Vista and XP issues

I have 2 laptops running Vista Home Premium and a Desktop running XP Home --
all are using the same WORKGROUP workgroup.

Laptop 1 can see the desktop and access files without issues. Laptop 1 can
see laptop 2 in the "Network and Sharing Center", but cannot access any files
on it.

Laptop 2 cannot see the desktop at all, nor can I type the "\\desktop" path
to get to it. Laptop 2 can see Laptop 1 and access the files without issues.

Laptop 1 and Laptop 2 have all the same settings that I could think of ..
Network and File Sharing settings, workgroup definition, etc. In fact they
are basically the same laptops. I have been trying to get this to work for
days now. I have rebooted all machines at some point a few times.

"Shane" had an issue similar to this. Try my recommendations in that
posting and see if that will help you out.

"Mxteen" <Mxteen@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3199F5BC-BF0F-45B7-B454-6A4CF2A9EC42@microsoft.com...

>I have 2 laptops running Vista Home Premium and a Desktop running XP
>Home --
> all are using the same WORKGROUP workgroup.
>
> Laptop 1 can see the desktop and access files without issues. Laptop 1
> can
> see laptop 2 in the "Network and Sharing Center", but cannot access any
> files
> on it.
>
> Laptop 2 cannot see the desktop at all, nor can I type the "\\desktop"
> path
> to get to it. Laptop 2 can see Laptop 1 and access the files without
> issues.
>
> Laptop 1 and Laptop 2 have all the same settings that I could think of ..
> Network and File Sharing settings, workgroup definition, etc. In fact
> they
> are basically the same laptops. I have been trying to get this to work
> for
> days now. I have rebooted all machines at some point a few times.

Welcome to Vista/XP network hell.
The single most common problem is that Vista machines will see but not share
with XP and worse when wireless is part of the mix.
Beyond making sure that workgroup identification and sharing permissions are
properly set, which they usually are, what does Microsoft expect individual
users to do?
It is vexing because everyone with these problems correctly followed the
Microsoft wizards and most are using the Vista/XP firewalls.
The only non-Microsoft blame might be assigned to a non-Microsoft firewall,
e.g Zone Alarm or other, which often do not configure themselves correctly
and can be difficult to set up manually.
It gets worse: you may get everything running but then, one day, for no
obvious reason, the problem will recur although nothing has changed. As
happened to me, 3 days ago.
Fortunately I have a solution: my Vista machine dual boots into XP where
there are stable network connections between XP wired and wireless machines.
I cannot think of a single reason I or anyone else actually NEEDS to run
Vista.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../bb727037.aspx

Have a read of the above link re Vista File and Printer Sharing.

Permissions/Share info is there as well.

If using Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro I.S., make sure file and printer
sharing is enabled in THEIR firewall.

1st thing to do is make sure that the Workgroup Name of ALL the computers is
the SAME.

In Vista Network and Sharing:

Network Discovery: ON (So it can see the other computers)

Network set to Private (Public is for hotspots, airports, etc)

File Sharing: ON

Public Folder Sharing: ON (Vista’s Public Folder is the same as XP’s Shared
Docs)

Password Protected: OFF (unless you want to set up identical usernames and
passwords on ALL computers in your Network) If you have it ON, you will be
asked for a username and password when you try to access a Vista computer
from an XP computer.

Also, run the XP’s Home Network File and Printer Sharing Wizard to include
Vista in your “New� Network, even if you had an XP Network set up prior to
adding a Vista computer to it.

--
Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia


"Mxteen" wrote:

> I have 2 laptops running Vista Home Premium and a Desktop running XP Home --
> all are using the same WORKGROUP workgroup.
>
> Laptop 1 can see the desktop and access files without issues. Laptop 1 can
> see laptop 2 in the "Network and Sharing Center", but cannot access any files
> on it.
>
> Laptop 2 cannot see the desktop at all, nor can I type the "\\desktop" path
> to get to it. Laptop 2 can see Laptop 1 and access the files without issues.
>
> Laptop 1 and Laptop 2 have all the same settings that I could think of ..
> Network and File Sharing settings, workgroup definition, etc. In fact they
> are basically the same laptops. I have been trying to get this to work for
> days now. I have rebooted all machines at some point a few times.

Thanks Mick.

I neglected to think of the Norton 360 Firewall Settings for Network
Locations. I simply added the Mac Address of my wireless router from the
Limited Access column to the Trusted Column, and withion seconds, I was able
to connect Laptop 2 to the desktop.

I appreciate your assistance!! :O)

"Mick Murphy" wrote:

> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../bb727037.aspx
>
> Have a read of the above link re Vista File and Printer Sharing.
>
> Permissions/Share info is there as well.
>
> If using Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro I.S., make sure file and printer
> sharing is enabled in THEIR firewall.
>
> 1st thing to do is make sure that the Workgroup Name of ALL the computers is
> the SAME.
>
> In Vista Network and Sharing:
>
> Network Discovery: ON (So it can see the other computers)
>
> Network set to Private (Public is for hotspots, airports, etc)
>
> File Sharing: ON
>
> Public Folder Sharing: ON (Vista’s Public Folder is the same as XP’s Shared
> Docs)
>
> Password Protected: OFF (unless you want to set up identical usernames and
> passwords on ALL computers in your Network) If you have it ON, you will be
> asked for a username and password when you try to access a Vista computer
> from an XP computer.
>
> Also, run the XP’s Home Network File and Printer Sharing Wizard to include
> Vista in your “New� Network, even if you had an XP Network set up prior to
> adding a Vista computer to it.
>
> --
> Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia
>
>
> "Mxteen" wrote:
>

No worries! Glad it worked out for you!
--
Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia


"Mxteen" wrote:

> Thanks Mick.
>
> I neglected to think of the Norton 360 Firewall Settings for Network
> Locations. I simply added the Mac Address of my wireless router from the
> Limited Access column to the Trusted Column, and withion seconds, I was able
> to connect Laptop 2 to the desktop.
>
> I appreciate your assistance!! :O)
>
> "Mick Murphy" wrote:
>