Craig Wenger wrote in

m:

Sometimes when I access a shared folder (with the local and remote
computers all running Windows XP Professional) by simply typing \
\computer_name\share_name in the address bar, I get a login prompt
and everything works fine. However, sometimes, I get an error
message "\ \computer_name\share_name 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." When I just type \\computer_name
in the address bar I can see the shared folders, but clicking on
them gives the same error message. However, when I go to
Tools-Map Network Drive, and connect that way, it works fine.

Can anybody tell me what dictates whether or not you can access a
shared folder without mapping it?


Yes, you can access a shared folder without mapping it.

If you try to connect to a share on Computer A from Computer B and
the user name that you are logged on to on computer B matches a user
name on computer A but the user names on the two computers have
different passwords, then the connection is immediately rejected.

If there is no user name on computer A that matches the user that
you are logged onto on computer B then you are presented with a
login prompt window.

You can force connections with a provided set of credentials by
bringing up a command window (Start-Run-"cmd") and entering the
command:
net use \\computer_name\share_name password /user:computer_name\user_name

Note that you can only connect to a computer under a single
credential at a time. If you are already connected to the machine
as a different user, you must first disconnect before reconnecting
with the different username credentials.

Also note that Windows XP Pro has a 10 concurrent connection limit.

HTH,
John