Vista / XP firewall

We have two issues here.

1. XP port 445: Correct. If the port 445 is blocked, you can't access the sharing. Have you enable the file sharing in the windows firewall? this how to may help,

How to enable File and Sharing in Windows FirewallHow to Enable File and Printer Sharing in Windows Firewall 1/4. Symptom: 1. No one can't access your XP computer with SP2. 2. When using net view command, ...
http://www.howtonetworking.com/Windows/xpicf1.htm


2. access the Vista root drive : this post may help,

Vista Administrative SharesBy default, Vista administrative shares eg C$, D$) are not shared by default for security reasons. You should create your own shares to share your drives ...
http://www.chicagotech.net/netforums...opic.php?p=454


Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"Mike H." <Mike H.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:31D2D35A-EC8D-4D77-A9CF-2BE6AAF04C6B@microsoft.com...
I have a new vista premium PC and an XPSP2 machine wired to a speedtouch adsl
modem. the Internet connection is fine on both machines. I have file +
printer sharing enabled and all the other bells and whistles set correctly
... The Vista machine can see and access the XP machine ONLY when the XP
firewall is off. If I turn it back on - The XP machine dissapears. Vista
diagnoses a likely problem with port 445 on the XP machine. When I try to
amend the XP firewall settings to open this port, I get the message that ''
port 445 already exists SMB over TCP ''

Also, with XP firewall turned off, -i.e. the network functions , when I try
to access the Vista root drive ( which is set to shared everyone ) I get an
access denied, pls contact . . etc etc message ... With the XP firewall
back on, I can still see the vista machine and can access the public folder
only.

Now I'm stuck ! Help anyone ?