Network Access from a Windows XP Machine

Right click the shared folder on the Ubuntu machine and choose Sharing Options. Make sure guest access is ticked.

Next, we need edit our Samba config file to set the workgroup. Open a terminal and run gksudo gedit /etc/samba/smb.conf. Near the top of the file, change workgroup to MSHOME. Save the file and close it.

Then you can restart the Samba service with sudo /etc/init.d/samba restart (or just reboot the computer).

That should at least allow you to at least see the shared files from the Windows computers. Get that working before you set permissions for writing.

Dear Ryan ,
                   many thanks for getting back to me . I tried that - all successfully as far as I can tell - the relevant line in smb.conf says :-
  workgroup = MSHOME

- I have checked .

however when I check the XP machines there is no display of the Ubuntu machine - on Mshome or anywhere - is it case sensitive ?

I have tried booting up both the Ubuntu machine and the XP laptop - no change unfortunately .

When I restarted Samba the Ubuntu machine was no longer displayed under Workgroup . It is not displayed under Mshome and I cannot see it anywhere .

Thanks

Kim Lyon

How about doing the routine below while on terminal:

sudo smbpasswd -a 'your_username'

input your password since you called for sudo then enter a desired password for the username you substituted with 'your_username'.

Back on your windows explorer, access your Ubuntu machine with:

\\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (the IP address of your Ubuntu desktop)

If asked for credentials, input the username and password you configured earlier on Ubuntu.

You might need to install the winbind package in Ubuntu to make it broadcast its hostname to the network. After installing, you might have to wait up to 10 minutes for it to appear. But accessing it by IP as suggested above should work as well regardless of whether winbind is installed.

I believe workgroup names are always in uppercase, so that should be fine.

Thanks Ian Ace A. Culallad, that solved my question.

this worked - many thanks . I used the same password on all 3 computers - I don't know whether this is important . However I do have a new problem :-

I copied over my files from the XP using Beyond Compare . The directories and files were set up as being owned by 'nobody' and accessed from 'nogroup' . This prevented me accessing them using my user name . I changed the owner using the 'chown' command and the '-R' recursive directory switch . The group using the 'chgrp' command and the protection using the chmod command . This allowed me access on the Ubuntu Linux machine but prevented me from having access from the XP machine . I checked the visibility of the Ubuntu Linux machine in the Windows File Explorer - it was not visible . On the Ubuntu Linux machine : I restarted the Samba - no change . I checked on the File Browser - the folder is not shown as shared . I checked under Properties \ Share - all boxes ticked ( by default ) - I pressed Close - no change . I checked under Permissions - tried setting all the permissions to Read and Write and tried both the Apply and Close buttons - no change . I went to Places and opened up a window on Network \ Home Folder and the shared folder is indicated as shared . The group for the root shared folder is indicated as sambashare , the owner is myself , all sub directories and files are owned by myself , likewise the groups . I changed the group of the root shared folder over to myself - no change - still no visibility XP side .

any ideas ?

Many Thanks

Kim Lyon

I have visibility now under Beyond Compare - so problem solved in a rather cack handed way .

Many Thanks for All your Help

Kim Lyon

A kludge is a legit fix, perhaps a more elegant answer might crop up later. The important thing is that it's fixed. Thx guys i really need to learn about networks and figured i might learn something here :)
Thanks, congrats and regards from
Tom :)

The key is to refer to the Ubuntu Linux machine via it's IP address - this is the only way it seems to be visible under this scenario . The shared directory should be in the path . Creating a drive under the Windows File Explorer - using the full IP & shared directory path - will provide access .

Hi :)

Have you been able to test the new Ubuntu 10.04 before it gets officially released?
http://www.ubuntulinux.org/testing/lucid/beta1
Trying it as a LiveCd or as an extra dual/multi-boot would be ideal. Developers and everyone are keen to try to iron out any problems before 10.04 gets officially released so you might find faster & more effective answers to your bug reports which would make 10.04 work better on your system for you

Thanks and regards from
Tom :)

I am upgrading at the moment . I will try it out over the next few days .

Hi :)

It is usually best to try downloading the Cd and then using that as a LiveCd just to test how it looks & feels on your system before installing / upgrading
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD
Of course it is always possible to revert to a previous release but it's not easy unless you already have a separate /home partition.

Good luck with the upgrade & i hope it all does go as smoothly as they usually do
Many regards from
Tom :)

Tom : where would you like my feedback ? - I haven't found a general feedback point as yet - only a bug report DB .

Hi :)

Thanks for trying it. :))

At the moment i think there is only time for bug-reports on the 10.04. It's sometimes tempting to post a "big-report" to say if something suddenly works in 10.04 that didn't previously.

If the buttons moving to the left rather than the side that Windows & other users will be most familiar with then this link might help
http://sites.google.com/site/alucidfs/how-i-do/move-buttons-to-right-side
There has been a lot of argument about it but it was felt that it was about time to stop pandering to Windows users and shake things up a bit. I'm not sure i agree with either sentiment but the arguing is over i think, at least for the 10.04 lol

For other types of feedback perhaps this link
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Signpost
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Signpost/Questions#contribute
Although as noted earlier the beta testing phase is more about fixing bugs & getting it to work on the greatest range of hardware. Artistic differences and stuff is going to start to be discussed soon for the 10.10 release but it takes a bit of navigating to join in with that.

Again, many thanks and regards from
Tom :)

oops, i emant "bug-report" not "big ...

lol, sorry for the typo there

Regards from
Tom :)

I can't see any general feedback page there - if you can put in a link for general feedback I would be most happy to copy and paste the notes that I have made on the upgrade .

Kim Lyon

Hi :)

I am not sure where general feedback would go. Perhaps just post it in here and then we can try to work out which department to send different things to? Or perhaps post as a new question? There is also
http://www.ubuntuforums.com
but i'm not sure about how relevant that site is.

I know i would be interested to see your comments but i'm not sure how helpful i could be about them.

Regards from
Tom :)

Tom : I've put together a hastily prepared report on my web site - in a private area - at : http://wrldcomp.com/ubuntu_linux_feedback/index.html - do what ever you would like with it .

Kim Lyon

Hi

Definitely report those crashes & stuff as bug-reports if you have the time. That sounds really bad!! Have you managed to get it working yet? Perhaps i should finish reading first!

Regards from
Tom :)

Tom : just to let you know - the new version of Ubuntu seems to be working well - no major problems . There is one thing though - the previous release allowed the numeric keyboard to be set up Windows style - ie. allowing the use of the cursor keys etc. . The latest release seems to have missed this facility out . Latest the reports - http://wrldcomp.com/ubuntu_linux_feedback/index.html .

Hi :)

That is good news :) I started this question about where to post general feedback rather than specific bug-reports
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/107301

I found a great link last night but lost it again. If i do find it again i will try to post the link in that thread about giving feedback. I would appreciate it if you could post the link to your feedback site in there as i thought the first report was excellent & didn't get time to read the other 2 reports. However, if it's effectively a back-door into a secure area of your website then it wouldn't be a good idea to provide that link in a public forum like this one.

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)