Option to share a hard drive greyed out

[JTH]

I have a home LAN of two computers, both running XP Home. I right clicked on one of their drive c's, selected the security tab and made the contents of the drive viewable and editable by the other machine. But I cannot do this on the other machine, as the options are greyed out.

So effectively my filesharing only works one way. Can anyone help? I'm logged in in the same name on both machines (the admin account and the only account on both machines). It has been suggested that I try it in safe mode, but when I try to boot to safe mode, Windows resarts with no warning while loading.

TIA for any help... JTH :)

[Force Flow]

What O/S?

See if there's a link in the body of the text where it says something like "you understand the risks and wish to proceed".

[JTH]

Xp Home. Yeah I accepted the risks, still nothing.

By the way, I would try it in safe mode but XP restarts without warning whenever it starts loading safe mode.

[Digitalic]

A few things to check.

is the greyed out machine fornmatted NTFS or fat32? Try connecting to the root. start\run \\[name of machine]\C$ It should either connect to the C:\ drive or bring up a login prompt.

[JTH]

How would I go about connecting to the above ^^ ?

The greyed out machine is NTFS. Thanks for the help so far.

[glc]

start
run
\\machinename\C$
OK

Just as it says, replace "machinename" with the actual machine name of the one you are trying to connect to.

[Digitalic]

Forgot to mention. Make sure "file and printer sharing" is enabled on the NIC of the greyed out machine.

[macko72]

You can't connect that way(\\machinename\share it's called maping network drive) untill C: drive isn't shared!!!

[JTH]

"File and printer sharing" are ticked in Control Panal > Network Connections > Local Area Connections (right click and properties) if that is what you mean.

Unfortunately, the command prompt thing didn't work - I got an error saying it could not connect. I would see if it is greyed out in safe mode, but the machine restarts without warning when I try to enter it.

Thanks for all the help so far.

[JTH]

You can't connect that way(\\machinename\share it's called maping network drive) untill C: drive isn't shared!!!

Just read your post now... guess that's why it didn't work, it was worth a try anyway.

[Digitalic]

Check services and make sure the server service is started.

A drive doesn`t have to be shared in order to connect to an administrative share. Every drive on a W2k or XP machine by default is assigned a default administrative share. Check in computer management under shares. Anything with a $ appended.

If the network is working properly \\machinename\C$ should connect and bring up a logon prompt that requires admin privilege to log on.

[macko72]

Make sure that both of yours computers are on same network that they are part of the same WORKGROUP and if necesary try and run NETWORK Wizard from CONNECTIONS tab or from Control Panel to enable as Digitalic said "file and printer sharing" and that you have guest account enabled on both computers then you can try mapping network drive \\machinename\sharedC: !!!

Note : You must run Network Wizard on both computers!!!

[macko72]

Digitalic I have tried as we are writing no chance to connect like you think but no luck even do my network ruuning perfectly!!!

[Digitalic]

Digitalic I have tried as we are writing no chance to connect like you think but no luck even do my network ruuning perfectly!!!

Try this then \machinename\admin$ It should connect you to the %systemroot% of the other machine.

[macko72]

I know that some things SHOULD happen but they don't, because who knows why my friend, but I shared D: on my comp and conected without any problems \\mymacine\d, isn't that strange!!!

[Digitalic]

Administrative shares (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_shares) aren`t a matter of opinion but a matter of fact.

Whatever you wish to believe is your business.

[macko72]

????

[glc]

Attempting to connect to an administrative share will bring up a login box if the computer can be found. This was suggested as a troubleshooting step. NO drive mappings required. If you get a "could not connect" you have a hardware or NetBIOS issue. Now try the same thing, but substitute the machine's IP address for "machinename". (I assume you did substitute the actual machine name for "machinename"?) If you get a login box, your problem is definitely a NetBIOS issue.

Try installing NetBEUI.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;301041&sd=tech

[macko72]

My dear digitalic I have paid some attention to your article and spoted that we where using wrong swich (\\machinename\c$) we should use //machinename/c$ ..

[glc]

Sorry, macko - in this context, the \\ and \ are correct. Try connecting to your own administrative share this way (\\machinename\C$). If you are not logged in as the administrator, it will pop up a login box, if you are logged in as the administrator, the C drive will open.

[macko72]

Sorry not working, already tried with all switches and all shares on my and the other computer even they are connected and sharing Internet and I have mapped D: on both I cant open C$!!! I was teling that to a Digitalic and he got mad at me I said: "it should work but it's not working who knows why" ???

I'm just stupid for my comp I was typing old computer name used for a long time I was sure that is "the name" !!! But on network still not working even with netbeui !!!

[JTH]

Thanks to all who replied, I finally solved this problem!

The answer was suggested above, which was to re-enable the "server" service. Once I did this, and started the service, I could now fileshare both ways. I had had it disabled after reading Black Viper's guide, which on retrospect was a bit of a waste as it saved a negligible ammount of memory and has caused me problems with other disabled services.

By the way, is there anyway to share the Windows and Program Files folders? They seem to be unavailable for security reasons.

[macko72]

You will have to turn off "simple file sharing" and then set sharing permisions for windows and program files folder!!!

[JTH]

Unfortunately, there is no simple filesharing off and on option in XP Home (only in XP Pro). I googled how to share the Program Files and Windows folders but came up with nothing.

Regarding the security issue, one computer has access to broadband internet via a USB modem. I am running Zone Alarm firewall on that machine, and no firewall on the machine it is connected to (which does not yet have an internet connection). Is that safe enough to keep web intruders out? Thanks again for any help...

[Digitalic]

That is correct, XP Home only has simple file sharing. I`ve done very little networking other than sharing internet connections with XP home so I assume that any system files will be protected and inaccessible via a network for security. XP Home is a sclaed down version fron Pro and not really intended for a network environment at least in my opinion.


As far as the security isue. I assume you are using ICS. If the gateway is protected with Zone Alarm the client should also be. Check security here (https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2) and scan for open ports.

[macko72]

If I remeber corectly you can turn of "simple file sharing" on XP Home loging-in in safe mode as admin!!!

[Digitalic]

If I remeber corectly you can turn of "simple file sharing" on XP Home loging-in in safe mode as admin!!!

A tweak (http://wiki.ehow.com/Disable-Simple-File-Sharing-in-Windows-Xp-Home-Edition) I didn`t know about.

One of the reasons I come to these forums is not only to help but pick up little tricks.

Nice call macko72!!

[macko72]

A tweak (http://wiki.ehow.com/Disable-Simple-File-Sharing-in-Windows-Xp-Home-Edition) I didn`t know about.

One of the reasons I come to these forums is not only to help but pick up little tricks.

Nice call macko72!!

Me to my friend!!! ;)