Win XP question

[dannnyjos]

Just something that I' havent been able to solve for a week now.
Ok, 2 computers running WinXP just installed. I connected them with a cross-connect cable. They are pinging ok to each other, so there's physical connectivity between them. Now, when I try to get into one of the other PC's by typing \\....
the other PC asks me for a password. None of the PC's have passwords anywhere, and they're both administrators. So, why the heck is it asking for a password :confused: ? I'll really appreciate any help you can give me cuz there's no way they can get into one another. In case this will help I'll list the IP specs.

1- 192.168.0.2, subnet 255.255.255.0, gateway 192.168.0.1 (WinXP Sp1)
2- 192.168.0.5, subnet 255.255.255.0, gateway 192.168.0.1 (WinXP Sp1)

P.S. There's something weird, I tried the same thing with another PC that has Win2000 and it worked one way. I mean, the XP Computer could get into the 2000, but the 2000 couldnt get into the XP computer, keeps asking for that stupid password :crash: .

Thanks for any help you give me.

 

[Waffle]

Well I know that during XP set up you are asked to enter a password for the admin profile that is only used for safe mode etc.

Either try entering no password and clicking OK, or type in PASSWORD/password, as that is the default if none has been set.

 

[afidelino]

put passwords on both administrator accounts, be sure they've got the same passwords.

 

[dannnyjos]

Ok, I'll try both methods tonight. Will tell you how it went tomorrow. ;)

 

[Big B]

Make sure that you've got your shares enabled.

 

[Anti-Trend]

I'm gonna have to add this to our networking FAQ...

______________________________________


How to set up simple Windows file sharing on Windows XP, Windows 2000 and NT4:

1.) Create a new user group on each machine which will be sharing files to other computers. Call this group something like "Network Clients".

2.) Create new users on each machine which will be sharing files to other computers, one for each user which will have access to your network share. Remove them from any standard Windows groups which they will automatically belong to, i.e. "Users", or "Administrators", unless they will need to actually physically log into the computer. Once they have been removed from any built-in groups, add them to your newly created group, e.g. "Network Clients".

3.) Create a folder on each machine which will be sharing files to other computers. Naming it something like "Shared", "Network" or "Export" will suffice. Alternate-click on the new folder, and click "Sharing". Allow the folder to act as a network share. Remove all built-in Windows groups from the access group. Instead, add only your new "Network Clients" group (or whatever you named it). Assign the privileges you want your network group to have, in other words whether they can write to files or only read them.

4.) On each computer which will be connecting to the systems which are sharing files, add a new user account which corresponds with the user(s) you added in step 2 (that is, if they don't already exist on that machine). To make things as simple as possible, make sure that the passwords match on both ends!

5.) (ALTERNATE STEP) If you desire to make things even simpler, you can either map your network shares as a drive letter (alternate-click on My Network Places, Map Network Drive) or create a shortcut on the desktop which will point to the shared resources. Otherwise, you can access the system(s) which are sharing files by entering \\NETBIOSNAME or \\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx in Windows Explorer's address bar (where NETBIOSNAME = the PC which is sharing files' NetBIOS name and xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx = its IP address).

______________________________________


This is the simplest way to set up proper Windows file-sharing on any version of NT -- that is, NT4, Windows 2000, or Windows XP. This assumes you do not have a domain controller and that you only want one access group (I.E. everyone has more or less the same network privileges). If you find that you do want more than one access group, e.g. a group with read-only privileges and one with R/W privileges, you would simply reproduce the same effects garnered by following steps 1-3, applying changes where suiting to your needs. I realize that the Networking Wizard tools in Windows XP are a less thought-provoking way of doing almost the same thing, but manually setting up file sharing allows for more flexibility, security, and reliability in the long run. Besides, once you know how to do it, it's not hard at all! :)