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iMac can see Windows PC but can't connect

cirejp said:

turn off "Simple File Sharing" (Tools->Folder Options->View) on the PC
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately, this option is not available in XP Home, only in XP Professional. XP Home users are still SOL. The strangest part is that XP Home is *only* supposed to do simple file sharing by default. go figure.

And guest access with null passwords do not work either, even with the guest account enabled on the XP home machine.

It's probably something that MSFT has done in the CIFS/NTFS permissions layer of the Home version that has broken some standard. Although it did work fine in Tiger, so maybe something in the updated Samba code delivered with Leopard has a bug.
 
Another Fix

Leopard problem found and fixed. I've been working on it pretty much full time for three weeks since "Security" Update 2009-1, Feb. 12 2009, completely hosed Windows file sharing (SMB.)

The SMB file system extension was given the wrong permissions by that "Security" update and won't load as a result. Incredible. Actually it sorta makes me wonder if they didn't intentionally close a security hole by disabling SMB file sharing cause they couldn't see how to really fix the problem. I digress.

The fix requires some surgery from a root shell window.

Log in as an administrator and enable root: In /Applications/Utilities run "Directory Utility". Open the lock on the bottom left. From the Edit list, select "Enable Root User". You will be asked to create a password for becoming root (superuser.) Do NOT forget this password. I use the same one as my main administrative account. Leave the utility open.

From Utilities run "Terminal".

Enter "su" and you will be asked for the above password that will give you root (superuser) superpowers.

Enter "cd /System/Library/Extensions" to get to the directory containing the SMB file system extension.

Enter "chmod -R g-w smbfs.kext". This removes group write permissions from everything in the extension's directory. A requirement I determined by attempting to manually load it from a shell window.

Enter "kextload smbfs.kext" to load the SMB file system extension.

Close Terminal.

For safety return to the open Directory Utility window (you may have to unlock it again) and from Edit select "Disable Root User". Exit the utility.

You should now be able to connect to any Windows shares you previously established. The fix persists across shutdowns.


Bob
 
btcomm said:
I have a suggestion for you.

When it asks for the username and password, for the username type guest for the password type nothing.
Click to expand...

After the changes to High Sierra security, it has been increasingly more difficult to get Mac's talk to Windows Guest Sharepoints. I was struggling to get a connection to work to a particular guest access. All other Macs running older operating systems connected to this guest share with no problem at all.

I saw this comment and thought that's not going to work, but to my utter amazement it did!

So find the IP of the Windows Sharepoint computer
go to the Mac Go>Connect to Server... type smb://<ipaddress> ie smb://192.168.1.120 NOTE: (cifs:// didn't work)
Click connect
Select Registered User
Name: Guest
Password: <Leave Blank>
Connect
Select the Sharepoint
Click OK

Hope that helps.

And many thanks to the original poster of that comment save me so much work!
 
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