Weird Windows File Sharing Issue

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Jeff250
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Weird Windows File Sharing Issue

Post by Jeff250 »

I've got some files shared on my computer on the dorm LAN. I've got WinXP SP2 and simple file sharing disabled so that I can require authentication to access the shares.

Here's the problem: some folders and files simply aren't visible in the shares. Of course, I've checked to make sure that the permissions are trickling down and what not. And I've tried disabling my firewall. And what not.

But here's the thing:
Troubleshooting, I discovered that by renaming a directory, it will affect (somehow) which files are visible to others in it, consistently, and repeatably, in that I get the same slew of files viewable across the same computers every time. I can even rename the directory to one thing and then rename it back and forth and get repeatable results. I thought that there might be a maximum path length issue, but I produced counter examples where shorter directory names produced fewer files shared.

Some directories just seem fine too.

Has anyone else encountered this or know what could be causing this? Why renaming a directory might affect which directories and folders are visible to other viewers?
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Post by Jeff250 »

Windows Voodoooo... oooOOooooo...
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Post by DCrazy »

What names are you choosing between, and what Windows versions are the other computers running?
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Post by Jeff250 »

Just regualar alphabetical names. Like my copy of Frozen Throne that I'm trying to share for legimiate owners who misplaced the CD, if I name the directory containing the CD files "FT," fewer files are shared; then if I name it "FrozenThrone," more files are shared, but if I dig deep enough into directories (like one that's named "support"), there will be some missing files in those.

I've managed to superfically fix the problem by zipping things like this up, but I'd like to find a more permanent solution (if there is one).

Other computers are XP, and I can reproduce it about half the time browsing the share through the network from my computer. Which is weird in and of itself.
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Post by DCrazy »

Map the share to a drive and see if all the files show up in a DOS window. It might be Explorer weirdness, not an actual problem with the share.
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Post by Jeff250 »

Same results with the command prompt and network drive. I even tried all the fancy dancy /as and /ah switches.
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