Direct Mac -> PC Ethernet Connection Problems

[jawzzy]

I've been trying to connect my PC and SR MBP directly for some time now. I've followed the instructions of 6 or 7 online guides, but my PC refuses to show up in the Finder->Network>Servers menu, and can't be found via the Go -> Connect to Server option from the Finder menus. Some information:

The PC is a Dell Dimension 3000 from September of 2005. I'm using the motherboard-integrated ethernet port.

I have both a regular ethernet cable and an ethernet crossover cable. I have tried both, and neither works.

If I go into "My Network Places" on my PC, under the Local Network heading I can see several folders I have enabled sharing on.

I'm trying to transfer files from my PC to my Mac.

Any advice? Please help and thanks in advance!

 

[sfisher]

Is there a software firewall turned on on the PC? That is what blocks my connections at home until I turn it off on the PC. If there isn't a firewall, start with the basics below if you haven't tried it already. I always use Finder's Go -> Connect to Server and type in "smb://<PC's name or address>/<share name>".

The basics - Is there a link light (typically green) next to the Ethernet port on the PC that lights up when a cable is connected? You can see the PC's address (assuming it's Windows) by going to Start->Run and typing "cmd" then typing ipconfig in the window that comes up. You're looking for the adapter that is on board the motherboard. Then check the Mac by going to Apple Menu -> System Preferences -> Network, double click on the entry for your wired Ethernet port then click on the TCP/IP tab. Each machine should have similar addresses (typically the same first 2 or 3 number groups that are separated by dots). You can type ping <address of MAC> from the "cmd" initiated window and should get a few responses (you can do it the other way by going to Finder -> Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal and typing ping <address of PC> but doing it one way proves it works in both directions).

 

[jawzzy]

Thanks! I hope that eventually this will clear it up. There is no IP address where it should be. There is just a blank. Any ideas?

 

[jawzzy]

The "Connect to Server" keeps telling me "Could not connect to the server because the name or password is not correct."

The dialog box that popped up asking for it had 3 input boxes. Two ("Workgroup or Domain" and "Name") are already filled in and seem to be correct. The "Password" one is blank. My Windows box isn't password protected. Any ideas? I even created a password for my User Account and put that in the box, and it still wouldn't accept it.

 

[jawzzy]

OK, so eventually my Mac's IP address showed up, and I pinged it from the Windows computer and i got responses back. I also pinged my Windows' IP address from my Mac and got responses back. So guess they're definately communicating. However, I still can't get by my own "password" that I really never created. Hmph!

Thanks in advance!

Also, the first two numbers in each IP address are the same, so I guess thats a good sign.

 

[khunsanook]

OK, so eventually my Mac's IP address showed up, and I pinged it from the Windows computer and i got responses back. I also pinged my Windows' IP address from my Mac and got responses back. So guess they're definately communicating. However, I still can't get by my own "password" that I really never created. Hmph!

Thanks in advance!

Also, the first two numbers in each IP address are the same, so I guess thats a good sign.

Any luck yet?

There seem to be a gazillion online tutorials for what should be a simple process, but always ends up a PITA for me. I eventually found this one to work very easily though. This is assuming you're using XP.