\\computer is not accessible

[luagh45]

I have a number of computers all in the network group NETWORK. They all run Windows XP Pro service pack 2. All have simple file sharing turned on, and all have all firewalls turned off. All computers connect to the internet through the same router, all computers can connect to other computers on the network, and all computers can be seen on the network But one computer cannot be connected to. When I try to connect to \\computer I get a popup that says "\\computer is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. Access is denied." Similarly when using command prompt and I type "net view \\computer" it's the only computer to give the error "System error 5 has occurred. Access is denied."

I can ping the computer, and I can VNC into the computer, but everything I've tried to access any of the shared folders fails. Additionally, using Local Security Settings I've checked "Access this computer from the network" is available to everyone (along with others), and that deny access through the network lists nobody. However, I still can't help but feel there's some security issue that I'm just missing because VNC confirms there're no firewalls. As one last thing when using that computer and you try to connect to \\computer all of the shared folders appear just as they should.

The only thing that makes this computer different from the rest is that it's the only computer with a password. No one else wants to use a password though, and the owner of this computer would prefer not to turn their password off. All computers have their guest accounts off.

[DonBB]

I would temporarily disable the password for troubleshooting purposes. See if that makes a difference, if it does then you can work the problem. It sounds like this is a peer-to-peer network. You may need to add a user account for the account you are using to connect to that computer.

[luagh45]

After disabling the password I do become able to connect to \\computer using simple file sharing. How could I leave a password still active and also connect to this computer's shared files?

[DonBB]

I'm not sure actually. I've never had that problem with password protected computers in a peer-to-peer. You might try adding a password to another computer temporarily to see if the same problem presents itself. If it doesn't, then compare all security settings between the two and make sure they are identical. Let us know how it turns out.

[luagh45]

I haven't yet been able to find any differences between the computer's security settings, but when I created a password I was still able to connect to every other computer's computer. There were some folders that became unaccessible (any shared folders or subfolders within \Documents and setting\username\), but I haven't been able to recreate the problem of making an entire computer's access be denied. I'm going to continue working on this, and I'll let you know what I can think of, but so far there must be one small setting that I just haven't thought to look at yet.