windows xp networking woes

[Belgarath The Sorcerer]

Here's the setup:

My router is running a dchp server, and I have two pc's running windows xp connected to it (1 being this one, the other my brothers laptop) that get their ip's from the router. Both pc's can browse the internet with no trouble what-so-ever.

I can browse the shared folders on my brothers pc with no trouble.

The problem is that he cannot browse my pc at all - he can see me in network connections, but when he clicks on my pc he recieves an error message that says access is denied.

Now, both pc's are in the same workgroup, the computer names are both different, ip and subnet's are correct (dchp innit) - everything should work.

Indeed it has worked, when I first installed winxp last week he could access my pc, but since then, in my security minded view, I have turned off some services and changed some local security policies - which has to be the source of the problem. Only I don't know which thing I've turned off is causing the problem, so that I can turn it back on to fix it.

I've looked on ms.com to no avail, and at this rate I'll just re-install win2k tomorrow.

Anyone help?

[MrL_JaKiri]

Did you turn on a firewall?

[Belgarath The Sorcerer]

windows xp firewall is turned off; zonealarm is configured to allow my brother's laptop to access my pc - indeed the problem persists if zonealarm is turned off.

[meglamaniac]

Go into local security policy.
Set:
Network Access: Do not allow anonymous enumeration of SAM accounts -> Disabled
Network Access: Do not allow anonymous enumeration of SAM accounts and shares -> Disabled
Network Access: Let Everyone permissions apply to anonymous users -> Enabled

That should hopefully do the trick.
AND NEVER FIDDLE AGAIN!

[Belgarath The Sorcerer]

That's not had any effect sir.

[NEWSBOT3]

Originally posted by Belgarath The Sorcerer
That's not had any effect sir.

rebooted ?

the error means just what it says, winxp is denying access for some reason to the other pc.

[Belgarath The Sorcerer]

It's a pain in the arse this. I've not rebooted after just changing the local security policy to what megla suggested, surely I shouldn't need to? Anyway it can get to **** until tomorrow now, I'm off to watch the matrix reloaded in twenty minutes, and he's ****ed off out.

thanks anyway guys

[NEWSBOT3]

well, most network related stuff is only initialised at boot up , if i recall correctly.

if i get bored (which will likely happen later) i'll do some googling see if theres anything else i can think of.

[Belgarath The Sorcerer]

i'll have a fiddle after I come back from the matrix, i'm not rebooting now, it would stop my current download - that I want to watch when I come back from the matrix :ninja:

[pablissimo]

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;318030 is all I can find

[Belgarath The Sorcerer]

After rebooting, everything is fine. Conclusions?

Megla = winner.

ps: matrix was 'ok'