CD ROM network share not working

[moldboy]

Okay, so I have several portable computers with winXP home, and a desktop which is acting as server, sharing printers and folders/drives. Each portable computer can access and install the printers, and has no problem accessing the shares, both of files and root drives. However when I tried to share the CDROM drive it is unaccessable by the network users. I have checked the permissions and "Everyone" has full control, I have tried enabling/disabling the guest account, nothing.

Any Ideas?

 

[SimonDavies]

Try changing the permissions to read only, it's a cdrom drive after all (clutching at straws here but it could be that dumb).

If you go to the UNC path of the server (ie \\server\) it should show you all of the shares on that machine, does it show there?

Simon

The real world is not about exam scores, it's about ability.

 

[moldboy]

Doesn't work as read only either. Yes the share shows up, but when I try to open it I get the standard ...You don't have permission, contact admin message... Incidentally if I try to access the share from the server ie. running \\server\d on the server machine, it works fine.

 

[linney]

What machine is the CD drive that is shared installed on, or is it every machine CD drive that is shared?

There are Group Policy settings that may effect access to CD drives and other removal media, but Home doesn't have any GPEDIT only XP PRO, however policies can be set on XP Home via the Registry.

See the Local Security Policy for "Devices: Restrict CD-ROM access to locally logged-on user only

This security setting determines whether a CD-ROM is accessible to both local and remote users simultaneously.

If this policy is enabled, it allows only the interactively logged-on user to access removable CD-ROM media. If this policy is enabled and no one is logged on interactively, the CD-ROM can be accessed over the network.

Default: This policy is not defined and CD-ROM access is not restricted to the locally logged-on user."



What about things like TweakUI, have you used that to adjust security settings on any machines?

 

[moldboy]

The computer \\server is the one with the CD drive that I am trying to share.
When I read your response it sounded like the solution. I logged off and tried the access the share, nothing. I also tried changing the registry value to both enabled and disabled, still nothing. I don't think TweakUI has been used or anything like that.

 

[linney]

Was it a Configured Policy in GPedit.msc on the XP machine or just Not Configured?

Some Registry settings require a reboot to take.

In th XP Pro, Management Console, via a right-click on My Computer and the a left-click on Manage, what does the Shared Folders section say?

Is there any setting entry on the Sharing tab (CD Drive)properties about allowing a number of users to share, under "user limit", perhaps you could specify something in there?

If you implement Auditing, then some extra reasons might show up in the Event Viewer, Security Log. Have a look at Local Computer Policy\Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Audit Policy



See if there is anything on Google too.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...hare+cd+drive+in+xp&btnG=Search&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

 

[moldboy]

The server machine is running XP home too, so no gpedit, from another website I found the registry key which controls the remote/local cd access. They tell me it is normal for the key to not be defined, on this system it was, I believe it was set the way I wanted, but I changed it just to be sure. And rebooted. Nothing.

I can access the not "Simple File Sharing" using safe mode, so I might have to try the user limits.

The CD share is in the Management Console, when I attempt to access it remotely it shows as a connected user, but of course access was denied.

Finally on the remote computes, if you attempt to access any of the shares (and fail on the CD) then run "net view \\server" It will list the shares and beside the CD share in the "used as" column it says "(UNC)". Does anybody know what that means.

 

[BadBigBen]

Uniform Naming Convention

The UNC, short for Universal Naming Convention or Uniform Naming Convention, specifies a common syntax to describe the location of a network resource, such as a shared file, directory, or printer. The UNC syntax for Windows systems has the generic form:

\\ComputerName\SharedFolder\Resource

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Path_(computing)#Uniform_Naming_Convention

Though in XP Home Simple File Sharing cannot be turned off (through normal (read MS) ways), it may still be informative to look at the following:

How to disable simple file sharing and how to set permissions on a shared folder in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874

How to configure file sharing in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040

How to Disable Simple File Sharing in Windows XP Home Edition

http://www.wikihow.com/Disable-Simple-File-Sharing-in-Windows-XP-Home-Edition

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm

Also make sure that all the PC's are in the same WORKGROUP... You may also need to create the USERS (with the corresponding passwords) of the PC's (you probably have different names on each PC) on the PC that you are trying to share the ODD...



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[moldboy]

Okay, so I already knew about the boot to safe mode trick from wikihow. And I already am in the same work group otherwise general file sharing wouldn't work. I have already configured the firewall, see previous reason. And yes UNC is Uniform Naming Convention. I was asking why it would appear in the column labeled "Used as" for the CD drive share, but not the other ones.
I just created same named and coded accounts, and no it still doesn't work.

 

[linney]

Have you tried mapping the CD-ROM from the other machines just as you would a Network Drive?

Also what about Disabling firewalls, and even trying your luck from "Safe Mode with Networking"?

Is there any password prompt when you try to connect to the Shared CD-Rom?

"Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition lacks the Stored User Names and Passwords feature for network share connections. Windows XP Home Edition stores only Remote Access Services/Virtual Private Networking and Microsoft .NET Passport credentials."

Share-level mapped network drives are not connected after you restart your computer

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283492

Rather than having all the machines on the LAN at the same time, can you just have two machines connected via the LAN and get them Sharing successfully before adding more.

How many machines is "several" anyway?

 

[moldboy]

Several actually varies depending on the time of day since the clients are all net/note books. I have generally been attempting the get the share working when there are only two computers on the network. And like I said before, sharing does work, just not sharing of the CD Drive. No, mapping the share as A drive doesn't work either.

I am currently running both computers in safemode, with the firewalls disabled, on the Administrator account. All the shares work, just not the CD Drive.

No password prompt, just the "\\server\cdrom is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. Access is denied." However \\server\cdrive and \\server\documents both work fine. As do the printer shares (not in safemode, no USB).

I just tried making it a hidden share ie \\server\cdrom$, still nothing, and also imposing a cap in the number of connections. Still a no go.

 

[linney]

About all I have left to suggest is running through this automatic troubleshooter and see if it can help you.

Windows Network Problem Solver

http://winhlp.com/wxnet.htm

Maybe XP Home is just not up to the job?

 

[BadBigBen]

Question: What CD/DVD authoring software do you have installed? e.g. Nero, Roxio, etc. ...

if you do have NERO installed then follow the following tip, on the sharing PC:

In CONTROL PANEL go to NERO BURNRIGHTS. Navigate to the BURN RIGHTS tab and click the EVERYBODY radio button, and then hit the apply button and restart.



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[moldboy]

No burning software. Thank you for the network solver link, however I don't believe any of their problems mesh with mine. But that will be a good resource in the future.

I tired installing a different drive, didn't work either.

 

[moldboy]

Okay, So I figured it out.

I don't know what it was but one program wanted to install something called the NMSAccess Service. Once that was installed and running the the drive was accessible.

 

[linney]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[BadBigBen]

Glad you found the problem, and also thank you for posting what fixed it for you...



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"