[shassouneh]

Dear All,
This has been an issue I have been struggling with for some time. Allow me to explain:

In windows 2000, I can enable the Guest account, and then any network directory, say for example netdir1 can be shared with any other machine nicely as read-only on \\machinename\netdir1

I wish to do the same with Windows XP. I have enabled the guest account, and also shared up a directory, say netdir2. The ONLY way to access the directory would be to map \\machinename\netdir2 as a network drive (say J:\), and have the XP have a specific login, which is soooo much of a pain.

To keep a long story short, How can I use the guest account in XP to be able to share a directory with the public without requiring a login (i.e guest access)?

Please reply if you can.

Thanx

[thymios]

You can share a directory you want, without bothering with the guest account. Just go to sharing and then allow everyone to have access(read only is recommended of course) to that folder. If you want to give full sharing to the folder you might want to use disk quota to that folder as well, cause anyone can upload to your PC unlimited amounts of data.

[shassouneh]

I did that. The problem is it won't even connect to the XP machine.
The problem is that it doesn't even connect to the XP machine as it requires a login. As I said above, the ONLY way to do it is to map a network drive. This is a nuisance as Windows 2000 allows you to do it just fine without having to go through this network mount crap. Any ideas?

[thymios]

A quick way i can think of without bothering to map a network drive, is to create a new shotcut(e.g. on desktop, right click-->new-->shortcut and type \\computer name\folder name. That should be fine since every time you log on, it doesn't try to refresh the network share contents(pain in the neck if the other computer is off).

[thymios]

I think my previous post was not much of a help since it doesn't het rid of your problem with the login screen. Give me some time to think of something else...

[shassouneh]

Yes, but the problem is there. This is lame. WIth Windows 2000, I can share all I want with the guest account and practically anybody (Win95/98/Me/2000/Xp/Linux/etc..) can access that share no problem. What's this nuisance with Windows XP? any solutions please?

[shassouneh]

Take your time thymios. I'm waiting.
Thanx for your replies. It at leats gets my brain ticking. Don't worry about them not helping. At least they get my mind thinking

[thymios]

XP is giving already enough headache at work with the network shares and the guest account. And if you think that i'm working behind a local installed firewall you can imagine that the problem is doubled.

If you don't have a lot of users on your network, then try to create user accounts on your XP machine to all the users that actually log in the other machines, leaving the password blank. Then go to the folder you want to share and give permissions to each and every user you created. Theoretically it should work on XP, since this works fine on win2k. But theory from practice in XP have a mile long distance, if you know what i mean...

[shassouneh]

LOL thmios. Add to that that the problem is I can't even see the shares under the machine, because XP denies access to the machine unless u map a network drive, LOL.
This is a complete nuisance on the XP part. They should have an option of some sort like Windows 2000 to extensively use the guesta ccount defaulting to read-only privelages for anyone logged in as a guest.

[thymios]

Let's take the things from the beggining.
I suppose that you already disabled "use simple file sharing" from folder options-->view in order to work with the permissions like win2000. After you do this, go to the folder you want to do a network share and click on permissions. Type "guest" and then set the permissions you like. Have you done all this?

[shassouneh]

Yes I have. I have tried it both on NTFS and FAT32. Of Coarse in NTFS, I also went into the security tab and added the user "guest" giving him/her specific access to the directory and how to enter it etc...

The problem is NOT accessing the actual share. Its accessing the machine to begin with!!!!

[thymios]

ok i get it now(better late than ever!). Do you have the firewall turned on on XP machine? If yes try turning it off and see what happens.

[shassouneh]

The firewall is already turned off

By the way, I appreciate your replies

[thymios]

Hey no problem1I'm quite bored today at work, have nothing to do, but i wish i could help you with that problem, cause i know it's REALLY annoying.
The last thing i can think of is to run the "setup a home or small office network" (left panel when you open my network places). It sounds SOOOOO stupid but it worked for me once i had a problem at home. Run the same wizzard on the other computers as well, using a disk or your XP setup CD.

[shassouneh]

You've got a point. Unfortunately, the machine in question is not mine, so I don't have the freedom to just run that wizard. Also, I was smart enough to avoid WinXP altogether, I am using Windows 2000

[Xiven]

Try going to Administrative tools -> Local Computer Policy and making sure that the Guest account is not listed under Local Policies -> User Rights Assignment -> Deny access to this computer from the network

[shassouneh]

Xiven, thanx for the tip. I'll try that tommorow since the XP machine is not mine