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Network Drive Not Available

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6 replies

by lissey70

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I have a small home-office network. The computers are connected via a 4-port router. Each of the computers can "see" all others on the network, and all can gain access to all others except one, call it DESKTOP. DESKTOP can view and access all other computers, can access the internet via the network connection, and to the best of my knowledge has all of the proper sharing properties set to allow complete access. However, the other three computers can "see" DESKTOP but can not access this drive. When attempting to do so, I get a "\\DESKTOP is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource."

Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas? Any clues what I am missing or doing wrong?

I have no trouble finding the computer (DESKTOP) in the "My Network Places" screen. I just can't access the drive or any of the shared folders in spite of having set the share properties. I'm wondering if there is some level of sharing that needs to be set that I am not aware of. I did not have this problem when setting up the other three computers, though. I also have two laptops that I can plug in with no problem.

6 replies

by razz2

Knowing the OS here would help but I will guess 2000 or xp. I will also guess the drive is formated NTFS. So the share permissions allow those users access through the share to get to the drive. Then the drive has it own security (on the security tab, not the share tab) that must have the network users listed in the access control list for the folder/drive. The standard practice is in a P2P network have a local account on each PC that matches the accounts on the other PC's. So if 3 pc's have 1 user each, then each pc would have 3 accounts.

Good Luck,

razz

by lissey70

I apologize for the lack of relevant information. You are correct in assuming the OS is Windows XP and the format is NTFS on all computers. I am not sure what you mean by the "security tab" and not the sharing tab. The sharing and security are set in the same place, as far as I can tell. The Security Center on the Control Panel allows for setting of Firewall, AV software, and Automatic Updates. Right-clicking on the drive in Control Panel brings up a context menu that includes "Sharing and security..." as a menu item.
I am clearly missing something.
Thanks in advance

by ajb

On DESKTOP have you checked to see if you have windows firewall enabled? If you do make sure that on the general tab that the "Don't allow exceptions" box is unchecked. Then on the exceptions tab check the file and printer sharing box is checked.

by ajb

On DESKTOP have you checked to see if you have windows firewall enabled? If you do make sure that on the general tab that the "Don't allow exceptions" box is unchecked. Then on the exceptions tab check the file and printer sharing box.

by mendenhallre

If you are using windows xp trying disabling simple file sharing. You can do so by opening my computer > Tools > Folder Options > View then scroll to the bottom and uncheck use simple file sharing.

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