I wanna access the "Program Files" directory on each of the computers I have networked via ethernet. Windows XP disallows the sharing of this directory, but I am sure I found a bypass for that problem, because I was sharing the directory before I upgraded both computers and reinstalled XP. I just can't remember how I managed to do it, and it's annoying to not be able to transfer some of my applications from one computer to the other without copying them to a shared directory.

why dont you just share your whole drive? if you hook both machines up via ethernet, setup a "user" account on each machine with the same password on each machine, share you c: drive on the machine you want info from, turn both machines on and log both on under "user", put them on the same workgroup (if not already) go to my network places, veiw entire network, or workgroup computers, double click the computer displayed and there will be a folder that is the shared c: drive (whatever you name it when you share it) now if you need something besides prog. files you can get that too (to share a folder or "c:" drive, right click the folder or drive and go to sharing (also make sure you allow the "user" account to have full permissions to your shared folder which is normally default if you set the user account as and admin)) Complete Computer Service, Inc. NW Indiana

D.B. Cooper! I know you've been asked before, but inquiring minds want to know how you survived that jump from the 727 so many years ago?

Joshua: Thanks for the reply. I've basically done everything you've said to do, and Program Files is still unsharable. I've tried connecting to the other computer with a user name and password endowed with administrator access (via "Map Network Drive..."), and I've tried an unauthenticated connection straight out of the Network window, and in both cases, I cannot access Program Files. The reason is that Windows XP makes it inaccessible on the network because the "folder" is being "used" by Windows. There's no way to share the directory from the sharing dialog box. And sharing the whole hard drive likewise won't deobstruct access. Result: Every time I try to open "Program Files" on the network, I see this message: \\computer\hard drive\Program Files 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 is denied. What great advice, though -- for Windows to tell me to contact myself for help. *eyeroll* I still believe there's a way around this, because before I upgraded my boxes, I was able to access the directory . . . Help! P.S. To the other poster, it's no big secret. I used a parachute!

You need to set the permissions to allow "everybody" full access to the share. I know you can do that in XP pro, but I have not found a way to do it in XP home The defination of Insanity, Doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result.