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

Solution 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$\.

Solution 2

I had the same issue on Windows 7 and this solved it:
1. Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
2. Create a DWORD value called LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy and assign it a value of 1
3. Restart "Server" service or reboot the machine

You can also run this command from elevated cmd and than continue to step 3:

REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy /t REG_DWORD /d 1

Credit to wibier.me

Solution 3

If you are not in a Domain: UAC will prevent remote access to administrative shares.

Options:

• disable UAC
• enable built-in Administrator
• set registry option which allows remote UAC
  • path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
  • DWORD(32 bit): LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy = 1

Read more here https://4sysops.com/archives/access-denied-to-administrative-admin-shares-in-windows-8/

or google for "remote uac administrative share"

Solution 4

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.

Solution 5

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

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Comments

[Admin]

Are you asking if you can or how you can?

[Admin]

I got ahead of myself. Are the machines on a domain? Do you have admin rights on the domain, or on the individual machines? Are you being prompted for credentials?

[Admin]

Are you typing credentials as machinename\adminaccount and then entering password?

[Admin]

Yes, exactly. Does the remote computer user I'm trying to access should exist on my local machine?

[jyz]

I always get "Access Denied", even with correct password. Seems that Windows doesn't allow remote access to administrative shares, not sure...

[jyz]

I've only tried when they are in the same domain, and trying to login with a local user. This doesn't work, but I have to try with this scenario you proposed.. thanks

[jyz]

Yes I'm trying with that..

[IGRACH]

It took me over three hours for to figure out. Was stuck and who would say that disabling simple file sharing done it. As always windows is so intuitive...

[NetwOrchestration]

Please update your question with "Note: You only need to do this on Windows 8 and higher versions". The question is from 5 years ago, and mostly related to Windows Xp and 7. The OP had no Idea how to access C$.

[E235]

I did it on Windows 7 and it worked for me. Anyway I edited the answer and mentioned that I did it on Windows 7.