can't I connect to the root of a remote machine

Pinkeyes

Pinkeyes

Pinkeyes

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Two XP Machines, both with XP Pro

Both on the same network, with matching subnet masks and gateways.

Setup a share of a folder called files$ on one machine and the other can get to it.

Try and connect to \\machinename\c$ and it will not connect.

The c$ share exists
 
Probally because you don't have a password setup on those accounts? Turn off simple file sharing and check the rights on the folder, and add in any users that you may need.

But get out of bad habits. This is not really a good idea to use that share. Just share the _actual_ folders that you need. Much much safer. :)
 
First off - thanks for the reply :)

Both machines have users with passwords, in fact as a test I created the same user with the same password on both machines.

I know its a bad habit, but although it's not something I will do all the time, I am more curious as to why it isn't working. It may be a bad way of doing something - but it should work...
 
Have you got "Simple File Sharing" turned on? If yes, then use the "Tools\Folder Options..." menu in Windoze Explorer to locate the "View" page with all of it's optiones. Then scroll the list down to the bottom and untick "Use Simple File Sharing (recommended)". This will give you access to the real NT file sharing options.

Now right click your C drive and check the sharing permissions. Don't forget there are two parts to it - one the network sharing rights, and the second is the file rights. Make sure your user, or at least the group they are a member of, is listed and has enough rights to access the files.

I did a quick check of my defaults rights on my PCs here. And confirmed that once I have given my username \ password for _any_ share on that machine, this means I am authenticated with the PC, so a call of \\machinename\c$ gives me an instant connection to the root folder.

By default "everyone" has no rights to this folder; "Users" have read rights; "Admininstrators" have full rights. As my quick test I connected as a normal "User".

Have you been messing around with the Group Policies or anything like that?
 
Ah - blimey, I should have read your first post properly.

Turned off simple file sharing and the auth box that pops up doesnt have "guest" grayed out - it lets me add a user and password. Worked fine.

I was trying the "net use" command setting the admin and password as \\machinename\admin and that wasn't working either.

Ah well - brilliant - thanks for your help.
 
LOL... as they say, RTFM... or RTFP. :D

Glad you spotted the problem. :) At least this way you learnt a bit extra.
 
OK then - here is a another releated question

Does the same thing apply in a domain ?

Just arrived at work, where I can connect to any machine on the network via it's c$ and noticed Simple File Sharing is ticked on all the machines.
 
Pinkeyes said:
OK then - here is a another releated question

Does the same thing apply in a domain ?

Just arrived at work, where I can connect to any machine on the network via it's c$ and noticed Simple File Sharing is ticked on all the machines.
Click to expand...

simple file sharing is off on a domain, i know its listed as on, but it isnt :p

I assume you have domain admin rights on this domain. Either that or you are a member of a security group that is added into the admin group of the machine. For shares you would need to set share permissions and NTFS permissions (typically), the least permission will always take priority, if share says read and NTFS says modify, they will have read only. Other shares on XP typically are admin$ (windows folder) and IPC$ as well as the hard drives :)

windows xp service pack2 firewall can block you connecting, so it needs to be either off or configured to open NetBios/SMB and the like via group policy
 
My definitions...
"Domain" - real networks for grown ups. Access to real users rights to every minute tiny detail. A system that has been in use for well over ten years in M$ kit (my first experience of it was back in the lovely NT 3.1 :D )

I guess - that when a XP Pro machine is joined to a domain, the "simple file sharing" switch is ignored to save the poor old techs from having to reset this switch on every single machine in the company.... :)

"Simple File Sharing" - a fairly idiot proof system of sharing files, but limited to certain areas on your disk. Basically makes XP Pro like XP Home and pushed people into sharing just their documents folders. This is probally why the admin shares are hidden to help avoid problems.
 
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