How to access C$ share in a network?

Question

Considering I have admin access to a machine, how can I remotely access the default C$ share in Windows XP and Windows 7?

Edit: This is not a domain, it's a single machine that I need to access

Answer 1

There are a few concerns to keep in mind:

1. This must be a computer running a Professional edition of Windows. The Home editions do not have the administrative shares enabled.
2. Many (if not most) third-party firewalls will disable the administrative shares for security reasons. Make sure that a host firewall has not disabled them.
3. If you have file sharing turned off, this won't work. In XP, make sure Advanced sharing is turned on, rather than Simple sharing. In 7, check your network settings to ensure that File and Printer Sharing is enabled. This is not the case for networks marked as Public.
4. Make sure that you are typing the path directly - Windows shares with names ending in $ are invisible and will not be sent in listings of shares. Instead, you must specify the path directly: \\MachineName\c$\.

Answer 2

Most likely, yes... barring any firewall or security policies (user rights assignments or security options) preventing it.

Answer 3

I've never had any problems doing this in the past, but there are a few things you could check:

• The workgroup often has to be the same on both machines for them to properly communicate
• Are you using Windows XP Professional edition, or another? (Home, Media Center, Tablet). This feature is only activated on Professional Edition (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_share) - mainly because it's aimed at enterprise users
• Try enabling advanced sharing mode in XP. This is via Windows Explorer -> Tools Menu > Folder Options -> Advanced (disable simple file sharing)

Hopefully some of that helps.

Answer 4

Yes, if you have admin rights you just have to use the UNC path to the machine - \\machinename\c$ or even \\IPAddress\c$.

Answer 5

If your system is not a member of a domain (which you state it isn't) and the user account you are logged into your local system does not exist on the system you are attempting to connect to you may have to put in user credentials like this:

\machinename\c$ /user:machinename\user (where the 'user' account exists on the 'machinename').

Answer 6

You will not be able to browse to the share. Shares that end with a $ are hidden in explorer, even if you have the "Show hidden files" and "Show protected operating system files" options enabled. You have to type the name directly into the address bar to see the share.