windows to mac network: interspecies communication? Living hell?

[rdlaing]

ok gang, i made the plunge and unfortunately got a macintosh laptop to travel with. i am *trying* to set up a network via an ethernet cable (a crossover cable) between the two so I can transfer files, but now I am wondering whether it's even possible.

I called the wonderful apple support people who said I needed to call the windows support people. so I called the wonderful windows support people, who said I needed to call the apple support people, after charging me $35.

Ah the wonders of the Cold War. (I got my $35 back.)

Ok, so can anyone help me?

Right now I can ping the ip address under my 'wireless connection' shown in ipconfig on the pc. but whenever i 'connect to server' from the mac nothing shows up or it says the data can't be read. I cannot ping the ip address shown on the pc ipconfig under 'ethernet adapter.'

i am running windows xp and mac osx 10.4

Although I know software and hardware to some degree, I am still a total novice on networking, which I'm sure doesn't help things. Over the years PC Mech has really come through for me, and I would appreciate it if someone can help me with this interspecies communication issue.

THANKS!
-- rd

[Statica]

Have you tried the directions here: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=54704

[rdlaing]

hi Statica, thanks for suggestion. i went thru the setup as it suggests.

i went thru steps but I get "that address cannot be reached" when i enter the ip for the mac wireless. when i use ipconfig the ethernet connection for the ip address it says

get if addr en0 failed, (os/kern) failure

so now what?

[glc]

Are all firewalls disabled on the XP box?

[rdlaing]

internet firewall, zone alarm, and the osx firewall are all disabled

[Mac Medic]

Make sure you have an account with the same name/password on both the Mac & the PC.

Enable file sharing on the PC.

On the mac enable windows file sharing.

press apple+k and type in the name of the PC ex. (smb://mywintelbox)

enter your username and password.

The mac doesn't need a crossover cable, just use a normal cable.

[rdlaing]

hi mac medic, i have tried this several times as instructed but the computers do not see each other.

i am getting really despairing about this, i hope someone can help!

-- rd

[ktkendall]

I thought there was a service or protocol that had to be installed on one of the machines called appletalk or something like that..

[Mac Medic]

Are you using XP Home? It doesn't network very well!.

You don't need appletalk, that was for mac networking before they used tcp-ip.

If you can't see the Mac from windows explorer it's an issue with windows. Double check your sharing and permissions in windows. You may need to boot into safemode and set up sharing there so you can grant permissions on a per user basis. I never have been able to get XP home to work. Win 2000/XP pro/Linux no problem, XP home is just a pain.

[rdlaing]

hey i got it!

i'm not sure what was going on, it might have been a firewall issue.

i can't get some of the directories to show up, but it is good enough for now.

backing up the laptop as we speak.

thanks all

-- rd

[NewbieBuilder]

Hi

Sorry to drag this old issue up but i have a similar problem, On my PC (Win) i can see the Mac in the network and i can see the folders n the Mac but i cant see the files contained within each of the folders, does anyone have any ideas what the problem is and how to fix it.

Cheers

[Mac Medic]

On the mac are the folder contents set to hidden? Try deleting the (hidden) .db files for the folder you're trying to view (you can use Onyx or Tinker tool to do this). Also, this is daft I'm sure, but make sure the files are a kind that windows will recognize natively (ie, .txt .doc .jpg etc...)..

[NewbieBuilder]

Could you run me through how to do that please??
Cheers

[Mac Medic]

ok, to see if the contents are hidden, choose the folder in the finder and press command+i to list the folder info. Look to see if the "locked" checkbox is selected.

To delete the .ds files (perfectly safe by the way) download onyx from versiontracker.com, run the program and choose the appearance tab, check "show hidden files and folders" and check the "prevent .DS_store creation over network".. Then under the maintenance tab check "reset display of folders contents" and click execute to run all 3 items. After a reboot open the folder you're trying to view and delete the .DS files. Then try to see the folder on the windows machine again.

Also check the firewall on both XP and the Mac for file sharing ports, it sounds like this is not the issue though as the folder does show up in XP, it may be a permissions issue.

[NewbieBuilder]

Thanks, we tried the above but unfortunatly that didnt work.

cant seem to work out why i cant see the files its really bizarre could it be a simple setting im missing on XP?

*note*
I set XP to show hidden files and inside one of hte folders we are trying to access it now shows a ".localised" File. this any help?

[Mac Medic]

Do you have permission to view the files?? Are you connecting with the username and password of the account on the Mac that owns the files?..

[NewbieBuilder]

I dont get the option to put in a password or username i see the main folders and when i click them there empty, no username password etc

[Mac Medic]

That then is the problem, you do need to authenticate before connecting. Not sure how to fix that, it seems it's on the windows side. Try mapping the drive in explorer rather than just browsing the network.