Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

File sharing between Tiger and XP Home SP2

Aug 12, 2005 4:37AM PDT

What are the steps required to get file sharing, between my iMac G5 (OSX 10.4.2) and my HP 764c (Windows XP Home SP2), over a wireless network to work? I have tried to find info, but all I come up with are steps to set up file sharing on earlier versions of OSX - these steps have apparently changed with 10.4.2.
FYI: I have no problems (other than constant fluctuations in signal strength) sharing my internet connection between computers.
Also, what is the trick to being able to use the HP print driver (supplied with printer) on my HP 764c? I can print over the network, but only using the generic print driver in Bonjour. By doing this I can't access any of the special print features on my printer.

My network:

Cable modem and HP Officejet 7310xi connected to an Airport Express base station.
iMac G5 (OSX 10.4.2) with an Airport Extreme card.
HP 764c (Windows XP Home SP2) with a Netgear WG311T wireless adapter.
Airport Express base station (configured as WDP) connected to home stereo (for iTunes streaming.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
File Sharing
Aug 12, 2005 6:51AM PDT

Select a folder to share on the XP machine.
Share it, set the permissions to allow it to be shared.
Go to the Mac.
Turn on File Sharing in the System Preferences
Turn on Windows file sharing too
Go to the GO menu/Network
The XP machine should show up in the Workgroup folder
Connect using the name and password of the Administrator of the XP machine. (just to make life easier)
Check that any Firewall on the XP machine is allowing File Sharing.

Nothing much changed in Tiger for File Sharing. Check the Apple help on how to set up the Mac and the XP help on how to set up the XP box.

More Later

P

- Collapse -
Still not working...
Aug 15, 2005 6:22AM PDT

I have followed all of the steps, but still cannot get either computer to show up on either computer. I have tried with the Windows firewall on and off. I am sure it has got to be something simple I am overlooking, but what?

- Collapse -
Never mind.....
Aug 15, 2005 9:44AM PDT

I was able to finally get it working. I turned the firewalls off on both computers and was able to start sharing on both sides (Tiger & XP Home). Once sharing was working I turned the firewalls back on, just to see what would happen, and sharing continued to work - even after restarting both computers. Was this just a fluke, or is this the missing required step?

- Collapse -
Fluke
Aug 15, 2005 9:58AM PDT
Happy

The Mac firewall will allow file sharing automatically when File Sharing is turned on.
I don't know about the XP machine.

Well done

P
- Collapse -
Windows Firewall
Aug 18, 2005 11:39PM PDT

Do I need to keep the Windows XP Home SP2 firewall on for protection, or do I get my firewall protection (for the network) from the Airport Express base station? The reason I ask is Windows keeps insisting that I turn it on (I had to turn it off to get file sharing up and running after both computers were powered off (power failure) - this step doesn't seem to be necessary with a restart just loss of power).

- Collapse -
Firewall
Aug 19, 2005 12:21AM PDT

The XP Firewall "should" be configurable in that it should allow File Sharing access from designated IP addresses or from a range of IP addresses.
I don't think that the Airport Express base station has a Firewall, as such, but I'll check.....Yes, it has a NAT Firewall.
The XP Firewall IS configurable to allow File Sharing. Check out http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-3016.html for instructions.
If configured correctly, the XP firewall can stay on and you will be spared Uncle Bill's concern for you protection.

Hope this helps

P

- Collapse -
Hmmmmm.....
Aug 19, 2005 1:45AM PDT

I followed the link in your last post. I am clear on everything but the last part of their troubleshooting tips. It states "...If you're running a software firewall, or you have a firewall-enabled router, turn the Windows XP firewall off. Running multiple firewalls doesn't double your protection; instead, the firewalls usually conflict with each other, which could make your computer vulnerable.". I am not using a software firewall on either end, and since the Airport express base station has a firewall would this be the same as a "...firewall-enabled router..."? I checked the Windows firewall settings and file and print sharing is enabled. I also checked the Services console and the firewall service is running. My iMac shows up in "My Network Places" folder without any issues (my Mac is always accessable from within Windows), but when I open the Network folder on my Mac the folder/window is empty. Should my Windows computer appear right away (when I open the MSHome folder) or is there a normal lag in displaying it? In the Sharing control panel> Advanced button in OSX should the UDP, Firewall logging, and Stealth check boxes be checked or unchecked? I have Firewall logging checked just to be able to see what was going on with the firewall.

- Collapse -
Turn OFF your XP firewall
Aug 19, 2005 6:57AM PDT

and see what happens.
The XP machine should show up quickly in the network window.
You are running a software firewall on the XP machine. The airport FW is not software

P