Network Geeks

[Hank]

Jerry,

I would try Mike's suggestion first, as it is the simplest to implement, then, if that doesn't work, try shortening the share name, and finally the NTFS permission thing. Curious to know which finally works. Unfortunately, we no longer have any Win 9x machines around work that I can test with.

Have you tried your son's games on Windows XP yet? XP is sort of a hybrid between Windows 9x and Windows NT/2K, and XP allows a bit more access to the hardware level for programs than NT/2K does, and this (no direct access to the hardware) is why games do not work on NT/2K.

 

[gws]

First issue is WHY are trying to access fhe "program files" from one machine on another. Normally programs will not run since there needs to be DLL and registry entries to make a complete program.

All all the machines in the same workgroup or domain? Have you set permissions to allow any (all) machines/users access to your files?

 

[MossRoad]

Here's a link to a good article on file sharing for Windows 2000 <A target="_blank" HREF=http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q301281>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q301281</A>

 

[Mrwurm]

Hank, I have not tried XP for the following reasons:

1. I've heard that xp will not allow me to install it on more
than one machine. I'm not buying multiple copies for
three computers in the same house. I've even heard
that if you replace your harddrive you have to call
Microsoft to get an access code to unlock your
software and reinstall it.

2. My two old Epson ink jets don't have xp drivers
available yet.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Jerry

 

[Mrwurm]

Gary, I want to get into 'program files' on the win2000 machines so I can copy the installers for a few programs. A few programs that I use were downloaded from the web and have a complete compressed copy in the install.zip file. My work-around for this problem is to go to a win2000 machine, find the installer program that I need, and copy it into another folder. I then go to the win98 machine and grab it from that folder. So, you see, this is not a show-stopper, just an annoyance.
Jerry

 

[Hank]

Jerry,

I really cannot address your concerns about XP, home edition. I have not worked with that edition at all; I have heard several stories about its limitations though, esp. networking ones, so I am not surprised at what you have heard. At work, we are using the Pro edition, with a volume licensing arrangement, so installing and reinstalling is not an issue for us.

I personally do not care for XP so far as a "work" operating system; W2K is better, IMO. However, as we roll it out more, I keep finding new features under the hood that are handy.

 

[gws]

You have NEVER "LEGALLY" be able to use the same copy of any windows on more than one machine unless it was licensed as such. XP now enforces this issue in software.
If you replace an integrated motherboard you will have to call M$ to get a new key, Its an 800 number and your commputer will make the call. Not a big deal. You have to call M$ to install XP in the first place. Might as well get use to it. M$ is not going to change this. If you really want to get around it there are tools to hack an XP not need a key.

As for printers. If they are real old you will never get drivers for them. You will most likley find that you can pick a similar supported printer and it will work fine under XP. With the throw away cost of printers now a day, spend the $40 and get a new printer...

 

[MossRoad]

<font color=blue>With the throw away cost of printers now a day, spend the $40 and get a new printer...</font color=blue>

You got that right. Two new cartridges are $70.00, but a new printer with cartridges and better resolution is $69.95!!! What a waste.

 

[Wingnut]

drat, never managed to get back to you today ... our network was offline to "outside" due to UUNet and Worldcom headaches.
Anyway ... it occurred to me this morning that it may well be related to the way Windows treats the Windows directory. I remember when I first loaded the OS, that Windows would never display, I would always be presented with an internediate screen telling me I shouldn't view these files since if I made a mistake Windows would be all screwed up and besides, Bill Gates thought I was a buffoon ... or words to that effect.
I wonder if this could be affecting you. Do you have the file display option set for display of everything including hidden files? Having the file display options set to the MS defaults will hide a great deal of that stuff and also cause the intermediate screens to be used. I'm not sure how that works in a network situation .... maybe I'll find time to test that out tonight on my network ...

 

[Hank]

<font color=blue>our network was offline to "outside" due to UUNet and Worldcom headaches</font color=blue>

Some engineer at UUNet did an "oops" /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. At one point, UUNet had to request the other major ISP's to disconnect themselves from UUNet, so the routing "misstatement" would not spread globally.

Here's the final resolution ticket from our ISP (Genuity):

<font color=red>UUNET reports that this issue has been resolved and all traffic on their network is stable. The root cause of this outage has been attributed to an incorrect routing announcement, which corrupted the routing table. UUNET Engineers null routed the statement, which has resolved the issue. No further updates will follow, unless warranted.</font color=red>