Computers

XP disconnects from Vista shared file

Details

Created on Saturday, 02 January 2010 05:40

Last Updated on Saturday, 02 January 2010 06:43

Published on Saturday, 02 January 2010 05:40

Written by shiena

Hits: 1135

We have a Vista server (Home Edition 32-bit), 3 XP clients and other 5 Vista clients joined together in a Workgroup. Almost twice a day, we have to restart the Vista server as the XP machine lost connection when trying to access the file and give the following errors:

• when opening My Network Places = Error: Workgroup is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Network name is no longer available.
  
• when opening the shared/mapped folder = Error: %Share% is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. Access Denied.

I Googled the error, and tried the following but none of them totally fixed the issue. Please note that when I refer to client computer - it refers to XP installed PC, and the server is the Vista installed PC.

• Enable Simple File Sharing from the client and server. Made the Guest account password blank on both server and client.
• Client & Server: Uninstall 3rd part Anti-virus & Firewall.
• Disable Computer Browser service in all of the computers, just left it enable at the server and 1 Vista client.
• Server: Added the username and password of all the XP computers to the server.
• Server: Changed LAN Manager Authentication Level to send LM and NTLM responses or LmCompatibilityLevel=1
• Server: KB928233 - Turn the DHCP Broadcast Flag Off
• Server: Enable restrictanonymous from the registry
• Client: Remove the KB885250 patch.
• Client: Scan for threadspy virus.
• Client: Enable/Install LLTD to all of the XP clients.
• Client: I added KeepConn equivalent to ffffffff in the Regedit
• Client: Enable NetBios.

The only fix that made the XP connection stable is by disabling SMB2 at the server. Please note, you have to disable SMB2 in all of the Vista clients to prevent having an error. Edit the registry at your own risk. Always back up the registry before making any changes. If you do not feel comfortable editing the registry, do not attempt these instructions.

1. Run "regedit" on Windows Server 2008 based computer.
2. Expand and locate the sub tree as follows.

HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters

3. Add a new REG_DWORD key with the name of "Smb2" (without quotation mark)

Value name: Smb2
Value type: REG_DWORD
0 = disabled
1 = enabled

4. Set the value to 0 to disable SMB 2.0, or set it to 1 to re-enable SMB 2.0.
5. Reboot the server.

To read more about SMB, you can check this link http://www.petri.co.il/how-to-disable-smb-2-on-windows-vista-or-server-2008.htm