Override for XP sharing limitations?

I have 3 XP machines networked and would like to be able to at least see all the files on 2 of them from my XP workstation. But XP doesn't seem to allow unfettered access to many files e.g. documents and setting, windows, even if I've set up sharing to the root.

Anyway around this?

Marty

 

LookHere

All 3 XP home?
All 3 XP Pro?
Mixed?

 

Exactly . . .

what is it that you are trying to accomplish?

 

I was unclear. Have successfully done - afaik - all the steps in these MS articles. The problem I have is that there appears to be a restriction with sharing among my 3 XP home machines.

Even when I share the entire partition, the Windows and Documents and Settings directories are not accessible.

Is there a way to override this, or have I overlooked something here?

Marty

 

What happens?

What happens when you try to browse to the shared directory?

 

I get a pop up which says

"\\Familyroom\C\WINDOWS is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if your have access permissions.

Access denied. "

 

Is the . . .

Is the guest account on that computer enabled? If not, enable it.

Alt-click on my computer ---> manage ---> Local users and groups ---> Users ---> Guest ---> properties.

Instead of making your c: drive shared, you could just give the guest account administrative privilages (set a password) and browse to:

\\familyroom\c$

 

Adam, I don't seem to have a local users & groups icon on my manage computer screen. Maybe because I'm running XP home (sp1)?

Anyway I gather that XP home thinks it is protecting me from myself. I am not happy about that but can't seem to do much about it afaik.

Marty

 

Hmmm, you should. I do not recall. When I get on my XP machine at home, I will look.

Can you go to the control panel, go to users, and turn on the guest account?

Make sure the firewall's on your computers are configured to allow file sharing. Try turning them all completely off briefly, and then see if it works. Then you will know that a firewall is inhibiting file sharing.

 

My Computer Management screen has entries only for

system tools
services
applications

I can go to the guest account from the control panel>user accounts, but password can't be set for the guest account.

Maybe because I'm on XP home edition?

Also I never use the firewall.

Marty

 

Is the guest account enabled?

 

Yes it is and afaik there is no way for me to set a password for the guest account - though I can for the other accounts.

Marty

 

Sorry, it has been awhile since I have really worked with XP HOME.

Can you make another folder shared and try to browse to that? You are sure that ALL firewalls are turned off? Windows firewall? File sharing is turned on?

Only other thing I can tell you is to take your computer to a professional or let someone take the computer over remotely to troubleshoot it better.

--Adam

 

I'm sorry but that's how Windows XP Home works when it uses simple file sharing. XP Home won't let you share the Program Files or Windows directories, or individual users' Documents and Settings directories.

 

That is not true. I have no problem sharing the root directory on my XP Home machine.

Marty, if you have used the Windows network setup "wizard" on any of those machines, I suggest that you perform a system restore. From my experience, anyone who has ever used the wizard has ended up with a hosed computer.

 

That's true beleive it or not. The Programs Files and the Windows folder cannot be shared with simple file sharing with XP Home. The sharing options are greyed out. The option of sharing these folders only applies when simple file sharing is disabled. XP Home always uses simple file sharing.

 

Concerning the error he was getting when trying to access, could he boot the machine containing the directory he wants to look at (familyroom?) in safe mode, right click the directory and set a security setting of full acess for "Everyone "?

 

I gather the bottom line is that I need to run another type of file server than what comes standard with XP home..

Personally I resent that MS is deciding how to best protect me from myself which is how I interpret this behavior of the OS. After all, although system files are hidden by default, I have no problem displaying them if I so choose. It's my computer and my network, for goodness sake!

(hey man, that's as mad as I can get about this kind of stuff)

Marty

 

Guys guys guys . . .

This is a simple configuration issue! Oviously there is something that he is missing.

Ecross, you are correct, you cannot make "Program files" or the "WINDOWS" ddirectory shared, BUT you can share the root directory, i.e. C: drive.

Then from another machine, you can browse to the c: drive and look at the contents just as if you were sitting at that console.

Marty, you do not need another "file server ". There is oviously something very simple that you are missing.

You did not answer my question. Did you, or did you not, run the home network configuration wizard?

You are sure that file sharing is turned on? Please explain how you know this. Just because you make a folder shared does not mean that file sharing is turned on or that you will be able to access it from another computer.

 

I am not sure that I didn't use the network setup wizard... so how can I find out if I did?

I set up sharing to the root directory by opening windows explorer, then right clicking on the partition. Then selecting sharing, and choosing to share all the files. The open hand icon appears and the partition from that other machine appears as a share on my machine in explorer. I can look at all the files, except for documents and settings and windows folder members.