Network access errors

In article <149be01c3f8fd$c47c4a40$a501280a@phx.gbl>, "frank"
<anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I have allowed sharing of user names-folders in the work
>group and when I browse the network and explore user
>folders in Document and Settings, SOME FOLDERS CANT BE
>ACCESSED with error"\\Computer name\ Computer name
>C\Documents and Settings\User 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.
>
>How come some folders can be accesses others cannot?
>Also, some work stations promptme to with a start up
>logon window others don't. How do I set it up so users of
>different workstations all need to logon to browse other
>pc's?

When Windows XP is installed on an NTFS disk partition using "Simple
File Sharing", it blocks access to the Program Files and Windows
folders and to individual users' folders within Documents and
Settings. I don't know why Microsoft designed it that way.

You can share subfolders within those folders, e.g. you can share
"C:\Program Files\Outlook Express" or "C:\Documents and
Settings\Username\Desktop" and access that folder from another
computer on the network.

If you have Windows XP Professional, you can disable Simple File
Sharing, which removes those sharing restrictions:

1. Open My Computer and click Tools | Folder Options | View.
2. Scroll to the end of the advanced settings.
3. Un-check "Use simple file sharing (recommended).

If you have Windows XP Home Edition, you can either share individual
subfolders, as mentioned above, or put documents in the Shared
Documents folder for access over the network.

You could also solve the problem by re-installing the operating system
on a FAT or FAT32 disk partition, because those disk formats don't
have any sharing restrictions. However, that would lose the benefits
of NTFS, which is more reliable and efficient and can use larger
disks. You'd also need to re-install all of your applications.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

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