Issue:
Access permissions and general issues

Solution:
Troubleshooting Basic Connectivity

1. Ensure that all computers have the same protocol installed. This should be TCP/IP normally.
2. The IP addresses on the same network adapter for each computer should be in the same range.
3. Verify that the ICF feature is not enabled on the adapters that you use to connect the computers to the LAN. If ICF is enabled on these adapters, you cannot connect to shared resources on other computers in the network.
4. Use the ping IP or computername to test connectivity between two computers on the network. If you can ping IP but not computername, this is name resolution issue.
5. if you can ping ip and computername, but you can't map any network drive, use net view \\remotecomputer to find out the problem. If you get error 5, this is permission issue. If you get error 51, make sure that you have enabled file and printer sharing and have some folders to be shared. If you get error 53, this is name resolution issue.
6. All network access to a W2K/XP computer in a workgroup can use the Guest account without creating a username for other computer logon. So, make sure that the Guest account is set up for network access.

Can't connect to shared resources on one of  networking computers

Symptoms: you keep receiving the following  message from My Network Places on one of three computers: "The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available." when trying to access the shared folders. Also the shared drives shows red x. The internet access work fine.

Resolutions: 1) The Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) should not be enabled on the adapters that you use to connect the computers to the home network. If ICF is enabled on these adapters, you cannot connect to shared resources on other computers in the network.

Access permission issue.

When W2K/XP doesn't  recognize the user who wants to access its shared disks or printers, you may see the below symptoms.

1. When win9x tries to access a w2k/xp computer shared folder, the IPC$ prompt. No password will be accepted. Resolution: you need to create the user account on w2k/xp for win98 logon.
2. When W2K tries to access a w2k/xp computer shared folder, Enter Network Password screen with Connect As and Password prompt. Resolution: type a username and password were created on the w2k/xp, you should be able to access the shared folders. Or create the user account on w2k/xp for remote computer logon.
3. When xp tries to access a w2k/xp computer shared folder, Connect to computername screen with Username and Password prompt. Resolution: type a username and password were created on the w2k/xp, you should be able to access the shared folders. Or create the user account on w2k/xp for remote computer logon.

Any users can access to my shared folders even they don't have user accounts on my computer

Symptom: If this is domain network and the shared folders are assigned permission to everyone, any one logon the domain can access to your computer, even you logon locally. However, if some one logon locally (no domain) on a remote computer, he/she should not be able to access to your shared folders.

Resolution: remove everyone from the security of the folders and add user accounts you want to access to your computer.

How to enable and disable the network connection

To enable/disable the network connection to local computer, go to administrative tools>services, start/stop server service. To enable/disable the network connection to remote computers, start/stop workstation service. You may want to use task schedule to enable/disable it automatically.

How to fix browsing problem in a mixed OS workgroup

SYMPTOMS: in a peer-to-peer network environment with mixed Windows OS such as win9x, NT, ME, W2K and XP, you may experience one or more of the following behaviors: 1) You cannot access shared folders or files. 2) You cannot browse other computers in the workgroup. 3)
You receive the following error message when you double-click the workgroup in My Network Places/Network Neighborhood: Workgroup Name is not accessible. You may not have permission to use this network resource.

Resolution: 1) make sure that NetBIOS over TCP/IP is turned on. 2) make sure the Computer Browser service is running on each computer in the workgroup. Note: the Computer Browser service maintains an updated list of computers on the workgroup, and it supplies this list to computers that are designated as browsers. If this service is stopped, the computers may not be seen from My Network Place/Network Neighborhood.

How to enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP in a peer-to-peer network

To access pre-2000/XP computers from w9x, NT and ME on a peer-to-peer network, you may need to enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP on the win2000/XP. To do that, go to the properties of My Network Places>network connection>Properties of TCP/IP>Advanced >WINS, select "Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP".

How to obtain the authentication when using cache credentials

Symptom: For some reasons (such as using domain profile when logon locally and accessing to different workgroup/domain or logon different workgroup/domain while trying to establish a remote access connection), you may logon a W2K/XP computer using cache credentials and the computer may be unable to access the network resources. You may receive this error message: System Error: (1311) There are currently no logon servers available to service the logon request when click the network resources.

Resolution: to fix the problem 1) use net use \\computername\sharedfolder /users:username command, When prompting for a passwordm, type the password. 2) If you use XP, elect Connect using a different user name when mapping a network drive. To do that, go to My Computer>Map Network Drive, click Connect using a different user name. and enter the credentials in the universal naming convention (UNC) "Domain\Username" format and password.

How to view a list of current active connections

Q: Is there a way with Win2000 Server that I can view a list of current active connections (i.e. which users are logging onto the network and using which files)?

A: 1. go to MMC>Shared Folders>Sessions. 2. Use cconnect.exe from resource Kits.

How to disable autodisconnection