windows file sharing problem

[Amara]

I am having problems with file sharing over my local network. All of a sudden things just stopped working like they should be. I can't recall anything that I have done that could have screwed things up, except maybe doing windows update including updating to Windows XP sp3.

I have a three computer network set up. One computer is a Mac OSx running tiger. The other two are windows XP: my computer and another running XP Home Professional. I am having different problems connecting to each different operating system. When I try and connect to the other PC I get an error that says "You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The network path was not found." On the mac, I can view all of the files on all volumes. I can copy files from the Mac to my PC. I cannot copy files to the mac from Windows XP. When I try to I get this error, "Cannot copy: Access is denied. Make sure the disc is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use." Any suggestions on what to do about this? Thanks!!!

[Dencandy]

Have you checked your Network Properties menu on each terminal is set to ensure Microsoft network connections is enabled? Installing SP3 may have re-set them to not enabled.

[Amara]

Have you checked your Network Properties menu on each terminal is set to ensure Microsoft network connections is enabled? Installing SP3 may have re-set them to not enabled.

Can you be more specific in what you mean and what steps I need to take to check this?

Do you mean to go to My Network Places, view network connections, right click wireless(that is how I connect to the internet) and go to properties? If so, what should I be looking for. Thanks!

[Dencandy]

You got it. In this case go to General & make sure there's a tick in the box for File & Print Sharing for Microsoft Networks. But this only applies to the connection with your own network, not the Internet. If your connection with your own network is the same as the connection with the internet things are more complicated & I don't know how the system should be set up. In this case the box should be cleared - otherwise you'll be potentially sharing all your files with everyone else on the internet. Can anyone else help with this? Or get hold of a copy of Microsoft's book "Windows XP Networking & Security" which explains it all.

[Amara]

You got it. In this case go to General & make sure there's a tick in the box for File & Print Sharing for Microsoft Networks. But this only applies to the connection with your own network, not the Internet. If your connection with your own network is the same as the connection with the internet things are more complicated & I don't know how the system should be set up. In this case the box should be cleared - otherwise you'll be potentially sharing all your files with everyone else on the internet. Can anyone else help with this? Or get hold of a copy of Microsoft's book "Windows XP Networking & Security" which explains it all.

I checked again and the box next to file & printer sharing was checked. I connect to the internet via an in-home wireless network. So, I know what the SSID and password is for it, but I don't think its specifically linked with the files that are shared but it likely may be. Any more ideas? Thanks!

[Dencandy]

Sorry Amara I don't know any more about this topic, but there's a whole chapter on it in the book I mentioned. You could also go to the Windows Help & Support site & use the search box there to browse for more articles & information.