Cannot network two computers on my home network; one running Windows 7 and one running Windows XP Pro
Hello,I have spent a VERY frustrating four hours trying (unsuccessfully) to get two computers in my home (one running Windows 7 and one running Windows XP Pro) networked. I have followed all the steps listed on both the internet (after doing numerous searches, thinking I might have missed a step) and the instructions in the help section of my computers. NOTHING has worked!Both computers are part of the same WORKGROUP, both computers are "unlocked," both computers can be seen by the other, and the Windows 7 computer can open and access files on the Windows XP Pro computer.However, when I click on the Windows 7 computer icon on the XP Pro computer, it opens, but when I click on a folder, it gives me an error message, saying I don't have permission to access this file! I have double-checked my settings (making sure the Windows 7 computer's folders and files are "unlocked" and available to be shared (they are), but I have to be missing something here. Nothing I try works!I am fairly knowledgeable about computers (a high novice, I would say), but if a solution will require editing registries or some other kind of workaround, I will need very detailed instructions. Can anyone help me?Thanks.Russell2 people need an answerI do too
May 23rd, 2010 8:22pm

Probably missing matching user accounts/passwords. See Section C. and D.Problems sharing files between computers on a network are generally caused by 1) a misconfigured firewall or overlooked firewall (including a stateful firewall in a VPN); or 2) inadvertently running two firewalls such as the built-in Windows Firewall and a third-party firewall; and/or 3) not having identical user accounts and passwords on all Workgroup machines; 4) trying to create shares where the operating system does not permit it.In Windows 7, go to Control Panel>All Control Panel Items>Network and Sharing Center. Click on "Change advanced sharing settings". You don't want to use Homegroup unless you have all Windows 7 machines. If you do and you want to use Homegroup, see Windows 7's Help & Support. Otherwise, in the Advanced Sharing:Turn ON network discoveryTurn ON file and printer sharingTurn ON sharing in the Public folder sharing sectionTurn ON password protected sharingA. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area Network (LAN) traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, turning on Window's File and Printer Sharing as above will take care of this for you. In XP you can run the Network Setup Wizard or just enable File/Printer Sharing in the Windows XP Firewall's exceptions. If you aren't running a third-party firewall or have an antivirus/security program with its own firewall component, then you're fine. With third-party firewalls, I usually configure the LAN allowance with an IP range. Ex. would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would substitute your correct subnet. Refer to any third party security program's Help or user forums for how to properly configure its firewall. Do not run more than one firewall. DO NOT TURN OFF FIREWALLS; CONFIGURE THEM CORRECTLY.B. For ease of organization, put all computers in the same Workgroup. This is done from the System applet in Control Panel, Computer Name tab.C. Create matching user accounts and passwords on all machines. You do not need to be logged into the same account on all machines and the passwords assigned to each user account can be different; the accounts/passwords just need to exist and match on all machines.DO NOT NEGLECT TO CREATE PASSWORDS, EVEN IF ONLY SIMPLE ONES . If you wish a machine to boot directly to the Desktop (into one particular user's account) for convenience, you can do this:Start>Search box>type: netplwiz [enter]Click on Continue (or supply an administrator's password) when prompted by UACUncheck the option "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer". Select a user account to automatically log on by clicking on the desired account to highlight it and then hit OK. Enter the correct password for that user account (if there is one) when prompted. Leave it blank if there is no password (null).XP - Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htmD. If one or more of the computers on your network is XP Pro or Media Center, turn off Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab).E. Create shares as desired. In Windows 7 I usually share out the user's Desktop and the Public directory.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
May 24th, 2010 6:14pm

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> Hello Russell, I found your posting very interesting as I have almost the same problem and I wondered whether you have been able to find a solution.Up until a couple of months ago I was running my main machine, a Dell Desktop XP,SP3,Media Centre along with a Dell laptop,SP3, XP Home, wirelessly connected. I had no problems viewing and sharing files with either computer.I did not check the inter connectivity until I purchased a third computer a couple of weeks ago. The new addition is another Dell Laptop but running Windows 7. Briefly, the Dell Desktop XP computer can view and share all folders from the other two Workgroup laptops with no problem but when I click on any folder within itself, I am not allowed to open it and I get a similar error message to that which you have already described. The exact wording I get is as follows:-“….Folder is not available. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions” “Not enough server storage is available to process this command” T he Dell XP laptop can view all folders on all three computers identified in the Workgroup and it can open and share folders from the Dell Windows 7 laptop in addition to opening its own folders. Similarly, the Dell Windows 7 laptop can share folders from the Dell XP laptop and from itself. However, similar to the error identified above, neither of the two laptops can open any of the folders which it can view on the Dell Desktop XP computer. The error message reappears. I cannot say with any certainly that the fault developed when I added a third computer to the Workgroup. I rather think not as the problem still exists when Windows 7 is removed from the W/group.On final point please may I ask what do you mean when you stated that both of your computers were “unlocked”? Best wishes and good luck,Colin.
June 6th, 2010 5:49pm

I'm not Russell and he may never come back, but see this for the "not enough server storage..." error:Info from MVP Ron Lowe:This error indicates that you are falling foul of the IRPStackSize bug. The problem is on the machine you are attempting to connect to, not the machine where you see the error message. On the computer you are attempting to connect to, check the event viewer for an event ID 2011.Usual fix : You need to fix a parameter called IRPStackSizeOn the computer you are attempting to connect to, Set the IRPStackSize back to the default (15 ). Perform the following steps: 1. Start regedit. 2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver\parameters. 3. Double-click IRPStackSize (or if this registry setting doesn't exist, create it with type DWORD and ensure the case is correct). 4. Change the base to decimal, set the value to 15, and click OK. 5. Reboot the computer.Norton AV is usual suspect for breaking it. There's a KB article about this, too:Antivirus Software May Cause Event ID 2011 (Q177078) - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;177078As for permissions, see my previous reply to the original poster.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
June 6th, 2010 6:17pm

Thank you Malkkeleah.I appreciate your quick response.I notice that your final statement is not to panic.How did you guess?I need to pluck up some courage to enter the registry as I am afraid that I might land up with a far worse situation than I am in at present. Regards,Colin.
June 7th, 2010 12:05pm

No need to panic. If you can't do the work yourself (and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea), take the machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). If possible, have all your data backed up before you take the machine into a shop. I have never understood why most people will not hesitate to take their car to the mechanic or call an electrician (I know I don't) but for some reason think they should be able to fix the powerful and complicated machine which is a computer themselves.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
June 7th, 2010 2:18pm

Thanks again.If I were to venture forth ,please may I again trouble you to explain a little further as to what is meant by changing the base to decimal prior to setting the value to 15?Is it complicated?Cheers.Colin.
June 7th, 2010 5:29pm

No, it's not a bother and no it's not hard. When you edit (or create) the DWORD data you have a choice whether to use hexidecimal or decimal numbers. Just click the decimal button. If you are doing this on a Vista/Win7 machine (remembering that you make the change on the computer to which you want to connect, not the computer on which you get the error message), then you must run regedit elevated.Start>Search>type: regeditWhen regedit appears above, right-click it and choose "Run as administrator". Provide the password/OK to the UAC prompt and click OK. Regedit will open elevated and allow you to make changes.You don't need to do this if the machine in question is running XP.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
June 7th, 2010 6:32pm

This topic is archived. No further replies will be accepted.

Other recent topics Other recent topics