I have had a problem with a computer (“server”) on our LAN that is driving me nuts. It’s a Windows XP Pro SP2 system with MSDE installed to share a database program with 20 other systems. We already have a Windows 2003 server, but needed to install this system as a dedicated MSDE server for a special database that controls our digital imaging software.
Here’s the problem:
When new files are created on this MSDE server, you cannot see them from the other computers on the LAN. I have to go and manually reset the file share and permissions on this server before they can be seen from the other computers. Just for testing, I set the “Everyone” group for full control and all permissions to the root of C:, with no effect.
I have tried everything I can think of:
1) Re-installed XP SP2 (reformat, clean install)
2) Removed Simple File sharing
3) Set “everyone” for full control and all permissions
4) No firewall installed – no ports blocked
5) No anti-virus installed
6) DNS resolution is OK
7) Tried static vs dynamic IP
8) Tried to create files from multiple workstations – no effect
9) Tried every TCP/IP setting, including resetting Winsock
10) Tried creating/copying new files/folders from a workstation- acts like it creates them but will not show up in Windows Explorer – no error messages or Windows Log File error entries
11) No spyware or malware detected
12) No screen saver enabled
13) Has a good size UPS – APC unit with 30 min runtime.
14) No detected network problems – no other network issues at all on any other systems including the server.
This is the only Windows XP station that I am using as a “server”, and am aware of the concurrent IP limit in SP2, as well as limits of MSDE (ver 2000 SP3). It doesn’t matter how many systems are connected, what systems are connected, how long the system has been on (re-booted, etc.), time of day, etc. It just will not show new files until I manually reset the share and security permissions.
At this point I am ready to take it out, replace the entire computer, and install W2K.
ANY good ideas would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
