Try to Stick with Me...

I am by no means a "tech-ie" so please bear with me...I have a desktop (XP), and my hubby and I each have a laptop - his runs Vista and mine runs XP. We have a wireless router and I am able to print wirelessly from my laptop to the printer that is hooked up to the desktop. My husband is able to share and open files from the desktop. The trouble is when I try to open files from the desktop from MY LAPTOP. I can "access" the files from my laptop but it won't let me OPEN IT. I get an error message stating "contact the administrator...access is denied". So far, I have spent about 3 hrs trying to figure out what the issue is. It's weird b/c obviously the network is set-up as my husband can access files from his laptop and I can print from mine (as can he)....I have tried the obvious fixes e.g. "share" file command, and trying to run the "set network" program...any ideas? Thanks in advance !

 

Are the files be accessed in the shared folder or another directory?

Is your login user ID the same on both machines?

 

"Yes" to the first Q and "No" to the second....I will try the 2nd suggestion ! Also, not sure if this helps but when I check the network config on my husband's laptop , mine seems to be set to only share media files like music and pictures ?!? Where can I change that? TIA

 

The settings for sharing should be located under the file and printer sharing control panel.

With have the same id and pw it makes connecting on startup works a little smoother. I would check the CP first and make that change.

 

I would make sure that file and print sharing is enabled on the connections before you start doing anything else.

 

It's pretty obvious the problem is in the way I configured my new lappy :-( I just enabled sharing for the LAN 1394 connection and Guess what? It disconnected my internet access completely ! It also said "windows is not managing my network" when I tried to repair it. I did use "Network Magic" but has since deleted it....

 

Where do I put in the network ID and password ??? Last attempt before I give up !

 

Your windows login screen is where you want it. But with a new nb most do not think about that. To change it use the users CP. If I recall your users files will have the original name, but will not matter.

 

Another thought: On my hubby's laptop, I can see all 3 computers in his network file but I do not see his laptop in my network , just the desktop and my laptop....could this cause me not to open files from the desktop???

 

Do what Blue has suggested and setup another account the same as on your notebook and if you and your husband need access make sure to share those files. Disable the 1394 LAN, this is known as firewire kinda like USB 2.0. Make sure that everyone is part of the same workgroup >my computer>properties, take a look at workgroup name make sure this is the same on all computers. Also firewalls can block some access to file check that out also.