File sharing on a home network

netlon · 11-01-2008, 10:39

Hi there. I've read the sticky regarding setting up file sharing but I still need a bit more advice. I have my desktop (XP) connected to internet (VM BB) via a belkin wired router. I have connected a laptop (WIN ME) to same router and can access internet. My desktop can see the laptop on the network and I can access files on it. The laptop sees the desktop but doesn't have permission to access it. The C drive on the desktop is not set for sharing, although other sub folders are including some on an external hard drive. So, eventually, my question is - do I need to set the C drive to share (windows recommendation is not to) or is there something else I have either done or not done when setting up?

Raistlin · 11-01-2008, 10:45

Do you have the same account (exactly the same user name and password) on both machines? If so, does that user have appropriate permissions to access the shares?

netlon · 11-01-2008, 11:16

I have logged onto microsoft network on the laptop at boot up using with the same name and password as my XP desktop. As far as I can gather, all user permissions are appropriate.

---------- Post added at 11:16 ---------- Previous post was at 11:11 ----------

I have tried logging on to the laptop as another user but the error message is the same : \\Home is not accessible.
No permission to access resources

MovedGoalPosts · 11-01-2008, 11:19

You should only need to share the specific folders you require, not the whole C drive.

I assume the PC and laptop both have the same workgroup name?

Is this a fully wired network, or is it wireless. Sometime wired to wireless shares can cause problems if the router isn't operating in the right mode.

Do you have any firewalls running?

netlon · 11-01-2008, 11:23

Hi there. Yes its a fully wired network, both belong to MShome (although on desktop its MShome on laptop it is Mshome. The laptop does see the desktop because the name of the desktop is correctly displayed). I have turned firewalls off but there is no difference. I'm going to try a reboot of desktop also.

MovedGoalPosts · 11-01-2008, 11:55

Name them exactly the same. You never know it might make a difference in terms of the permissions.

Win Me (absolutely horrible OS) and Win XP are two different systems with XP likely to be quite rigid. Have you tried connecting specifiying a user name in the format "pcname\username" & password?

netlon · 11-01-2008, 12:35

I agree that the fact the laptop is using Win Me may be the root cause of problem. Not sure what you mean by this though

Quote:

Have you tried connecting specifiying a user name in the format "pcname\username" & password?

---------- Post added at 12:35 ---------- Previous post was at 12:21 ----------

I have connected another desktop running XP to the network and that can connect to the shared folders/files on the main desktop so I am assuming it is a problem with the laptop running Win Me.

southwell · 11-01-2008, 12:42

Isn't there a problem with NTFS and Fat being able to access each other? Presuming ME is Fat, i can't remember? Or is it only the ME machine can't access XP but XP can access ME? It's been a while

SOSAGES · 11-01-2008, 12:48

windows ME makes me cry

netlon · 11-01-2008, 13:16

The desktop (XP, NTFS) can access laptop (Me, FAT 32) but not vice-versa. I think I'll have to upgrade to XP on laptop.

Aragorn · 11-01-2008, 13:29

WinME was arguably one of the worst Windoze releases. It is possible to get it to access an XP based network share but it takes a lot of fiddling (haven't tried it for years!).
You would be better served installing XP if you can.

southwell · 11-01-2008, 14:41

Crikey, my memory isn't as bad as i thought