How to share XP folders to a MAC OSX

[Synthohol]

On Mac OS X:
Click System Preferences -> Accounts
Select the desired user's home folder
Click Edit User
Click to check Allow user to log in from Windows
Click OK

Click System Preferences -> Sharing
Click to check Personal File Sharing
Click to check Windows File Sharing
Note your Mac's IP address at the bottom of the window (in the paragraph reading "Windows users can access your computer at (address).

To choose which Windows users can log in, open Accounts preferences and edit their user information."

On Windows XP:

Click on Start -> Search
Click on Computers or people -> A computer on the network
Enter the Mac's IP address that you noted above
Enter your OS X username and password
Set up a shared folder on XP:
Right-click on the folder to be shared
Click on Properties
Click on the Sharing tab
Click on Share this folder on the network (so the folder can be read by the Mac)
Click on Allow network users to change my files (so the folder can be written-to by the Mac)
Click on Apply
Click on OK

Access the shared XP folder from OS X:

Click on Finder -> Go -> Connect to Server
Click on the Server and PC to connect
Click on Connect
Enter your Mac username and password
Click on OK
Select the name of the shared folder to access
Click on OK
Your shared XP folder now appears on the Mac desktop, allowing you to copy files from XP or OS X to the folder and retrieve them on the other computer.

[VCDmonger]

I'm having problems file sharing from OSX to Windows XP Professional. I've set up everything exactly as described in the previous post, and have even double-checked with this PDF file (http://www.wollongongd.det.nsw.edu.au/pdf/network/fs_osx.pdf) to make sure all my settings are correct. No matter what I do, I cannot connect to the OSX box on my network. I start off in My Network Places, Workgroup Computers:

http://www.csupomona.edu/~cdkarlsson/temp_images/osxnet1.jpg

and after typing in the correct OSX user name and password:

http://www.csupomona.edu/~cdkarlsson/temp_images/osxnet3.jpg

I get this error:

http://www.csupomona.edu/~cdkarlsson/temp_images/osxnet2.jpg

I get this error even if I try to log in to the OSX box by manually entering it's IP address via the "search for people and computers" method. I've checked an re-checked all the settings (man I will feel stupid if it is something easy) and I still get the same error. Incidentally, I only get the error when I correctly type in the password. An incorrect password will re-prompt me for my username and password again. I've also put a bunch of files in my home directory on the OSX box in the "Pictures" and "Documents" folders, thinking maybe I was getting an error because the folders were empty. No such luck.

On the OSX box itself, I am easily able to connect to my Windows XP machine and share files without any problems, which further puzzles me. I hope someone here can help. TIA!

VCDmonger

[Synthohol]

I'm no MAC whiz but I am checking into it!

[Synthohol]

can it be this?

Logon failure: user account restriction. Possible reasons are blank passwords not allowed, logon hour restrictions, or a policy restriction has been enforced.

Q: I'm running Windows File Services, but when I connect from my Windows machine, it doesn't accept my username and password.

Newer versions of Windows (98SE, 2000, and XP) only support encrypted passwords. During the Mac OS X Server install, you will be asked whether to turn on Authentication Manager; say "yes" and all will be well. If you've already installed Mac OS X Server, do this:

On your Mac OS X Server, run /Applications/Utilities/NetInfo Domain Setup.
Turn on Authentication Manager.
Reboot.
Go to each user in Server Admin, re-type their password, and click "Save".

[VCDmonger]

Well, I seem to have solved the problem. When I want to access the OSX box from my XP box, Windows is connecting to \\Josiane (which in my case is \\192.168.0.2). Since 'Chris' is my OSX username, when I manually change it to \\Josiane\Chris (or \\192.168.0.2\Chris) it asks for my username and pass, and it works! I found this guide (http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shoemkr/computer/mac/mxpfs.html) showing it, and section 8.4 of this guide (http://homepage.mac.com/william_white/smbdoc.html) goes more in depth. The fact that when you highlight "Windows File Sharing" in the Sharing control panel in system preferences in OSX, it tells you at the bottom the address that Windows users must type to access the box makes me feel like a moron! I can't believe I didn't see that before. It's probably because I just checked the check box and went on with what I was doing.

Anyway, problem solved. It's amazing how many guides don't show that you need the \\servername\username configuration for the address to access an OSX share in Windows. I guess it's just common sense...

;)

VCDmonger

[Synthohol]

Well I dont assume it's common sense, this is great info to add to this sticky!
Thanx for the great tip!!:)