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Avoid an Error -50 when accessing Windows shares Network
We had installed a new Windows 2000 workstation at the office that we would be usiing as a backup machine (with backup software we wrote in Delphi). The Mac users (all Panther, 10.3.5) could not access this machine (though had no problems access other windows machines on the network). I searched high and low, Google, here, there, everywhere and non of the suggestions worked.

I suddenly tripped over the answer...

I was looking at the share "names" on that machine, and they were a bit long. "E_Drive_Backup_168," logn but intentionally descriptive. So, just for grins, and somewhat in desperation, I created a new share that was more typical for me and called it "E_Drive." And presto, the Macs could now login. So ... keep those share names short! Apparently there is some limit on share names that does not bother Windows machines but leaves Mac/Samba totally lost.
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Avoid an Error -50 when accessing Windows shares
Authored by: jyu on Sep 07, '04 11:37:48AM

I wonder if it's related to the 15-character NetBIOS name limit.



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Avoid an Error -50 when accessing Windows shares
Authored by: osxpounder on Sep 07, '04 03:21:35PM

I'm really glad you submitted this hint. I had not realized that this was the cause of many Windows/Mac sharing errors in our office until I saw your hint. Thanks!

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osxpounder



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Avoid an Error -50 when accessing Windows shares
Authored by: digitol on Sep 07, '04 03:45:11PM

I wrote a program called KopyMac for this very problem. you will encounter a -50 error when copying files with long names or illegal characters in them, as well. The current release of KopyMac is very beta, and at this point can't convert files inside of directories.. I am working on a recursive solution, and will release soon.



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Avoid an Error -50 when accessing Windows shares
Authored by: SpiralOcean on Feb 01, '07 10:33:40AM

Booya! You rock ma man. I've been stumbling over this one for the past couple hours.

Why in blazes are there erros like -50 in the GUI? Couldn't it just say, could not recognize share name, or share name to long?

Thank you.



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