Network not seeing any C drives

This is very strange. I just got a new Dell and have set up a Lynksys router on it. Dell has XP, the two other puters have 98 2nd ed. I've network two other computers with the Dell and all is working fine except........... I can't read the C drive on the Dell and one of the other puters. Also one puter is extremely slooooow. I don't have any problems reading mail on all of them and they all connect to the internet just fine.

Any suggestions !!!!!!!

TIA, Lorreen

 

Have you remembered to share the c drive of all the computers?

 

Oh yes!!!! everything is shared. I checked and double checked. I even ran the networking wizard twice on the machines that are not sharing the C drives.

Lorreen

 

Loreen

The slow computer probaby needs maintenance, disk cleanup, startup cleanup, spyware/adware cleanup, scan, defrag! But this has nothing to do with network access!

On the network:

Create 2 new users on the XP! Call them what you want, "computer1" "computer2" "Office" "Bedroom" whatever!

Once created log off the XP and log back onto XP as these users just to see that they are working! After checking both then log back as you were originally!

Now go to the win98 machines and go to start log off, it will ask if you are sure you want to log off. Answer yes!

It will present an new logon box, logon using one of the usernames you created on the XP! Do the other win98 using the second user that you created on the XP!

Recheck for what you want and give us a status report back, I am assuming the network config to be correct! If not we will contiue!

Mike

 

I agree with Mike but would like to add one thing.

The accounts you add to the XP system should have passwords and the 98 logons will need to use the exact same password. Otherwise, while you will be able to connect to the XP PC from the 98 PCs, there will be a few things that won't work unless there is a non-blank password for the account.

And BTW - if the 98 PCs aren't asking for a logon, you can force them to ask by deleting your existing password files on the 98 PCs. Just search for *.pwl and when found, rename to *.pwl.old or something. At next startup you will be presented with a logon box/window.

 

10-4 to that!

Hi neighbor!

Mike

 

Mike, sorry to probably be asking the obvious but I'm real new to XP and don't have a clue as to how to "Create 2 new users." Help with this please.

Lorreen

 

Hi Loreen

Not to put you off but I am shot for the day! I have been on most of today and one of those incidents blew me out!

I will check back tomorrow morning and if someone has not helped by then I will do it then!

It is simple!

Mike

 

Mike, I understand. I did manage to find and follow both yours and Newts instructions. However, now I can't see the XP from either of the other two computers and when I try to get to the C drives I get an error message that says.....

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

The network path was not found. "

I'll play a little more and wait for your answer when you're more up to it. Thanks for your help so far...


Lorreen

 

One of the things I just noticed is that when I check Sharing in the properties of Program Files everything is greyed out and I cannot click on "Share this folder "

????????

Lorreen

 

Ok Loreen

Had a walk in the cool but comfortable NC air!

Sandwitch!

Ready to go again! Gone again when we finish!

Hope you have XP pro!

MyComputer-tools-folder options-view

Scroll to bottom look for Use simple file sharing

Uncheck it!

Sounds like you have the rest, the sharing will not be grayed out now!

BUT!

Quote
"\\Sewingroom\C is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions.
Unquote

If turning off Simple file Sharing does not fix this then this means the user names and passwords are not recognized by XP!

They both (username and password) have to "exactly" match on all computers!

Recheck and get back to us!

Mike

 

Mike --- don't have XP pro so I don't have the choices you asked for. NO Simple file sharing...... now what other than to buy the pro version.

Lorreen

 

Its Ok we can work it out!

XP home should have been named XP Neutered! Or XP Crippled!

But there are ways!

Problem is most experienced or Professionals would never own Home and therefore don't get to enjoy the handicaps! The only time they as I would experience it is to help someone who has it! And it is very different in some areas!

I advised all to always pick Pro never Home!

Get the Pro upgrade if you can!

Dell probably has a special price on the upgrade within a period of probably 30 days from date of purchace of a system. Check with them!

I have a friend that bought from Staples without checking with me first! It was bundled on a HP computer. He was able to buy the upgrade for 80.00 a good price!

Now more steps to do!

1 Enable the Guest Account!

2 boot to safe mode (hit F8 key while booting)

a. Start-run type fsmgmt.msc (file share managment)
b. on the left side, rt click the shares folder
c. click new share
d. browse to C: and select it
e. under name just put C (rest is optional but you can put them in)
f. apply Ok exit

Now shut down come up in full mode and try again! Should work now, but as you tinkered with it I don't know what if anything you have changed or missed! But you sound confident and capable!

So step by step!

Good luck, I will check in tommorow!

Mike

 

Loreen

Almost forgot!

Make sure the network WORKGROUP is the same on all computers! Make it simple like HOME or LOREEN etc.

Mike

 

Loreen

I saw your message in the other thread, that you have everything working!

Was it with the last steps I gave you or did you do something more!

There are others with XP home that might need this confirmation!

Also if you can afford it do check with Dell on the XP Pro upgrade! You may can get a very good price! If to much then OK!

I think XP home is probably OK as a stand alone for a very specfic user if it works for that specfic use or for a casual user! But in your case you seem more of a power user as evidenced by your handling of this situation and the fact that you have 2 other network nodes!

Let us know!


Mike

 

Mike, haven't got to working on the stuff you told me to do. That was just about moving files over and I've successfully done that. Still not seeing the C drives yet I will probably do the stuff you recommended either later today or on Sunday. Turkey day today and I've got a bunch coming over. I will most definately get XP Pro at some point I do so hate to be handicapped by diddly stuff. Would all my problems be solved if I switched all machines to 98????

Lorreen

 

Mike, found some time and just tried you suggestion. This is the error that came up and would not allow me to go anywhere.

"Following error occurred while contacting the specified computer "Main" --- The workstation service has not been started "

Not sure what that means --- how do I start the workstation service?

Thanks again, Lorreen

 

Mike, here is where I'm at. Tried your suggestion and the following error occurred:-

"While contacting the specified compter "MAIN" the workstation service has not been started.

I'm sorry I don't know what that means or how to start the "MAIN" workstation.

Also on thing I would like to add is that when I run the network setup (which I've done a couple of times to make sure it's correct) I get a message that that the "Spooler SubSystem App has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience ". Could this be a problem?

Lorreen

PS Sorry if this is a duplicate but I didn't see the first one I sent on the board.

 

Hi Loreen

Sorry this is xp home specfic!

Same as before boot to safe mode!

Start-run services.msc

When it starts scroll to bottom may be last line

Dbl click the line that says Workstation (hope "home" has this)

Change startup type to automatic

Click the start

Click apply then ok!

Reboot to full!

The spooler has to do with printing and is not related to this! Let us see if it happens again!

As far as switching to win98! Would solve this problem but I would not do it! Better choice would be XP Pro. We will get this going! Hopefully this will do it!

Are you familiar with the WORKGROUPS setting on this and the win98! And if so do they all match exactly?

Are you sure that the logon username and password for the 2 win98 computers exactly match the accounts that you set up on XP.

On the user accounts you created make sure to set them to admistrator and not to limited!


Mike

 

Mike tried your last suggestion and the startup type was already listed as automatic.

I thank you for all you help up to this point but I'm off to MD. tomorrow to visit my kids so I'll get back to you & the board when I get home on Monday. I may go out and buy the pro version while I'm in MD.

Thanks again, Lorreen

PS: What would happen, if anything if I cleared everything off and started fresh ---- maybe I made a mistake along the way and can't pick it up at this point.