Connecting MacBook Pro to a PC workgroup

More info:

I connected my Macbook to the router with an ethernet cable, set up the ethernet connection and guess what?? I can see my PC and its shared files on the Mac and I can see the Mac shared files on the PC.

The PC is still a wireless connection.

Could it be a problem with the settings on my Belkin router?

It's a Belkin Wireless G - F5D9630-4A

Thinking back, I did have problems linking my Windows Laptop wirelessly. I had to use an ethernet link then.

I'm on Windows XP. UAC was introduced on Vista and W7 I understand.

As I've had no further replies from this forum, I searched through other forums and advise sites and found the solution.

I had to enable SMB (SAMBA) on my Windows devices as that's the protocol used by Mac OSX Lion. I also had to disable the firewall on my wireless router modem.

The connections aren't brilliant - keep on losing connection, even with broadband internet - so I'm thinking of replacing the Belkin with a Wireless N router.

me too. SMB sharing (vs netbios on UDP ports137,138) uses TCP port 445,
so the firewall plays a part here.

also noted:
just remembered an OLD issue for hetrogeneous system sharing
SMB V2 was deadly (ie not usable) for Mac's & Linux - - you have to force V1

For the key
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\LmCompatibilityLevel
set value of 1 ; Send LM & NTLM - use NTLMv2 session security if negotiated

This will allow Mac OS X & Linux systems to share both ways with Windows systems.

see also https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1568

Yes, I tried the usual File Sharing approach on the Windows m/c's and the mac, but they failed to communicate at all. My PC was originally set up for music, so a lot of the function could have been disabled or changed from default.

Belkin were baffled when I asked them. All they offered was to turn of the router firewall.

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do withthe registry changes. I can understand the first part - changing the vale from 0 to 1, but the last bit has me baffled. Would you explain please?

see also https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1549?viewlocale=en_US

I followed this route as far as the Lsa level, but all that was there was a default entry. No sign of LMCompatibiltyLevel.

it really should be there - - what's your OS?

If you just need access to files on a single computer, this is a great, simple way to do it.

There is very little that can go wrong with this method, so it is great for troubleshooting. If you DO still have problems, you can be pretty sure something needs to be changed on your Windows computer (eg. Firewall, setting up your shares properly, adding a password to the account you're trying to access the computer under etc..).

Also, if you're trying to log on into your Windows computer and it is prompting you for a password, the account you are trying to log on as must have a password by default (courtesy of Windows 7). You can change this behavior in network sharing center, but I would just add a password for troublehsooting purposes.

What I mean by this is -- if you want to connect to your computer using the account "Gouge", "Gouge"s password to use the computer must NOT be blank... there must be something.

OK, I found it. Sorry, I must have looked in the wrong key.

I changed the value to 1. Is there anything else that I should do?

I only have the one account each on my PC and Laptop, so I've never bothered using a password.

I take it that, even though I'm on XP SP3, I should now use a password?

reboot

Absolutely; both system should have user/passwords unless you like giving away personal data

I'll follow this up. Been away for a couple of weeks so haven't been able to access PC.

Yes, installed update, thanks.

Anyway, I've just upgraded my pc to Windows 7 (I didn't want to trust an iMac) so I'll see whether I still have a problem linking to the MacBook.

It was my **!!?? Belkin wireless router causing the problem!!

I bought a Netgear wireless router, set it up and bingo, everything communicated with each other, including my MacBook and printer!!

Problem solved, even if it did cost me for a new router.

btw, no dropouts since I've installed the netgear router.

I was having the same issue as the initial user. I wanted to connect to my husband's shared folder on his PC with my MacBook. He had to create a non administrator account and he opted to add a password for it as well and that worked beautifully. Some reason it wouldn't allow me to access as an admin from my mac. Hope this helps someone!