XP PC's cannot access shared Vista folder

[Vol4Ever]

We have 5 machines (4 XP Pro, 1 Vista Home) on a small office network. There is a shared directory on all 5 machines for an Outlook add-in called "C:\osasync". The Vista machine can access this directory on all machines, and the 4 XP machines can access each other with no problem. The Vista machine shows up on all the other PC's, but it gives the "You do not have permission to access this folder" error when clicking on the Vista shared directory from XP. The folder is set to shared, and all permissions on this directory have been manually set to full allow for all user types. Any idea why it won't let an XP machine connect? No firewall being used, by the way.

Thanks!

~Vol

 

[HughLerwill]

Sounds a bit like

http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1259708&SiteID=1

 

[Vol4Ever]

That problem is a little different from mine. From what I can tell, those folks are having trouble with multiple users accessing the same file. That won't be my case. Everyone will be using different files, but they are contained in the same shared directory tree. For now, the XP users can't even access the shared directory on the Vista machine to see the files. It's asking for a password, but there is no password set and full rights have been granted to all user types (just for this shared directory & its subdirectories). FRUSTRATING!!

 

[rct99403]

Probably should gie it a user name and password. Vista has more security and I know XP did not like no PW unless you turn that off.
RCT

 

[Vol4Ever]

I think I have it working now (without usernames & passwords). The trick is that the folder to be shared MUST be underneath the c:\Users\Public folder, and then Public Folder Sharing option must be turned on through Control Panel. After creating the folder in the correct location, you still have to right click and assign the share properties to it. Windows does not automatically assume it to be shared just because it is in the Public folder. What a pain!

I still have not found a way to share a folder elsewhere on the C drive. The same folder located in the root C drive with the EXACT SAME properties & settings cannot be accessed by other PC's. Vista must internally assign special priveleges to the Public folder that other folders don't have. Just seems odd that I can't share a folder wherever I want to, especially when manually assigning full access rights to it.

 

[gpalmer711]

User Accounts must have a user name and password for you to be able to share folders outside of the "Public" folder.

Also if you had a password set you would not have the problem you are having now with setting share settings on a folder within the Public folder.

Greg Palmer
Freeware Utilities for Windows Administrators.

http://www.palmersoft.co.uk