Can't access shared folders

[UserError]

When I share a folder on this comp and try to access it through the other computer or by using \\compname\ on this computer, I get a username and password dialog. I've tried to use the only user account on this comp with that dialog but it won't work. I have no problems accessing the shared folders on the other computer from this computer.

The dialog mentioned above is different on both computers. When I try to access the shared folder from the same computer, it has a blank username field so I can type anything in. However on the other computer it's stuck with \\COMPNAME\Guest as the username, and my guest account is deactivated.

Both computers run XP Pro with SP1 and are behind a D-Link router. I do not want to reformat this computer. Other computer used to be able to see the shared folders which are on this computer with the same hardware setup and router. I've redone the network wizard many many times.

Edit: Simpile file sharing is turned on for both computers.

[Cactus]

WinXP Pro File Sharing
NTFS Permissions
The Access Control List is a tool for protecting network shares, but it doesn't stop someone from walking up to the computer, logging in, and looking at the files on the computer. Share permission and ACLs don't apply to a user who logs in locally. To keep files private from other local users, Windows XP provides a different mechanism. You can assign permissions to individual files and folders at file system level. This is called File Permissions, and it's only available on NTFS volumes. You can't set File Permissions on FAT volumes.

By default, Windows XP uses File Permissions only in the Documents and Settings folder, to keep each user's documents private from other users. When a user logs on locally for the first time, his 'Home Directory' is created within the Documents and Settings folder. The default settings for all of the folders and files in each user's My Documents folder are:

The owner of the file or folder has read and write permission;
Local Computer Administrators have read and write permission;
Nobody else may read or write to the folder or the files in it.
Notice that Administrators can look into the user's My Documents folder. Be aware that any user accounts that you created when you installed XP are Administrator accounts, and that they can all look into each other's My Documents folders! Individual users may step up the security a notch to remove Administrators from the list. Then, only that individual user can access his or her own files. When a user with an Administrator account sets a password on the account, Windows XP automatically prompts the user to step up the security on My Documents. It's then called Private.

In order access shared data, a user connecting from the network needs to get past both gatekeepers:

The ACL must allow access to the share;
The NTFS File Permissions must allow access to the file.
Having set up the share permissions, do we now need to do anything with NTFS permissions?

The short answer is 'It Depends'.

If the shared folder is contained within Documents and Settings (e.g. the My Documents folder), then you might. This is because Windows XP sets NTFS permissions within this folder structure to prevent users from accessing each other's data. It depends on whether the user accounts are Limited or Administrators, and it also depends on whether the shared folder has been previously marked as Private.

If you created a folder structure elsewhere, then you most likely do not need to do anything more. The necessary permissions will be 'inherited', ultimately from the root folder, e.g. C:\

[brad]

Couple other things...
Turn off WinXp's Firewall. It's under the Local Area Connection Properties / Advanced Tab.
Do you run a Software Firewall? If so, check to see if it has "Allow folders to be shared..", Enabled.
brad

[UserError]

[Cactus]

Try this:

Click Start | Run.

Type "control userpasswords2" in the box and click OK.

Under "Users for this computer", click Guest.

Click Reset Password, enter a password,or leave it blank and click OK

[Restek]

When you say 'using the username/password' doesn't work, what is the error message? I'd be tempted to turn off simple file sharing, and make sure that the user you are logging in remotely as has read rights both in the 'sharing' tab AND in the 'security' tab of folder properties.

I would also be tempted to turn sygate off temporarily to see if this is causing problems

[UserError]

[brad]

[UserError]

[brad]

On the page of the Wizard where it asks you that, select "Other".
On the next page select "This Computer connects to the Internet directly or through a Network Hub. Other Computers on my Network also connect to the Internet directly or through a Hub."
On the next page is where you will select "Local Area Connection".
brad

[UserError]

All I get is a bunch of text which basically says it doesn't want me to use that setup because there's no real way to protect the computer while allowing shared access. Then after that screen is the usual computer name and workgroup input fields.

[Restek]

[UserError]