Cannot See Shared Folders on Network

Hi

I've looked around and found several people with the same problem but to
date no solution. I have 2 PCs and a laptop, all on the same network. My
PC can see the other two and all their shared files, however, they can both
see my PC when you try to map a network drive but cannot see any of my
shared folders. I've checked permissions, they are all OK, Simple File
Sharing is turned on. I've tried booting into SAFE mode (with networking)
and not enabling Norton, same problem. Windows Firewall is off (on all
machines). I've obviously got something checked somewhere that is denying
the other PCs access to my files. Laptop and other PC can see and share
each other's folders. All PCs are XP Pro Sp2.

Any advice gratefully welcomed.

Dave

Dave McCreath wrote:

> Hi
>
> I've looked around and found several people with the same problem but
> to
> date no solution. I have 2 PCs and a laptop, all on the same network.
> My PC can see the other two and all their shared files, however, they
> can both see my PC when you try to map a network drive but cannot see
> any of my
> shared folders. I've checked permissions, they are all OK, Simple
> File
> Sharing is turned on. I've tried booting into SAFE mode (with
> networking)
> and not enabling Norton, same problem. Windows Firewall is off (on
> all
> machines). I've obviously got something checked somewhere that is
> denying
> the other PCs access to my files. Laptop and other PC can see and
> share
> each other's folders. All PCs are XP Pro Sp2.

You didn't say in what directories the files are located. Disable Simple
Sharing, make sure the folders' Permissions are set to Everyone, and
create identical user accounts/passwords on each machine. Do not
disable your firewall. If you are using a third-party firewall,
configure it to allow lan traffic as trusted.

Now try and let us know if you can see the files.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

Dave:

I got things working stable on my networks now, but it wasn't always like
that, and I had cases of one PC seeing the others in the network, and then
some of the others does not see it, or the others.

Read up on the problem, and here's what worked for me:

- Sometimes it's there, but doesn't show up, and since I need to work on it,
I go to "network places", top item, "add a network place" by browsing.
Something like mapping, but makes it show up on "network places".

-Check the settings. In Control Panel", "Network Connections", right click
on connection, then"properties", then TCP/IP, then "Properties" again, and
"Advanced" within it. I made sure its got "NetBios over TCP/IP" set. This is
how each PC tells the others. Read up on the other settings and know what
they mean and can do here.

- Use DOS based command (open the DOS window) called NBTSTAT that you can
study by "NBTSTAT /?" and its associated switches. I'm not going to pretend I
know all of what you find on there, but it can show you not only the "IP
addresses", but the names of each PC identifying itself to all the others in
the system. Each PC when set up right broadcasts its name, and IP address to
all others within the network and is shown here. If its not listed, you'll
have a problem. This is additon the the "Ipconfigure" command to check things
out in each unit.

- Assumiing all is done right, you might have to wait maybe 20 to 30 minutes
sometimes for all of the names to show up on all the machines. It's like
everyone setting down in class in the morning and it takes time to take
attendance.

When things went "stable" on me, I found that I got each location coming up
twice in "Network places" once because I manually added it in, and the other
time when the system works itself up to putting it there. Because of this,
when I add it in myself, I call it something a little different (put an X in
front?) so when I "delete" a duplicate name, I'm not deleting the one that
the system puts in.

But better having it come up twice than "not at all".





"Dave McCreath" wrote:

> Hi
>
> I've looked around and found several people with the same problem but to
> date no solution. I have 2 PCs and a laptop, all on the same network. My
> PC can see the other two and all their shared files, however, they can both
> see my PC when you try to map a network drive but cannot see any of my
> shared folders. I've checked permissions, they are all OK, Simple File
> Sharing is turned on. I've tried booting into SAFE mode (with networking)
> and not enabling Norton, same problem. Windows Firewall is off (on all
> machines). I've obviously got something checked somewhere that is denying
> the other PCs access to my files. Laptop and other PC can see and share
> each other's folders. All PCs are XP Pro Sp2.
>
> Any advice gratefully welcomed.
>
> Dave
>
>
>

"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Dave McCreath wrote:
>
>> Hi
>>
>> I've looked around and found several people with the same problem but
>> to
>> date no solution. I have 2 PCs and a laptop, all on the same network.
>> My PC can see the other two and all their shared files, however, they
>> can both see my PC when you try to map a network drive but cannot see
>> any of my
>> shared folders. I've checked permissions, they are all OK, Simple
>> File
>> Sharing is turned on. I've tried booting into SAFE mode (with
>> networking)
>> and not enabling Norton, same problem. Windows Firewall is off (on
>> all
>> machines). I've obviously got something checked somewhere that is
>> denying
>> the other PCs access to my files. Laptop and other PC can see and
>> share
>> each other's folders. All PCs are XP Pro Sp2.
>
> You didn't say in what directories the files are located. Disable Simple
> Sharing, make sure the folders' Permissions are set to Everyone, and
> create identical user accounts/passwords on each machine. Do not
> disable your firewall. If you are using a third-party firewall,
> configure it to allow lan traffic as trusted.
>
> Now try and let us know if you can see the files.
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic"

Malke

Disabled Simple File Sharing and set up similar accounts and passwords
across all three machines, checked permissions, all OK. But still cannot
see any of my shared folders on the other two machines. The folder in
question is a D: drive, an additional HD that I use for Music et al.

Firewall is configured the same on each of the three machines (other two can
see each others shared directories/folders fine).

Tried to manually connect by setting up a New Network Place in My Network
Places, again, failed.

Dave

Dave McCreath wrote:

>
> "Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Dave McCreath wrote:
>>
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> I've looked around and found several people with the same problem
>>> but to
>>> date no solution. I have 2 PCs and a laptop, all on the same
>>> network.
>>> My PC can see the other two and all their shared files, however,
>>> they
>>> can both see my PC when you try to map a network drive but cannot
>>> see any of my
>>> shared folders. I've checked permissions, they are all OK, Simple
>>> File
>>> Sharing is turned on. I've tried booting into SAFE mode (with
>>> networking)
>>> and not enabling Norton, same problem. Windows Firewall is off (on
>>> all
>>> machines). I've obviously got something checked somewhere that is
>>> denying
>>> the other PCs access to my files. Laptop and other PC can see and
>>> share
>>> each other's folders. All PCs are XP Pro Sp2.
>>
>> You didn't say in what directories the files are located. Disable
>> Simple Sharing, make sure the folders' Permissions are set to
>> Everyone, and create identical user accounts/passwords on each
>> machine. Do not disable your firewall. If you are using a third-party
>> firewall, configure it to allow lan traffic as trusted.
>>
>> Now try and let us know if you can see the files.
>>
>> Malke
>> --
>> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>> Elephant Boy Computers
>> www.elephantboycomputers.com
>> "Don't Panic"
>
> Malke
>
> Disabled Simple File Sharing and set up similar accounts and passwords
> across all three machines, checked permissions, all OK. But still
> cannot
> see any of my shared folders on the other two machines. The folder in
> question is a D: drive, an additional HD that I use for Music et al.
>
> Firewall is configured the same on each of the three machines (other
> two can see each others shared directories/folders fine).
>
> Tried to manually connect by setting up a New Network Place in My
> Network Places, again, failed.

Do you have the beta IE7 installed on any of the machines? IIRC, there
was some issue with folders not being seen in that case. If you do have
this situation, then do a Google Groups Advanced Search for the issue
in the IE7 beta newsgroup:

microsoft.public.internetexplorer.general

If this isn't your case, then check the Permissions on the shares. Add
"Everyone" with full permissions if it isn't there already.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Dave McCreath wrote:
>
>>
>> "Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Dave McCreath wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi
>>>>
>>>> I've looked around and found several people with the same problem
>>>> but to
>>>> date no solution. I have 2 PCs and a laptop, all on the same
>>>> network.
>>>> My PC can see the other two and all their shared files, however,
>>>> they
>>>> can both see my PC when you try to map a network drive but cannot
>>>> see any of my
>>>> shared folders. I've checked permissions, they are all OK, Simple
>>>> File
>>>> Sharing is turned on. I've tried booting into SAFE mode (with
>>>> networking)
>>>> and not enabling Norton, same problem. Windows Firewall is off (on
>>>> all
>>>> machines). I've obviously got something checked somewhere that is
>>>> denying
>>>> the other PCs access to my files. Laptop and other PC can see and
>>>> share
>>>> each other's folders. All PCs are XP Pro Sp2.
>>>
>>> You didn't say in what directories the files are located. Disable
>>> Simple Sharing, make sure the folders' Permissions are set to
>>> Everyone, and create identical user accounts/passwords on each
>>> machine. Do not disable your firewall. If you are using a third-party
>>> firewall, configure it to allow lan traffic as trusted.
>>>
>>> Now try and let us know if you can see the files.
>>>
>>> Malke
>>> --
>>> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>>> Elephant Boy Computers
>>> www.elephantboycomputers.com
>>> "Don't Panic"
>>
>> Malke
>>
>> Disabled Simple File Sharing and set up similar accounts and passwords
>> across all three machines, checked permissions, all OK. But still
>> cannot
>> see any of my shared folders on the other two machines. The folder in
>> question is a D: drive, an additional HD that I use for Music et al.
>>
>> Firewall is configured the same on each of the three machines (other
>> two can see each others shared directories/folders fine).
>>
>> Tried to manually connect by setting up a New Network Place in My
>> Network Places, again, failed.
>
> Do you have the beta IE7 installed on any of the machines? IIRC, there
> was some issue with folders not being seen in that case. If you do have
> this situation, then do a Google Groups Advanced Search for the issue
> in the IE7 beta newsgroup:
>
> microsoft.public.internetexplorer.general
>
> If this isn't your case, then check the Permissions on the shares. Add
> "Everyone" with full permissions if it isn't there already.
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic"

Malke

Thanks for the info, I did try to install IE7 Beta about (coincidently about
the same time I noticed this fault). Look in the newsgroup and the best I
could find to remedy the issue was to use system restore to roll-back to a
point in time before the Beta install. I've done that - still the same
problem.

All permissions are set for everyone.

Dave

Dave McCreath wrote:

> Thanks for the info, I did try to install IE7 Beta about (coincidently
> about
> the same time I noticed this fault). Look in the newsgroup and the
> best I could find to remedy the issue was to use system restore to
> roll-back to a
> point in time before the Beta install. I've done that - still the
> same problem.
>
> All permissions are set for everyone.

Then I suggest that you make a new post with all pertinent details in
the IE7 beta newsgroup. I don't use beta software on production
machines so don't have any experience with IE7 in XP. I'm sorry, but I
wouldn't know what damage IE7 does to sharing.

You could try unsharing everything and then setting up your network
anew.

Good luck,

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"