Re: new to home networking

From: Chuck (none_at_example.net)
Date: 06/16/04 

Date: 16 Jun 2004 01:06:11 -0500

On 15 Jun 2004 20:06:24 -0700, *email_address_deleted* (geoff) wrote:

>I just got a new laptop and a wireless router. My desktop is
>connected (via cable) directly to the router and my laptop uses a
>wireless card to connect to the internet. I was hoping I could
>network my desktop and my laptop, but I can't seem to get them to see
>each other. I'm running xp pro on both machines and I've run the
>network setup program on the desktop machine. I tried to right click
>a folder on each machine and share it, but it doesn't have an option
>to set a password, so how is that secure? How do I get the computers
>to see each other and securely share folders? Thanks.

Geoff,

Windows XP doesn't use mere password protection on its shared folders - it lets
you set Access Control Lists. Here's a Microsoft document that explains all of
it:
<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=87c0a6db-aef8-4bef-925e-7ac9be791028&DisplayLang=en>.

On both XP Pro computers, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel -
Folder Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled. With XP Pro,
you need to have the SFS settings properly set on each computer.

With XP Pro, if SFS is disabled, check the Local Security Policy (Control Panel
- Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security Options, look at
"Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's set to "Classic -
local users authenticate as themselves".

With XP Pro, if you set the Local Security Policy to "Guest only", make sure
that the Guest account is enabled, and has an identical, non-blank, password on
all computers. If "Classic", setup and use a common account with identical,
non-blank, password on all computers.

For XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the Guest account is
enabled, on each computer.

Do any of the computers have a software firewall (ICF or third party)? If so,
you need to configure them for file sharing, by opening ports TCP 139, 445 and
UDP 137, 138, 445, and / or by identifying the other computers as present in the
Local (Trusted) zone. Firewall configurations are a very common cause of
(network) browser, and file sharing, problems.

And Geoff, please don't contribute to the spread and success of email address
mining viruses. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep yourself a
bit safer when posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest of the
internet - never post your address unmunged.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

Relevant Pages

  • Cannot see other computer.
    ... With XP Pro, you need to have the SFS settings ... look at "Network access: ... password on all computers. ... For XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: Logon failure
    ... I got the network connected and can surf the ... With XP Pro, ... With XP Pro, if SFS is disabled, check the Local Security Policy (Control Panel ... For XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the Guest account is ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: XP Pro cannot find XP Home Shares
    ... >wireless network after being part of a college network ... On any XP Pro computer, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel - ... If you set the Local Security Policy to "Guest only", ... For XP Home, or for XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: Access to computer in network denied
    ... >>>I have reduced the network to the XP Pro Desktop and the XP Home ... >>>All computers can see Office, Office can see all computers, but no computers ... >>> There are 2 servers in domain MSHOME on transport ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: XP Networking
    ... >the machines I had to go back and layer the OS again, ... >Since doing this, the box shows up on the network, but ... With XP Pro, ... With XP Pro, if SFS is disabled, check the Local Security Policy (Control Panel ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
Loading