Member Avatar for abirdegg

I get a messege saying I may not have access to files, to check with administrator for permission.
I set up both desktop and laptop, both set to same workgroup. Each comp is recognized by the other, bt I cannot logg onto the Desktop from laptop.. please help.
I checked to make sure files were being shared and that the firewall to file sharing was off.
Thanks any help is appreciated.. A

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Building on , and : since basic checks (workgroup, visible machines, firewall/file‑sharing toggles) are already covered, the next step is to separate an authentication problem from a sharing/permission or service/binding problem. Common causes that were not yet expanded on are service bindings, NTFS vs share permissions, XP Home "guest" behavior, and third‑party or router isolation.

  • Server/Workstation services: the SMB server and client components must be running on the machine hosting shares. If the Server service is stopped the share can be listed but access will be refused. Set those services to Automatic and running.
  • NIC bindings: confirm the network adapter actually has "Client for Microsoft Networks" and "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" enabled in the adapter properties. If those are missing the machine will not accept SMB logons even if it appears on the network.
  • Share vs NTFS permissions: both apply. A share may allow access but the NTFS security tab can still deny it. For diagnosis temporarily give the share and the folder Security tab a permissive entry (Everyone - Modify); if that fixes it, revert and create the exact user/group entries needed.
  • XP Home vs Pro: XP Home forces Guest‑mode for incoming network logons (so matching usernames can still be mapped to Guest). If one machine is XP Home, that behavior often explains access denied results.
  • External blockers and name resolution: third‑party security suites, router AP/client isolation, or SMB differences (modern clients may have SMB1 disabled) can block access. Test by connecting to the host by IP (for example \192.168.x.x\sharename) and check the desktop Event Viewer for failed logon events—the log shows which account was used and why it was denied.

If those checks still fail, the decisive information is the host's Event Viewer failed logon entries plus the network adapter details. Those point to whether the problem is authentication, permissions, or a service/binding layer.

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Member Avatar for DenisOxon

If file sharing is off then how will you share files ?

Member Avatar for abirdegg

IT IS ON! Anthing else to help me out... please help..

Member Avatar for DaveB

Are the usernames the same on both PC's. If they were different I would expect it to ask for a username and password to access the file, but maybe not if it's XP Home.

Anyway, if your give your account on both the desktop and laptop with the same username and password it should automatically authenticate and allow you access.

I've never tried it with XP, but with W2k, so should work.

Regards, Dave

Member Avatar for abirdegg

THANKS...but they are both the same.. all firewalls off, filesharing on and am administrator on both comp.
ugh!
Any other suggestions.

Member Avatar for DenisOxon

Hi,

Would you please got to command prompt on each machine and run ipconfig /all and post results.

If you use command

ipconfig /all > pc.txt

results will be in file pc.txt, so you can attach or paste to here.

Member Avatar for Duki

access denied errors in this scenario usually come from a permissions problem.

Right-click the folders containing the files and go to sharing permissions... try clicking the "allow users to modify my files" and click OK.

Can you see the files you want; you just can't access them?

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