear on the log-in page).

anyhow, i tried accessing from the remote computer using an account name on
the target computer that does have a password, and that didn't work either --
the password was not recognized.

I think i'm going to uninstall and reinstall the network from scratch.

"Jim" wrote:

>
> "Bergsy" wrote in message
> news:122C2A3C-D57E-4F80-AB8B-2C5DE3E9DA3F@microsoft.com...
> > Jack, maybe you can help me. pls xcuse the too-lengthy description:
> >
> > I can't get file and printer sharing to work on my wifi lan. It used to
> > work; some unknown thing happened and now it doesn't work.
> >
> > Running Windows XP Home on all three computers. The file attributes are
> > set
> > to share with remote users (what ms calls "level 4"); the firewall is set
> > with "printing and file sharing" as an exception; the computer names and
> > the
> > network name is the same on all three computers on the network; I've run
> > the
> > network set-up wizard again on all three computers, just to see if that
> > would
> > help; I've followed every step in the windows diagnostic and it doesn't
> > help.
> > The network works in the sense that all three computers are seen; all
> > three
> > can access email and the web through the router that's the center of the
> > network; it's just that the file and printer sharing doesn't work.
> >
> > In the latest incarnation of the problem, the remote seeker is asked to
> > authenticate himself with a password. The only identity offered is
> > "guest"
> > Of course "guest" never has a password; I think it's impossible. By using
> > the "map the network" tool, it's possible to change the identity that pops
> > up; I've done that, changed it to one of the identities on the target
> > computer, put in the password for that identity, but it's not recognized.
> >
> It take it from this that you are using guest authentication. It is correct
> that the installation of XP creates a "guest" account which has no password.
> However, it is by no means correct that this account can never have a
> password. Any member of the administrators group can set a password for
> this account. Furthermore, you should rename the guest account; not having
> a password creates a security hole.
> > The only thing I can find on the Microsoft knowledge base is: In almost
> > the
> > last sentence of http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040/EN-US/ :
> >
> > Remote users cannot authenticate by using an account that has a
> > blank password. This authentication is configured separately.
> >
> > Seems to me I've "configured it separately" by the "map the network"
> > route,
> > but clearly, whatever I've done has not worked.
> >
> > So - can you help me access file sharing on a network that works in other
> > ways but not that?
> >
> > Joel Bergsman
> >
> >
> See if setting a password for the guest account solves your problem.
> Jim
> >
> > "Jack (MVP-Networking)." wrote:
> >
> >> Hi
> >> Successful Sharing involves some general consideration in Network
> >> settings,
> >> http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html
> >> As well as specific adjustment of each computer according to what is
> >> allowed
> >> to be shared.
> >> Basic XP -
> >> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...lesharing.mspx
> >> Advanced XP -
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304040
> >> Vista - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/net.../vista_fp.mspx
> >> Jack (MVP-Networking).
> >>
> >> "Patricia" wrote in message
> >> news:0B63C74A-E6A9-49A4-A476-7958336E48B5@microsoft.com...
> >> >I have been trying to access the shared folders from my desktop to my
> >> > laptops, with no success. I get the error message: "\\"computername"
> >> > is
> >> > not
> >> > accessible. You may not have permission to use this network resource.
> >> > Contact the network administrator..."
> >> >
> >> > The host computer is a Windows XP Pro; the laptops are Windows XP MCE
> >> > and
> >> > a
> >> > Mac, respectively. I am not worried about the Mac, I just want to be
> >> > able
> >> > to
> >> > share folders between the two XP's.
> >> >
> >> > Can anyone provide me with step by step instructions on how to set up
> >> > each
> >> > computer (preferred) or links where I might find instructions? Thanks.
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>