MBP trying to connect to windows machine

[velocirpator]

My mid-2010 MBP is showing that it is trying to connect to a windows machine which resides on my network. I have never setup sharing, or connected in any way, between these 2 machines. I am wondering:

1). Why is my machine attempting to connect to the windows machine?

2). How do I stop what appears to be this continuous attempt to connect?

3). I want to configure my MBP such that no machine, osx or otherwise, can connect to it, unless I specifically allow it to happen. I say this because until I happened to notice the attempting connection going on in finder network view, I was not even aware it was happening. So I am concerned that in the same way, invisible to me and my permissions, some other machine may be trying to connect to my MBP - and might even be successful for all I know.

Thanks for any help.

EDIT: As an addendum, I know that windows machine has iTunes on it. Something to do with that maybe?

 

[dusk007]

Go into the Prefs -> Sharing -> uncheck all boxes
You can leave bluetooth.

If that is all unchecked it could be all kinds of things but nothing to worry about.
iTunes has the share my library on the local network in its prefs. Disable it if you don't like that. It does require any permissions afaik. iTunes simply broadcasts to everyone. In my student dorms you could get the libs from anybody in the same IP space.
At home I think it is save to leave it on. Otherwise it is readonly so not really a security risk unless your music taste is a secret.

 

[velocirpator]

Thank you for the response.

I went into sharing prefs, and all boxes were already unchecked.

Similarly, in iTunes prefs, share my library was also not turned on.

So those are not it. You mentioned there are numerous other things it could be. I sure would like to find and understand what is happening.

Thanks again.

Go into the Prefs -> Sharing -> uncheck all boxes
You can leave bluetooth.

If that is all unchecked it could be all kinds of things but nothing to worry about.
iTunes has the share my library on the local network in its prefs. Disable it if you don't like that. It does require any permissions afaik. iTunes simply broadcasts to everyone. In my student dorms you could get the libs from anybody in the same IP space.
At home I think it is save to leave it on. Otherwise it is readonly so not really a security risk unless your music taste is a secret.

 

[Rhyalus]

Network machines come up automatically in Finder. That does not mean that you are trying to connect to it unless you click on the machine name.

As the other poster said, all boxes unchecked in sharing means that no one can connect to you...

What are you seeing that makes you think you are trying to connect to the PC machine?

R

 

[velocirpator]

In finder -> shared: I see the windows machine name. I see "connection failed" under it. Why does that windows machine show as a 'shared server'?

 

[Ccrew]

In finder -> shared: I see the windows machine name. I see "connection failed" under it. Why does that windows machine show as a 'shared server'?

Because Windows File and Print sharing is probably enabled on the Windows machine. The Mac sees that and polls the Windows box, but since the Mac account doesn't have sufficient rights on the Windows machine it can't parse the shares and shows as a failed connection.

Windows shares every drive root as a hidden share like \\machinename\c$ unless you explicitly turn it off.

Nothing to worry about really.

 

[velocirpator]

Ccrew - That makes perfect sense. You have put my mind at ease. Thanks!

 

[sledgebeast]

I have a Similar Problem I think

This may or may not be the right thread to post this in but here go's

I have a customer with 2 mac's running snow... And 1 Windows Machine.

A while back the Windows machine had the HDD Replaced/Reloaded. Since
then he reports that both Mac Machines constantly give him these error's
anytime the Windows Machine is turned on.

There was a problem connecting to the server "XPS" or "192.168.1.X"

You do not have permission to access this server"

These error messages just appear when either of the Mac's are booted up.
Not trying to connect to server or anything.
You can close the message out but it just keeps appearing over and over again
every few moments.

What should I do to help this guy with this problem. The only way he can stop

these infernal messages is it is to turn off the Windows PC.