Cannot access files on desktop from laptop

Question

Dim 8300 and Inspiron 9400 Wireless belkin G Plus Mimo Router Macafee on Laptop Sygate and avast on desktop Can see desktop files but cannot access them from the laptop. Get this message for word files 'Word cannot open doc: user does not have access priv.'. Pictures just do not appear, only the Clip Art logo. Pinged them both and it's ok. Can print on desktop printer from laptop. Can access files on laptop from desktop. Thank you in advance.

ulfee · Answer

Thanks for your suggestion. The firewalls are set up OK. I don't really understand the All Users Folder. I should create a new folder and name it All Users?

volcano11 · Answer

Make sure all firewalls running on both computers are configured to allow local network access.  Note also that if you running Windows XP, and you are trying to access a file under a folder named username\documents (where username is any user name except 'All Users'  If you move the file to the All Users\Documents folder, which is the same as Shared Documents folder, can you access it?   Steve

ulfee · Answer

That did work. But shouldn't I be able to access them from my regular My Documents folder so I don't have to copy all my files to the All Users Folder?

volcano11 · Answer

The All Users folder is already on your computer.  It is  C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents.  Windows also calls it the Shared Documents folder.  It is a special folder that is accessible to all users of the computer including those coming in accross a nework.   Steve

volcano11 · Answer

Do you have Windows XP Pro or Windows XP Home?  If XP Home, there is no way that you can access any files in a users documents folder from another computer or from another account on the same computer.  If you have XP Pro, you disable Simple File Sharing and assign permissions to each folder you want to access.   Steve

xcator · Answer

The Elder Geek and Microsoft have some good info on file sharing setup.  You should be able to access and share files between XP Home, MCE and Pro on your home network using simple file sharing.  Make sure your workgroup name is the same for all pc's, file and print sharing turned for your network connections, folder where files are is set to share (right click folder and check share settings), etc   Just for testing turn off all firewalls (including Sygate, XP, and if your a/v has firewall).  I have found I need to reboot each pc after changing settings in order for each pc to see the other.

ulfee · Answer

i tried to uncheck the simple file sharing and it didn't help. In fact now, since switching it back, i can't access the all users folder either. Keep getting message that //name/My Documents is not accessible. You might not have permission... I have no trouble accessing my laptop files from the desktop. I also can ping the computers without problems. I did notice that on my desktop under my network places, all the folders (laptop and desktop)are under the local network. on the laptop however, only the laptop folders are under the local network and all the desktop folders are under internet. can this be the problem? if so how do i fix it? thanks again.

Jacen_Solo · Answer

I had the same problem. I was able to solve it my changing my workgroup on vista. It was defaulted to something weird. I changed it to MSHOME and have had no problems between vista and xp home. I still can't get my printer to work.

ulfee · Answer

There is another weird thing I noticed. I have a canon snapshot and a canon slr camera. I can access the snapshot photos but not the SLR photos from my desktop on my laptop. I get a 'preview cannot be generated' message. What is going on here?

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Was this post helpful?