working on a windows network

[gallagb]

hey all- so i've quickly searched for forums and the apple pages
and tried a BUNCh of different things and can't seem to get things working-

here's what i;ve got:
12"pb running 10.4.8- totally up to date

here's the network:
it is a windows network- the network admin has no clue how to hook up a mac to it...etc - he says "PC's need XP pro but can do it with older windows- just not xp home...etc"

i've figured out how to 'see' other computers on the network
but what i want to figure out how to do is gain access to the 'shared drive' on the network

what i need is basically step by step instructions on how to do this

i've tried a ton of different things- none of which seems to work
(i even changed my username and pw for my PB to my network username and PW - but that hasn't helped me yet...)


HELP!

 

[thewhitehart]

How is this 'drive' shared on the network? Is it a standalone network storage drive, or a shared folder on a windows pc?

If you can see the computers on the network, what does clicking them do? Does it bring up a box asking for an SMB/CIFS password? If the folder is shared openly by the windows pc, you shouldn't even need a username or password to mount it.

If you want other windows users to be able to access your mac, you have to enable "Windows Sharing" in the "Sharing" preference pane of the System Preferences application (the light switch icon). This will allow windows computers to access specified home folders on your macintosh, providing that windows user knows the appropriate username and password. A sentence (yes, a sentence) will pop up at the bottom of the pane telling you what to type from the windows end to access your mac.

To better see computers on a mixed network, it helps to make sure your mac is in the same workgroup as your windows pcs. Go to "Directory Access" in the "Utility Folder" in the "Applications" folder, authenticate with the little lock in the corner if necessary, and configure the SMB/CIFS option to match your windows workgroup.

 

[timswim78]

This is a little different than just setting up file sharing. It sounds like your admin is running a Windows server with active directory, and that your computer needs to join the domain before being able to access anything.

Your admin may not be sure how to join an OS X computer to a Windows domain. Instructions for that can be found here:
http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2003/12/09/active_directory.html

It can be done, with a little know-how. We had Mac's on a Windows domain at my previous job.

 

[timswim78]

here's the network:
it is a windows network- the network admin has no clue how to hook up a mac to it...etc - he says "PC's need XP pro but can do it with older windows- just not xp home...etc"
HELP!

He is correct. The reason for this is that XP Home and the Home versions of Vista are not designed for business purposes and therefore cannot join domains.

 

[gallagb]

to answer some questions

- i think it is a stand alone network storage drive- but i'm not positive
when i log in on a windows box- it comes up as a 'shared drive'

- If you can see the computers on the network, what does clicking them do?
>>generally- i can just browse through the 'c' drives

when i use "GO>>NETWORK>>..."
i can see various folders in the 'workgroup'
when i try to log into them
for some of them i need to log in with the SMB/CIFS bit-
however- the folders seem to be the actual machines- none of them are the 'shared drive' i'm looking for

i'm not really concerned about allowing others into my machine
i'd really just like to 'link up' to the 'shared drive' on our network

any clues?:

 

[gallagb]

more useless info....

more info
so i just re-logged into the PC box-

it is an "S" drive
(if that helps at all)

when i'm back on the mac

i go to:
"go>>connect to server"

then to i type in 'smb'? or what - before the network name

when i've tried using smb://abcdefg.hijk...etc

it says i have the wrong username/password
however- i typed the correct un/pw- as i just used that info to log into the PC box-

i can, of course, just ask the network admin guy- maybe he knows something

but if there is anything HUGE i'm missing- pointers would help

thanks all!

 

[aristobrat]

Weird, I have no problems connecting my 10.4.8 MBP to server shares on my companies Active Directory network.

Are you typing in the correct domain name as well as your username/password?