Ok, thanks Mike-Bracknell. I can see why books are produced for 'dummies'.

I'm trying to connect to the Toshiba as ROB\Administrator (Computer name and User Name) and my password for the admin. account. From what you say that seems to be correct.

I still get the same error msg. I've doubled checked the IP address of the PC and it seems ok as well so I don't know. Perhaps I'll leave it for the time being as I can see the Mac on the PC.

That should be the correct format then. Have you considered the firewall on the PC? Try turning it off and see how you get on.

/this is not a long term solution, just a troubleshooting step, so please turn it back on if you get nowhere.

There's also a firewall on the Mac too.

But as Mike said.... only temporarily turn it off !

It might be that you need some third party solution on the Mac such as Thursby DAVE to make the leap from Mac to Windows, because I'm not sure how many of the Microsoft authentication algorithms were built-in to OS X 10.3.... but keep on trying with the built-in solution first.

The other option is to install FTP server software (freely available) on the Windows machine and access that from the Mac.

Thanks for those 2 replies. So it appears I have the format correct at last! The firewall is turned off on both machines but I'll double check. Neither of those machines are connected to the web, I'm using the HP for browsing etc. which is protected.

Error -36 on Macs seems to be an all-encompassing code that Apple use and is connected with permissions from a quick search. That would make some sense in my case.

I'm not connecting through a router, just a direct ethernet cable, all rather clumsy to be honest.

Mixture, just noticed your edit..Thursby DAVE was mentioned in an earlier post here.

Not that it should matter because you said you already managed to get it working one-way, but is it a crossover ethernet cable ? (or are both network cards gigabit, in which case crossover is not needed)

This got me thinking.

What's showing up in OS X Console (Applications -> Utilities -> Console) under "All Messages" ..... and similarly in Windows Eventviewer (start/run -> eventvwr).

There might (fingers crossed) be some useful messages coming up at or around the time when you try to make your connection attempts (don't forget to refresh/reload !)

Ha!! Mixture, I'm not using a cross-over cable. I just used a cable from on old ADSL modem kit. Yup, checked against an on-line diagram, it's 'straight through'. What a pl:hmm:nker. May explain the message on the Toshiba, limited connectivity. Well, I've learned a bit over the past few days.

No idea about the gigabit aspect. Can't find 'Console' on my Mac (10.3.9). Thanks! I really should go back to skool....

Most NICs will nowadays autosense RX/TX and don't require a x-over, but no harm to have the correct cable if connecting NIC-NIC.

SD

Well, I have now purchased a X-over cable and the Toshiba connects to the Mac as before, which is good.

I still can't make the Mac to Tosh connection. I'm still not convinced about my usage of Username and Password. This is what I get when I go 'Connect'.

http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/...P/SMB-CIFS.jpg

Workgroup/domain is automatically filled, as is Username. As far as I can tell I just need to enter my Admin. password. Sorry for being repetitive but at least I can rule out the cable.

Have you followed the earlier instuctions to reset the keychain?

does the user "ROB" exist on the PC? (not rob or Rob)
and are you using the same password to logon as you did on the PC?

It would probably make life a lot easier if you also create a new user account on the Mac called ROB, with the same password

And are you sure the Windows workgroup is called "Workgroup" - on many versions of Windows the default is "Home"

Windows login-ids are case-insensitive (but passwords are not).

The Windows Workgroup is redundant in this instance as it's not passed to a workgroup machine - you might want to blank it and see what happens, as otherwise it'll be passing "workgroup\rob" to the PC, which is an invalid pairing.

Thanks, I'll be back in a Jiffy or two. I'm not sure which Rob is which at the moment. I seem to have so many:{:{:{:{:{.

I've deleted my last post as I have totally missed the point. I can copy files to and from the Mac and the Tosh and it's working well. It's irrelevant that I can't connect from Mac to Tosh. (still like to know why though).

You have enabled File & Print Sharing on the Tosh and created some shares?

SD

SD, I'm fairly sure sharing is set-up on both sides. I have some functionality so I think I'll leave it as it is. Guess is still some kind of permissions thing (error-36). Next step is to connect the HP to the Mac.

Thanks to all for the assistance, I'm further down the line and have learned quite a lot in the past week. For a first attempt at networking, I'm quite chuffed with the result especially as it's Mac OSX 10.3.9 to XP Pro. Cheers!

The one nagging doubt I had regarding the process relates to a registry setting on the XP box to bring the security level on the file sharing down a notch. I had a quick shufty round the web but couldn't find it last night, believing it to relate to some LanManServer settings (but this was all from memory). However, this linked thread should bear a striking resemblance to the question you've been asking (and you can see the answers are roughly on a par). It also starts talking about registry entries in the first post. I don't have an XP box to hand to check the current existence or setting of the registry key, but maybe someone else on here can check for you, if you're unwillling to go that far into technical things:

GUIDE: Networking Windows with OS X - MacRumors Forums

Mike-Bracknell, I had a peruse through the link. Post #455, Error code -36. Does appear that many have had issues the same, or similiar to mine. As I said, at least I can see the Mac from the Toshiba. I will look into that thread in more detail at some stage, it may be old but some useful info no doubt. Thanks again.

Phew! Not just me:confused::confused:

Mac to HP
 

Hello all, it's me again with my networking woes. Been fiddling around with other stuff but want to get this networking sorted again. Just a recap so you don't have to wade through all the previous.

I have 3 machines:

A G5 imac running 10.3.9 - Power PC

An old Tosh on XP Pro

An HP dv8000 running Windows 7 Home Premium. This machine has two large drives which I want to copy files to from the Mac and Tosh.

I've succeded in getting my work to the HP from the Tosh. I've been able to connect the Tosh to the Mac although that was a trial to help me learn about networking.

I now really need to hook the HP and Mac. I've had a good bash at it today but haven't got very far at all. Spent much time searching for resolutions but it's like Heinz 57 out there.

Now from the Mac, Go Connect, I can see the name of the HP in the box, but it won't recognise my name/password, same as what happened with the Tosh.

With the Tosh, I was able to connect to the Mac but not the other way around. Not that it mattered, I was able to transfer files.

So I want to concentrate on connecting to the Mac from the HP, and I'm making sod all progress. There is clearly some connection going on.

In network and sharing centre the network is Unidentified network - Work network.

It was originally Public but I managed to change it to Work.

Sharing is on from the Mac side and firewall is off. On the Mac, it says Windows users can connect using \\169.254.1.65\rob. Dumb question is, how do I do this in Win 7? Thanks!!

so the user account on the mac is "rob"
do you have a user account called "rob" on the HP?
if so, are the passwords the same?

Milo, yes, the user names and the passwords are the same.

then it should work

if on the PC you go start > run (or search if its Win7) and type in
\\169.254.1.65\
then hit return, what happens?
what happens if you type in
\\169.254.1.65\rob