Help connecting Vista machine to home network (with 2 XP machines)
Just bought a Vista Home machine yesterday and have been trying to connect it to my existing home network (wired through a router). After renaming the network in Vista I was able to see and access all shared folders and files on my two XP machines (one also wired to the router, the other connected wirelessly). I thought I was done, but then I realized that simply enabling my Vista "C" drive to share didn't allow me to access the drive from my XP machines. I keep getting the dreaded:"\\Hp22\C is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions... Access is denied."I have nothing but administrator privileges set up on all machines (at least that's my assumption, since all I've ever done is stick in a username during initial Windows setup...I've never enabled or played around with any accounts of any type).I notice that in Vista there's an "Advanced Sharing" button when I enable sharing on C, but I don't know what to do once I click on it. I assume this is a permissions issue but I don't know how to "give permission" to my other computers to access the Vista C drive. Right now the only thing I can share from the Vista machine is a "Public" folder, and what I'm looking for is to be able to have full access to the entire Vista computer (including creating, deleting, etc.) from any machine on my network.I've also tried disabling Windows Firewall in both XP and Vista, but that didn't help. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me. If I had known this was going to be such a big deal I would have purchased another XP machine a week ago and never bothered to even think about Vista!
February 1st, 2007 4:03am

this is probably a user account issue. I am looking for documentation on subjects like these but Microsoft makes it hard to find anything thats not marketing blather. You will have to give the user account permissions on the C drive if you want to share it. Do you have user accounts setup on the other 2 machines? This is actually a security improvement so you don't run the machine with admin privledges all the time for anyone like the other 2 machines. You will have to log in as a user on all the machines. I don't know if Vista has a peer-to-peer type directory service. Otherwise you will have to create the same user account on all 3 machines.
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February 1st, 2007 10:33pm

try this: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=70582 installer on your XP machines reboot everything, and it should work. It did for me.
February 2nd, 2007 8:56am

BTW, make sure that you don't have a third party firewall active. My machine came with a 60 day trial of Norton, and after I installed the file on the XP machines and rebooted, the Norton firewall came on and blocked the xp machines. Once I turned Norton off, it seemed to work better. I'm still trying remote functions, but I can tell you that you can't even see the XP machines until your install the files from that website on the XP machines.
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February 2nd, 2007 9:09am

I could use some step by step guidance on this same thing. I have a new notebook with Vista that I connect wirelessly to our network. On the network I have 2 xp machines (one connected wirelessly and one ethernet connection) I really need to be able to get my files off my other coputer and to be able to share the printer and access my other hard drives. But my VIsta machine is not seeing my XP machines, I would appreciate some step by step help if at all possible. Thank you.
February 4th, 2007 7:43pm

The problem is not on your vista machine, but that vista uses a different networking protocol than XP. Go to the website http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=70582 download the installer, and put iton your XP machines.Reboot all of your machines, and networking should work.
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February 5th, 2007 12:15am

does anyone know if the LLTD protocol for XP is included in any of the automatic XP updates?
February 5th, 2007 8:27pm

Thanks to those who have responded so far. I just read the thread and will report back if I'm successful based on your advice.BTW, anyone happen to know how I can get a printer problem solved in Vista? I have an Epson Stylus Photo R200 and just installed it on the new Vista machine. According to Epson's support site the necessary drivers are "in the box" (i.e., Vista's got them built in). The printer was immediately and quickly installed by Vista, but two problems were immediately apparent. First, the typical Epson printer icon is not on the taskbar (and I can't figure out how to get it to show up there). Second, when I check the printer's properties in Vista I do get the Epson's multi-tabbed tools (head cleaning, alignment, etc.) to show themselves, but the ink levels are completely greyed out.I called Epson and was summarily told that it's Vista's fault and since they knew about as much about Vista as I did I was completely on my own. Great service, eh? Anyway, without functioning ink levels, well, the problem is obvious. Thanks in advance.
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February 6th, 2007 6:06am

OK, first of all, installing http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=70582 on my XP machines didn't do a thing. I still get the same error message when trying to connect to the shared C: drive on my Vista machine from one of the XP machines.As for firewalls, all are turned off (and the Norton *** trialware the machine came with was uninstalled the very first time I fired up the machine). So, I'm still open to suggestions. Thanks.
February 6th, 2007 8:18am

TMC2K wrote:this is probably a user account issue. I am looking for documentation on subjects like these but Microsoft makes it hard to find anything thats not marketing blather. You will have to give the user account permissions on the C drive if you want to share it. Do you have user accounts setup on the other 2 machines? This is actually a security improvement so you don't run the machine with admin privledges all the time for anyone like the other 2 machines. You will have to log in as a user on all the machines. I don't know if Vista has a peer-to-peer type directory service. Otherwise you will have to create the same user account on all 3 machines. On this end, I don't have any user accounts installed on the XP machines. My main XP machine has a fresh reinstall of XP going from about a month ago. I haven't done anything other than follow the setup screens the very first time I fired up both XP and Vista. Given that, how can it be that I'm not logged on as administrator every time? I am the only user of all three machines and have never set up any other user accounts. If I connect a new XP machine to my network I am able to actively share between all computers in a matter of seconds. This situation in Vista is a security "improvement"? That makes me chuckle. It is the most fantastically frustrating and unintuitive OS I have ever used.
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February 6th, 2007 8:23am

I wish that guy would stop posting the link to the LLTD reponder. First of all the only thing it does is to let Vista place the XP computers on the map IF the network is up and running, second it's just for the english versions of XP. To your problem: in the Advanced sharing, you tick the box where it says "share this drive" and give the share a name (Vista drive.....). In network center make sure you have network discovery on and Password protected sharing off.You might need to re-run the network connection wizards on the Xp machines. Keep the same settings as you have now, just go through the motions one more time.
February 6th, 2007 12:09pm

cyanna wrote:I wish that guy would stop posting the link to the LLTD reponder. First of all the only thing it does is to let Vista place the XP computers on the map IF the network is up and running, second it's just for the english versions of XP. To your problem: in the Advanced sharing, you tick the box where it says "share this drive" and give the share a name (Vista drive.....). In network center make sure you have network discovery on and Password protected sharing off.You might need to re-run the network connection wizards on the Xp machines. Keep the same settings as you have now, just go through the motions one more time.Thanks, but those were the first steps I went through days ago. Rerunning network wizards at this point is tantamount to banging my head against the wall.
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February 6th, 2007 12:34pm

On the Sharing>Advanced>Permissions, is Everyone listed with at least read access?On the XP machines are the Guest accounts enabled?If the above are true and you still can't connect to the Vista drive from the Xp machine, go back to the properties for the shared drive >Security>Edit>Add>Advanced>Find now. Choose everyone and >OK>OK>Apply and wait for the security settings to be set. If you're trying to share the whole OS drive, you'll probably run into access denied/permission denied issues for the system folders. I strongly suggest you skip these files. Then 2 more OK's and you can try and browse the drive from the XP machine(s).
February 6th, 2007 1:15pm

Hi all, Have tried Cyanna's fix and still no good. I can see the Vista Machine on the network, but can't access the shared folders. Any help would be appreciated as I'm tearing my hair out!!!! Robbie
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February 7th, 2007 2:43am

Try sharing something else than the whole C: drive. Pick a subfolder in your User account and try to share that, including the security permissions. When you initially open the sharing tab of a folder, what does it say under Password Protection?Last hope: match the security settings for the Public folder, both the ones in the share tab and the ones in the security tab, with the settings on the folder you're trying to share. Some of the users you'll see listed there won't be available to setup manually, but make sure Everyone, Administrators, Users and Interactive are.
February 7th, 2007 3:51am

I was wondering if you have checked for updates at Microsoft since you have plugged everything into your network? I know there is a non-critical update - that does not install with "auto updates" - that is for XP - Longhorn - Vista compatibility (it may not be the one you need but I would install it).Make sure to cold start (turn off...wait..a..minute..or..two..and..turn on) your machines andcheck the little things in your set-up(like typing errors,etc.). I would recommend changing all of yourcomputer namesandnetwork, and then setting-up user accountswith true passwords (no dictionary words). You are a sitting duck running uder the set up you have.It is only a matter of time before you will be reformatting from a serious infection. Or maybe that is why you have a XP machine with a fresh install? If you lockdownyour machine from the start, you should NEVER have to reformat. This is usually a sign of weak security measures. Please for the sake of us all, secure your machines and raise the security fences, as your machine will becomea 'bot' and attack someone elses network/machine. Also, if your machineshave a Rootkit or serious infection, it will prevent you fromcompleting tasks that you normally should be able to do. This is often the first sign of malware infection. I would runascan for Rootkits& Trojans and see what comes up. If you need any help withfree security advice, please let me know and I will be glad to help!
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February 7th, 2007 9:01am

Brownstem, (Firstly I agree with Cyanna's comment about the guy posting LLTD links) Have you signed up for the Windows Live Onecare service? I battled with this last night for ages and only realised this morning that Onecare has a separate firewall. You need to configure this. This was my fix...may or may not be yours. Robbie..
February 7th, 2007 11:33am

I have the same problem and nothing on this forums have fixed it. I do have something to add. I notice that I can ping my vista machine from my XP machine, but I cant ping my XP machine from my vista machine. I dont know if its a protocol issue. both XP and vista machines would get an IP from the router and can use the internet.
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February 7th, 2007 12:06pm

There are many different kinds of network connectivity problems, and this is possibly the worst thing to try and solve via forums, as every little detail might make a change.The original poster can access all computers, the only limitatio is that from the XP machines he can only access the Public folder on the Vista machine. If he can access one share but not others, then it's a security setting on the shares that's causing problems. If you can't ping the machines on the same network, it's the network settings/security that need fixing (if all machines get an adress from the router that pretty much eliminates hardware problems, but....can you ping the gateway from the Vista machine?).
February 7th, 2007 12:47pm

I have this exact same problem only some folders on the vista computer I can access from xp and others it won't let me I have been to 8 different forums and nothing has workrd yet
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February 8th, 2007 4:56am

Hoorah here is the fix that worked for me finally after searching for 3 days If you right click on the shared folder and select "Security and shareing" or " Properties " select the security tab make sure there is a entry called "Everyone" with at least read access if its not there add one and that worked for me hope it works for you
February 8th, 2007 5:46am

Hisnag That will work perfect with folders but not with local drives or DVD drives. Whenever I try to access a root directory from a pc running xp I will be blocked. To overcome this problem temporarely, til I get a final solution, I have moved all the files from the partition that i want to share in the vista running pc into one folder. problem still persist
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February 8th, 2007 1:04pm

I'm having the exact same problem as brownstem, and don't bother trying it on just one folder, it makes no difference. I first was trying to share the Documents folder and after that failed, tried sharing 1 folder inside documents. The folder definitely apprears in the "My Network Places" window on the XP machine, but when attemtping to access, I get the same error. I have tried turning everything on and off. Removed Norton from the XP Laptop (sucked up too much memory anyway), disabled Windows Firewall, tried setting up a password for the XP machine, and the LLTD (Link Layer Topology Discover) is only to make the network in Vista a pretty picture, it does not somehow change the access. I'm not a computer engineer or anything, but I suspect that it has something to do with IPv6 not playing nicely with XP (you can look that up the in properties or our LAN connection or ipconfig in the vista and xp computers and look at the differences). Regardless, if anyone can figure this thing out PLEASE let me know. Chuck
February 10th, 2007 10:15pm

Ding3, Interestingly enough, the only folder my XP machine can access on the vista pc (other than public folder) is the DVD drive. Needed that since the one on my XP laptop is broken. I checked the settings and there is nothing special about it. I just right clicked and hit shared, Everyone is allowed, but only read only. Those setting are by default.
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February 10th, 2007 11:15pm

I am also having the same problem. You have to love VISTA.
February 21st, 2007 7:16am

I am having the problem as well. The difference is that I am logged on as true adminsitrator on both of my PCs.I have 2 computers. I am running XP Pro on one computer, and Vista Ultimate on the other. They are both fresh full installations on my personally built rigs. On both computers, I am logged on as "Administrator". The true one. Not the user that you create during installation. I was just wondering mainly if there is anybody at all who is able to get full access to their Vista C drive and all folders from an XP computer on the network. I'm running a private wired network between both of my computers using a netgear router for internet access. Using my Vista computer, I have full access to all of the files on my XP computer. Using my XP computer, I can see my Vista Computer on the network. When I try to open the C drive, I get the following error: \\vistacomp\c C is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. After contacting myself, and finding out that I am supposed to have access permissions, I still got the same error. Then I tried all kinds of adjustments under the Sharing tab of my C drive properties menu. Also under Security tab. I have been trying for days tofind a solution to no avail. Is there anybody out there that can see and access their Vista C drive from an XP computer as well as handle all the files and folders within it?
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February 26th, 2007 7:27am

I am having the same problem Did you find a solution? Thanks Ken
February 27th, 2007 7:49pm

Tag for later :) I'm having the same problem, I'll try that KB patch about the discovery enabler.
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February 27th, 2007 9:02pm

One more thing.. I went to save something directly to my c:\ root, and it said I didn't have permission. THE administrator account. I was able to create a subfolder and do whatever I wanted with it. I don't think Vista wants you messing with the root of the c: drive at all.
February 27th, 2007 9:05pm

My problem is that on my Vista machine I can access my XP machine, but I can not access my Vista machine from my XP machine. I can see the Vista machine (on my XP Machine) but I cant access it. I get the following massage (You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions.) Thanks for any help
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February 27th, 2007 9:18pm

Just F everyone's I, I'm the OP and nothing yet has solved this problem. My computer vendor, HP, insists that my questions regarding this issue are "advanced networking" issues and thus not covered by the warranty. What a joke. Microsoft itself is obviously of no use, which leaves us all to rot while someone figures it out.If I could simply rewind the clock I would have bought this machine a week earlier when I could still have gotten XP. Before I only thought those new Mac commercials were funny. Now I'm starting to think they may have something.
February 28th, 2007 8:42am

I have set up at least a half a dozen mixed Vista-XP networks, when finally, yesterday, I run into the same problem. After an hour or so, the solution was to: -enable the share as usual, make sure the XP computers see it even if they can't access it. -on the Vista machine, open Explorer and right click on the drive/folder you want to share. Not in the network folder, just the usual Explorer view. Choose properties and go to the SECURITY tab (not the Share tab!). Add Everyone to the list of users and make sure you give them permissions to not only read, but also LIST the folder contents. Thank you to Michael Bell (MSFT) for the solution. It seems that the permissions on a share are the result of the permissions set when you enable the share and the original security settings on the folder. As usual Deny, explicit or implicit, takes precedence over Allow. So if an Allow setting is not explicit in the folder's SECURITY settings, what you do in the Share setting doesn't matter. The Public folder has the Allow setting by default, so do the CD/DVD drives, at least if you don't mess up with GPO and/or secpol. When sharing the C drive, you will get loads of messages that the security setting couldn't be set on this and that folder/file. That's because not even the built in Admin has ownership of those folders/files. You will have to set the permissions individually on those files, after you first take ownership of them.
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February 28th, 2007 11:14am

I Agree
February 28th, 2007 5:42pm

eulerpi, did this solve your problem? If we can confirm it in several configurations we can file it as a working solution, maybe even suggest to MS to add this to their help/How-to sites.
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February 28th, 2007 6:58pm

I had the same problem (could see but not share). I granted the other machine permission through the firewall and all was ok.
February 28th, 2007 7:47pm

I will try your solution tonight. I will post my findings by 9:00pm EST Thanks again
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February 28th, 2007 10:39pm

I have tried this (enabled every possible security permission in Vista for "everybody"). I have sharing enabled and both machines (xp sp2 and Vista business ed) can see the other machine's ID on the network, but no files are visible. Attempting to view files brings up the "not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource." Any other ideas? Andy
February 28th, 2007 11:45pm

I just want to know if anybody out there does have a working configuration btw their Vista and XP computer. As in no errors. Your XP rig can see your Vista rig. Your Vista rig can see your XP rig. You have full access to each rig C-drive through the network to do whatever you want to the files as if you were actually on that computer. Anybody? If so, how did you get it to work?
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March 1st, 2007 1:29am

It did not solve my problem. same problem, I can access my XP unit from my Visat labtop, but I can not access my labtop(Vista) from my XP unit.
March 1st, 2007 4:26am

Not the C: drive. All other drives and some folders from the C: drive though. To share even a few folders from the C; drive, I had to give Everyone full permissions to the C: drive (errors for Program Files and Windows when setting permissions), then take ownershipof the folders I wanted to share and give Everyone full permissions, then do the same thing for subfolders and sometimes individual files. When I did that, I shared the C: drive and once again changed permission for Everyone from read only to full, but this time on the share. To share the whole drive.....WinDirStat reports 83,908 files on that drive, of which 58,000 in the Windows folder, sothat should take about 900 hours to do. All XP machines can access the Vista shares from administrator accounts. One XP machine doesn't have a password protected admin account, and on that one I have to type anusername and password for an administrator account that exist on the Vista machine in order to access the Vista shares. Other settings that might be of interest: on all machines the Windows firewall is disabled. TheXP machines have Zone Alarm, the Vista one has Pc-cillin. On the Vista machine: running from the built-in Administrator, Defender disabled, UAC disabled, system file checker disabled, DEP disabled, driver signing policy disabled. Vista machine connected through Ethernet to the router, ditto for one XP machine, all other wireless. WEP encryption for the network. That's my home network. I have set up several other networks and all work fine, but on none of them have I shared the whole C: drive. For other drives that I shared, I always give them a name : "shares", "pictures", "backups", and use that name for the share. I always apply the disabling of the built-in security features, but not the built in Admin account. Uh....all the systems I have set up have Vista Ultimate and no drive encryption.
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March 1st, 2007 11:34am

I'm have to agree with all the above comments. XP machine will not see Vista notebook. Vista notebook can see XP machine but will not open any folders. I've carried out all the suggestions I've read and nada. I'm doing this for a client but I've stopped the clock as I can't continue billing for something like this - it would be nice if I could. On a personal note, I moved to Apple in November where everything just works. Vista is a dog's breakfast and one can't get any help from Microsoft. If any of my clients ask me about Vista, I shall tell them about OSX and Apple. That's my rant. I'll keep checking here to see if anyone has a solution. I may suggest to my client that we put XP on the notebook which will be cheaper than putting Vista on the desktop. That's another thing - Microsoft OS's are expensive. Apple's OS is cheap.
March 1st, 2007 7:29pm

Chris, Please let me know if find a solution too this problem. This is aggravating as you know what!!! I will post my email so if anyone finds a solution please let me know. Email: kturnbull66@hotmail.com I just cant believe it is this aggravating.
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March 1st, 2007 8:32pm

Hi, I've been trying to build a home network with a XP ena Vista computer. For the moment I have tried everything I could think of although I'm farfrom an expert. With the XP machine I'm able to see the Vista machine in the network and access the public folder. But I can't see other folders wich I have granted permission te be accessed from another network computer.Vice versa the Vista computer does not show the XP computer the network. I've installed the LLTD file but this hasn't had any notable effect. I'm experiencing no problems with my internet connection. I've been surfing the internet to find a solution but untill now I haven't been succesfull. To be honest I'm fed up with Vista after having experienced a lot of compatability problems. If I could I would directly remove Vista from my new computer and replace it with XP.Several people who I know of and who enthusiastically bought Vistaduring the first intial weeks, have already removed Vista from their systems. Herrero
March 2nd, 2007 1:33pm

Herrero, there are 2 great sites for help with computers, where I am quite frequently: http://www.theeldergeek.com/forum/and http://vista.theeldergeek.com/forum/(Site owner is the same). One is dedicated to Vista, the other has a Vista subforum. Try posting there. Please be sure to give details about XP version and SP, Vista version, type of network (wired, wireless, encryption), firewalls and other protection software on both computers. This thread mixes up too many people's configurations, problems and special needs.
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March 2nd, 2007 2:23pm

Further to my earlier post above, my client has decided to forgo Vista on her new notebook and has asked me to put XP on it. I can't say I blame her as to put Vista on the desktop would cost money and with our experience with Vista already, why risk it?Today I had another customer with a new notebook PC who wanted to network it with two XP machines and I had to tell him that it was not possible at present. It's an awful thing to say to a client because they probably feel that you don't know what you're doing when it is really a Microsoft issue.
March 2nd, 2007 10:32pm

Here's a funny one...not only am I having the same problem as everyone else, but my Vista laptop won't allow me access to my Network folders that are on it. I get an error message..."\\...\Public is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. A device attached to the system is not functioning." I find this rather strange considering it's a folder I can't access I put on the laptop.
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March 3rd, 2007 12:33pm

I want to report back that I had the same issues as everyone else. I have 2 xp's and 2 Vistas. I was able to see, but not access, any folders or files on the Vistas from either the other Vistas or the XP's. I followed Cyanna's advise and did the "Everyone" entry into the "add" permissions and this resolved the issue. I spent 2 hrs. on the phone with tech support at Microsoft, and even they didn't tell me to do this. They were unable to resolve the issue. This is definitely a huge glitch in the OS that needs to be resolved.And, so it appears that the best you can do is to create these "Everyone" permissions for each and every folder you want to access, and that you cannot (a this time) make the entire drive accessible to other computers.That's pretty messed up....and, I cannot believe Microsoft was not aware of this problem. They never tested it's networking capabilities?And, to the other person who posted about HP telling them they would not provide support on this issue because it is an "advanced networking issue". I have to concur that this is B.S. I, too, got an HP with Vist installed, and when I ran into this networking issue...the first ones I called were HP. They, too, told me that, "they do NOT SUPPORT THE OS....ONLY HARDWARE".I told the support person that this was B.S. How can you sell a PC with preinstalled Vista OS and NOT support it. When I called Microsoft, I was told that they have a contract with HP, and that HP is supposed to support it.So, where does that leave the consumer?....I was told Microsoft would charge for the support...LOL. Well, the Microsoft person I was dealing with was nice enough to "wave" the fee for my networking issue....but, what happens with the next issue that comes up?This is outrageous....to sell a PC with a new OS installed and provide no support and make them have to pay for support from MS.Anyway, back to the networking issue. I would strongly suggest following Cyanna's advise on configuring the network settings.Renee
March 3rd, 2007 8:28pm

After waiting several years for the new Windows OS to come out, it's proving to be nothing more than a nightmare. I guess I'll have to spend the rest of the weekend fidding around with the settings to get at least the printer shared
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March 3rd, 2007 9:07pm

FYI, I have sent the following e-mail to David Pogue of The New York Times to see if he makes anything of it....Im writing from the U.K. (you know the 51st State) to say how much I love your videos and articles and to say thanks for them.Im typing this on my iMac 24 screen having moved from The Ballmer Conspiracy Operating System to OS X in November and Im glad I did. I work on peoples PCs for a living and this link will show you the trouble many people like me have had in networking clients machines with Vista to those with XP an impossible task. Id like to see one of your videos on this subject. http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1175590&SiteID=17Best wishes
March 4th, 2007 5:25pm

Creating and accesing shares (non-admin shares eg C$)on Vista computeris straightforward. Check out http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1291597&SiteID=17 To accessthe root C drive forRead Access - you will need to create new share using the same steps in the posting and connect to it. The share you createis - "Net Share CRoot=c:\ /Grant:<username on Vista>,Full" Now if you want to access C$ share for Read/Write for adminstartive purpose - it will require couple of more steps. I am assuming since your are a administrator the high level steps are sufficient.Also - I am assuming that these computers are behind a hardware firewall eg Linksys or Netgear. 1. Turn on the file sharing using the "Network and Sharing Center". I normally turn on all of the items - Network Discovery, File Sharing, Public Folder sharing, Printer Sharing, Password Protected Sharing and Media Sharing. Keeps life simple. 2. In Computer Management I set a password for Administrator Account. It should be a very strong password; or a passphrase. Something no one would ever guesseg. "I love M1cr0$0ft". Notice the use of uppercase, lowercase, symbol and numbers in the passphrase. Your passphrase should contain all of these. 3. Run secpol.msc and under Local Policies->Security Options Enable "Accounts: Administrator Account Status". Now you can connect to the C$ share from your XP machinewith username=administrator and its password. Some caveats from a security point of view - Ifyou too have just woken up about security after 20 yearsin the computer businessand want to compensate it with a little bit of paranoia: - Do not interactively logon to the Administrator account and do things. UAC is turned off for this account - so you will not get its benefit. - In Local Policies->Security options setNetwork Security:Lan Manager Authentication Level= "NTLMv2 response only". Its the default. If someone sniffs your network traffic - he will not be able to break the network password.
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March 5th, 2007 11:10am

"Creating and accesing shares (non-admin shares eg C$)" should read "Creating and accesing shares (non-admin sharesie NOT C$)"
March 5th, 2007 11:15am

/Rant Mode On I am an MCSE and have about 17 years experience of IT support, design, projects & management etc; and it is my belief that they have gone WAY over the top with security in the Home versions of Vista. After a nightmare trying to run an Upgarde to Home Premium this weekend, I started again from scratch, and the re-shared all the Music and stuff that me, the wife and the kids use all the time. My XP systems now can't access any of it, as they are expected to supply a User ID and Password. Now, in my day job, I would expect this, but not in a home environment. I'll sort this out, of course, now easily BUT... The solution offered above by NathCorp, is for me, far in advance of abilities of the legions of home users that I "support" in my spare time (i.e. favours for the wife and others). These are not techies, they are Jo Bloggs and his Wife. They just want a simple way to share a few files around the house. Many of them on networks that I have set up, based on XP, that just WORK. They shouldn't have to map drives, create users etc. Sharing files on a home network should an easy task, and one that should be documented in the supplied Help system. Has Microsofthad re-think what is meant by a "Home" version of the software. In my experience the best rule of thumb is - KISS (Keep it simple, stupid!) with most things, and with home users this is even more important. Not all home users are hobbyists who change all their own hardware etc. who would know to look around on technet, or even what to look for. They call me, instead! This is not the WOW that Microsoft want to sell to home users, this isa WTF moment. Maybe the whole idea is to generate a new revenue stream from telephone home usersupport? /Rant Mode Off
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March 5th, 2007 3:53pm

I totally agree with you, BooYaaSucks.Today, I revisited my customer and we had agreed to put XP onto her new laptop so it matched the desktop PC. So I put the XP disk and it starts to run normally. When it gets to the part where it asks you what hard drive to install to, it says there are NO hard drives present. So, I restart the PC and Vista starts normally - not bad for a PC without a hard drive!So I put in the XP disk while Vista's desktop is up. This time the Install Windows XP is greyed out. So I go on the Internet to do some research and find to my horror that this is also an issue with Vista. You cannot wipe it from your system with XP. Needless to say there are plenty of rants about this too. Apparently, Vista uses a different boot up to XP.So my client is stuck with a desktop with XP and a notebook with Vista Home Premium that cannot network with each other, despite NathCorp's suggestions above.Also, I was in a local PC emporium and they told me that they had customers come in who could not network between VISTA HOME PREMIUM and an VISTA ULTIMATE PCs. Somehow, I'm not too surprised. Microsoft seem to have launched an OS that is a complete waste of space and time. Do I see litigation on the horizon? Do I see mass defections from Microsoft to Apple and Linux - I hope so. Perhaps, Microsoft needs 10 years to get an OS out the door not just 5 years!/Completely disillusioned
March 5th, 2007 6:23pm

Glad I'm not on my own here!
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March 5th, 2007 7:32pm

Why has this gone silent? Having read through the entire thread on Tuesday night I had resigned myself to using a memory stick to transfer files between computers. I reckoned I had tried all suggested remedies to no avail. The XP machines could see the Vista machine but could not access it. The Vista machine could see nothing. I don't know why I bothered looking to see if the computers were networked on Wednesday morning butI did. Not only could the Vista computer see two XP machines, it could also see Windows 2000 computers and all could view each other's files. I wish I could tell those of you who are still in trouble what I did to fix the problem. Over the space of two weeks I spent some time on the issue every day and made many changes, as suggested by different Web sites and Help files, but I don't know what finally made the difference. Liam
March 9th, 2007 2:14am

i can't help you step by step but what i can tell you is this i have to set up or the wireless connections at my house so when i was trying to view shared files on my bro's laptop and vice versa i saw that i need to have a password. I have no clue why but it worked for me,
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March 9th, 2007 6:36am

i can't help you step by step but what i can tell you is this i have to set up or the wireless connections at my house so when i was trying to view shared files on my bro's laptop and vice versa i saw that i need to have a password. I have no clue why but it worked for me, hope it helps. P.S. i tried taking off my password after but then my bro's laptop couldn't wirelessly connect to the printer
March 9th, 2007 6:40am

So has anyone found a resolution yet? I too have two XP pc's which and a new Notebook with Vista on it which can see each other. The two XP's are on the same workgroup and can see each other, but the Vista can't see them at all.I have gone through allowing file sharing in Norton (60 day trial came with notebook), disabling windows firewall, adjusting user permissions, etc.... all with no success. If someone has an XP and a Vista pc sharing files can they please explain the steps they took to get it all working. Preferably in english, not over-technical jargon. Thanks in advance. (I hope).Regards,Nadia
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March 9th, 2007 7:04am

Some of you may be getting the error code ID 10T. Its a new vista security feature. I bought my second Vista machine for my kids. My own machine is XP. All three are sharing files with each other. Setting up File Sharing on Vista has become so much easier - Its called Public folder sharing. Couple of clicks in Network and Sharing Center is all you need. Look it up in the vista help and support. Vista's made it tougher for sharing c: drive for security reason but steps mentioned above by nathcorp worked for me. New comment....... Humm - tougher than I thought. I enabled offline shring for one of the directories and now the other directories in the share disappear? Anyone know whats happening.
March 10th, 2007 1:01am

Ok no posts for a while so posting to let you know I just in the past hour successfully networked two Pcs 1 with vista ultimate other with XP. Took 2 days and was not fun but time lost was in part my fault as I had messed up a bit (more later.) My Xp box since the last reformat 2 mths ago had access issues allowing access to "d" drive from other XP Pcs. "e" drive could be seen and accessed fine. To set up XP I followed http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/clientwiz.htm To set up vista i followed http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/vista/Vista_network_options.shtml Things I noticed 1 Need to make a passworded user on both 2.You need to setup the tcpip properties of the network card the same .This was my error I had 1 set to disable netbios over tcpip and 1 to the default ( this in in WINS tab of advanced properties of tcpip setup.) I set both to default as I have a router acting as DHCP server. 3.doing above got me all but c and d drive on the XP PC working. edit 3a The C and D drives were showing a "not enough server storage message" This pointed to http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;177078 Two reboots did not help but could have helped in 4 below 4. To get the latter and this is where I fluked it I tried the discussion above posts re setting permissions on the drive but here tried to set them on the XP Pc from the vista PC . When I trie dit said no way would it allow me to do it BUT the constant "you do not have permission to access this drive" message vanished and now I have working mounted drives even for XP c drive though havent tried opening files on that drive. Jpgs open on the others and I moved my sons 8Gb everquest install between Pcs. Really item 4 I feel was a my senario only case as it has been like that for a while between XPs Pcs as well and my permission test might have reset something that was awry really a fluke but the above links did help. Interested in whether you all working now? BTW reboot cold way 2 times and mounted drives still working Best of luck PS oh forgot running windows firewall removed Mcafee firewall and easy network programs till this is stable before trying above
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March 11th, 2007 11:03am

I also followed Cyannas advice to add everyone to the Vista shared drive. However, it still didnt work. Then I tried the simplest thing.. I connected my XP laptop to the Ethernet cable instead of using the wireless card. It Worked!!!!!! I was finally able to map to shared drives on the Vista WS from my XP laptop. To get the wireless card to work with the share, I merely selected Client for Microsoft Networks in the Wireless Network Connection Properties.
March 11th, 2007 7:13pm

Oh I also left out another step added to my post. I aslo noticed XP PC mounted drives did not load this morning but this could be order of booting PCs. I disconnected then remounted and they were back
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March 12th, 2007 12:50am

Observations: 1. The accessiblity problem exists only on NTFS partitions. Shared FAT32 are accessible just fine (explains why an earlier poster can see the shared CD/DVD). 2. There is noproblemif I am logged in on the XP computer with the exact same credentials as an account on the Vista computer (i.e. user=test pw=test exists on BOTH computers and I am logged in as test/test on XP). I can see anything that "test" on the Vista computer can see. Cyanna'ssuggestion of setting SECURITY permissions to"everyone" on the root of the drive allowed me to access everything even when not logged on with an account that exists on Vista. I could access everything from my work laptop (which isn't even inthe same workgroup)from a login that is not on my Vista machine (except for user account data on the Vista machine - which is a good thing, I think). Thanks!
March 13th, 2007 4:41am

Hello -- I had a properly miserable time networking a new HP laptop with Vista Home Premium with my XP network at home. Among other things, I had to force the Norton Internet Security firewall off, despite the fact that I had asked for it to not be active, and to use the Windows firewall instead. Ialso had to install the LLTD Responder http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120on the XP machines to get them to appear in the network diagram of Vista. Have a look at a posting by Eric Haines. In the end, it appears to have worked.
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March 13th, 2007 5:55am

I think my post got buried up in stuff from Feb so I'm reposting here ... Observations: 1. The accessiblity problem exists only on NTFS partitions. Shared FAT32 are accessible just fine (explains why an earlier poster can see the shared CD/DVD). 2. There is noproblemif I am logged in on the XP computer with the exact same credentials as an account on the Vista computer (i.e. user=test pw=test exists on BOTH computers and I am logged in as test/test on XP). I can see anything that "test" on the Vista computer can see. Cyanna'ssuggestion of setting SECURITY permissions to"everyone" on the root of the drive allowed me to access everything even when not logged on with an account that exists on Vista. I could access everything from my work laptop (which isn't even inthe same workgroup)from a login that is not on my Vista machine (except for user account data on the Vista machine - which is a good thing, I think). Hope this helps ...
March 13th, 2007 6:20am

Has anyone fould a reasonable solution for this. It doesn't seem like it would be that difficult. I cannot access the files on my XP machine..I can see them,,,but I get that stupid error message. Any help would be great. I just received my new computer today with Vista Home Premium and would welcome any help. Thanks....
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March 17th, 2007 6:47am

I've been wrestling with the same issues. Here are the things I did to get my Vista laptop to network with my XP desktops via a wired/wireless home network. It's been two frustrating weeks and a lot of searching the net.1) Firewall settings - one of the biggest hassles. 1.1) My WinXP machines have ZoneAlarm and I needed to ensure that all machines on the network were in the trusted zone. See Zone tab of Firewall settings in ZoneAlarm free version.1.2) My Vista laptop came loaded with Norton Protection Center including Norton Internet Security. Go to Norton Internet Security tab, open settings, scroll to bottom, open internet security and firewall options, open advanced settings, open configure, change default inbound NetBIOS, inbound NetBIOS name, Block Windows File Sharing to ALLOW. Configuring this beast of an app required a lot of trial, error and googling. There are some hints in the MS article on file and printer sharing at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx2) Sharing enabled on all machines. This is fairly straightforward and is well documented on the MS site at at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx and http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3ben-us%3b304040 for WinXp. 3) Workgroup name. You apparently must use the same workgroup name on all machines. WinXP and Vista machines have different default workgroup names. I changed my Vista machine workgroup name to match that of the WinXP machines. See http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/vista/Vista_network_options.shtml for a nice graphical article on vista networking that includes the common workgroup name requirement.4) Downloaded and installed Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) onto the WinXP machines. Just a nicety, enabled the network map in Vista to show all machines on the network. You can find this at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4f01a31d-ee46-481e-ba11-37f485fa34ea&DisplayLang=en5) Required Registry Setting on WinXP machines. Last and nearly hidden step. I found this step by searching MS for "error message when you try to access a Windows XP-based network computer: "You might not have permission to use this network resource". I edited the registry on my WinXP machines per MS article 913628 at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/913628. This finally did the trick for my network.What a trail, eh? Amazing that the everyday "user" has to go through all these hoops to get a home network to operate as designed. I'm not an IT guy, just persistent. Anyway, hope this works for all of you checking this forum ...
March 18th, 2007 5:32am

I don't know if this has been suggested on this thread yet, but this helped me more than anything. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120 Once I ran this patch on the XP machine, all machines saw each other and all was well. Network Map in Windows Vista does not display computers that are running Windows XP
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March 20th, 2007 4:37pm

Please check out my computer blog todayon how I successfully resolved theXP <> Vista networking issue at http://www.svabhinava.org/Dia-Gnosis/SuntharVisuvalingam/ComputerBlogs/VistaXP-frame.php If anyone else succeeds, please let the rest of us know what other or different steps you needed to take, by responding to my previous post (today) here at http://forums.microsoft.com/technet/ShowPost.aspx?postid=1683125&siteid=17 Sunthar
June 3rd, 2007 3:38am

Obviously Vista leaves a lot to be desired and here's hoping that the HUGE amount of backlash will cause the Microsoft giant to fall.But here goes-I have a small office network that i run (in a very noob way). It has successfully networked:2 Win98 machines3 Win XP Pro machines1 Ubuntu Linux machine1 Vista Machine(Everyone can see and edit everyone, except the Ubuntu machine as it is our printserver and internet gateway)As a consequence most networking takes ages.The Vista machine gave the most grief and would only allow access to its public folder. The only way to get it to play fully was to follow the suggestions by cyanna.As an extra, however, since I have all these extra issues I found that adding everything to do with networking and anonymous users was also needed (under the security tab like above) and then giving them full permissions to do anything they want.It really annoys me that to fully resource my own machines I have to disable everything that is supposed to protect me from the outside. Hell! it makes all the new security null when i have to disable it all just to get some simple work done.
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June 25th, 2007 2:51pm

I have been able to transfer some files between the XP and Vista PCs via home networking.Storing exe files on the Vista .machine is denied via permissions.Best solution is to use sneakernet. Just copy the files to a USB drive and move the drive to the other machine.MS needs to fix this.
July 6th, 2007 9:46pm

after fighting with this issue, I installed netbios on my XP machines and POW, it resolved the PW issue and both Vista and all XP (32 &64) now see and access each others shares. anyone not familure with NetBios, its a protocol you can install in your local area connection device, in network connections on an XP machine right click on your local area connections and select properties, then install, protocol, which ever option has NetBios in it.
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July 9th, 2007 6:19am

Hi I have a Windows home machine and a vista basic notebook and cannot get them to talk to each other at all. I am not sure how to proceed now and it is doing my head in. I thought about going into vista windows explorer and deleting networks in case i had too many and it was being confused. I am not too worried if I cannot connect to network but as I have the capability to do it then why not use it. Additionally, the printer sharing seems strange..... do I need to install the printer drivers on my vista machine to use the printer connected to my xp home machine?? Any help would be really welcome and appreciated. It looks to me that the vista machine is talking to itself - how do I check if it is sending and receiving packets of info? I look forward to some brainy people helping me out. I have also disabled the antivirus and firewalls and tried connecting but to no avail. Thanks in advance.
July 21st, 2007 10:46am

Maybe someone will have a suggestion for me.The two computers in question are a desktop running XP Professional and a Dell notebook running Vista Ultimate. Prior to installing Vista on the notebook, it also had XP Professional on it and I had the two networked perfectly. Both could see each other over the network and I was sharing files back and forth. Then I installed Vista.I have a NetGear wireless router. The laptop is connected wirelessly. The desktop is connected to a switch that is connected to the router (all via ethernet cables). Both computers are on the same workgroup. Both have the Guest account turned on. I have no add-on firewalls (Norton, ZoneAlarm) installed on either computer. I have Windows Firewall--all of Security Center, actually--turned off on both machines. I have the LLTD Protocol installed on the XP system as well as NetBios. File sharing is enabled on both machines. I have done the fix for 913628 . I can access the default Vista shares from the XP machine but I cannot see the shared folder I have setup on my XP machine from Vista. The XP share I am trying to access is on the desktop, ie C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Desktop\shared\. When I go to the Network and Sharing Center on Vista, only that computer shows up and not the XP machine. If I click "View Full Map," I can see my desktop but not click it or access it in anyway.I was thinking about changing the share on XP to a location not on the desktop and also plugging it directly into the router because I am getting desperate at this point.Thanks.
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July 28th, 2007 6:38pm

Try this forum instead http://vista.theeldergeek.com/forum/ (sorry the link it's not clickable, this forum doesn't work right with Firefox.....)
July 29th, 2007 12:16am

I am have he same issues with the ink level not being displayed... even worse, one of the cartridges ran out of ink and I ended up having to replace them all before I hit the one that was REALL empty... $65.00 worth! Epson is NO freakin' help. Hopefully, someone here knows how to get Print Monitor 3 to work in Vista.
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August 17th, 2007 5:29am

Cyanna, Re:"On the Sharing>Advanced>Permissions, is Everyone listed with at least read access?On the XP machines are the Guest accounts enabled?If the above are true and you still can't connect to the Vista drive from the Xp machine, go back to the properties for the shared drive >Security>Edit>Add>Advanced>Find now. Choose everyone and >OK>OK>Apply and wait for the security settings to be set. If you're trying to share the whole OS drive, you'll probably run into access denied/permission denied issues for the system folders. I strongly suggest you skip these files. Then 2 more OK's and you can try and browse the drive from the XP machine(s)."That worked for me,Thanks.
August 21st, 2007 4:13am

Hey all, I had the exact same problem and just fixed it today. my XP notebook can see my XP desktop and vice versa. Redondo77 basically covered what I went through. Good stuff! The big thing is the "Firewall protection" by Norton. Make sure both firewalls on both computers allow traffic from each other. (All incoming TCP and UDP). some side notes: --> I did not install the "Link Layer Topology Discovery" on my WinXP machines. ---> Also I did not need to touch the Registry.
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August 26th, 2007 2:14am

redondo77 wrote: I've been wrestling with the same issues. Here are the things I did to get my Vista laptop to network with my XP desktops via a wired/wireless home network. It's been two frustrating weeks and a lot of searching the net.1) Firewall settings - one of the biggest hassles. 1.1) My WinXP machines have ZoneAlarm and I needed to ensure that all machines on the network were in the trusted zone. See Zone tab of Firewall settings in ZoneAlarm free version.1.2) My Vista laptop came loaded with Norton Protection Center including Norton Internet Security. Go to Norton Internet Security tab, open settings, scroll to bottom, open internet security and firewall options, open advanced settings, open configure, change default inbound NetBIOS, inbound NetBIOS name, Block Windows File Sharing to ALLOW. Configuring this beast of an app required a lot of trial, error and googling. There are some hints in the MS article on file and printer sharing at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx2) http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx2) Sharing enabled on all machines. This is fairly straightforward and is well documented on the MS site at at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx and http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3ben-us%3b304040 for WinXp. 3) Workgroup name. You apparently must use the same workgroup name on all machines. WinXP and Vista machines have different default workgroup names. I changed my Vista machine workgroup name to match that of the WinXP machines. See http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/vista/Vista_network_options.shtml for a nice graphical article on vista networking that includes the common workgroup name requirement.4) Downloaded and installed Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) onto the WinXP machines. Just a nicety, enabled the network map in Vista to show all machines on the network. You can find this at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4f01a31d-ee46-481e-ba11-37f485fa34ea&DisplayLang=en5) Required Registry Setting on WinXP machines. Last and nearly hidden step. I found this step by searching MS for "error message when you try to access a Windows XP-based network computer: "You might not have permission to use this network resource". I edited the registry on my WinXP machines per MS article 913628 at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/913628. This finally did the trick for my network.What a trail, eh? Amazing that the everyday "user" has to go through all these hoops to get a home network to operate as designed. I'm not an IT guy, just persistent. Anyway, hope this works for all of you checking this forum ... Hey all, I had the exact same problem and just fixed it today. my XP notebook can see my XP desktop and vice versa. Redondo77 basically covered what I went through. Good stuff! The big thing is the "Firewall protection" by Norton. Make sure both firewalls on both computers allow traffic from each other. (All incoming TCP and UDP). some side notes: --> I did not install the "Link Layer Topology Discovery" on my WinXP machines. ---> Also I did not need to touch the Registry.
August 26th, 2007 2:15am

Thank you so much 1.2 solved the problem. Norton is a bit of a pain, I should have realised. I have been trying to sort this out for 3 weeks on and off as patience would allow, A really big THANK YOU.
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September 1st, 2007 1:54pm

After struggling to find the answer to how to network vista xp computers I finally came across a post by Sunthar Visuvalingam that solved the entire thing (see bottom). underneath are a rough outline of the steps you need to do, you have probably already done some of them but hopefully you will find one that you havent done and that will be the missing piece of the puzzel! Note: I did not come up with this solution Sunthar did and I thank him for that, please do take the time to go to his post and give him a 5 star rating! :-) <!--[if !supportLists]-->1.) <!--[endif]-->Find out name of work group on XP comp (default MSHOME) <!--[if !supportLists]-->a. <!--[endif]-->Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties. <!--[if !supportLists]-->b. <!--[endif]-->In the System Properties dialog box, click the Computer Name tab and ther should be the name of the workgroup. <!--[if !supportLists]-->2.) <!--[endif]-->Change the name of the visa workgroup to the same thing as the XP workgroup <!--[if !supportLists]-->a. <!--[endif]-->To change the existing workgroup name for a computer running Windows Vista, click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties. <!--[if !supportLists]-->b. <!--[endif]-->In the System window, the workgroup name is listed in the Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings section. <!--[if !supportLists]-->c. <!--[endif]-->In the Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings section of the System window, click Change settings. <!--[if !supportLists]-->d. <!--[endif]-->In the Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box, type the name of the workgroup being used by the XP Machine (default MSHOME) in Workgroup, and then click OK. <!--[if !supportLists]-->e. <!--[endif]-->When you are prompted with a welcome message box, click OK. When prompted with a message box to restart your computer, click OK. <!--[if !supportLists]-->f. <!--[endif]-->Click Close. You will be prompted to restart the computer, when your ready go ahead, click restart now <!--[if !supportLists]-->3.) <!--[endif]-->Install the Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) Responder (KB922120) on the XP Machine (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4f01a31d-ee46-481e-ba11-37f485fa34ea&displaylang=en&Hash=NpeBupJjzdsYAXdDG1Em5nozGNlzUFnROtXmjZY%2fnCPtfNyKROuXDDxiCAXSKc4hKTsMzBuv1%2bPX26vcxplNYw%3d%3d) <!--[if !supportLists]-->4.) <!--[endif]-->On the vista machine Go to Network->Network and sharing centre and change all the settings under sharing and discovery to what you need, personally I turned them all on apart from media sharing (overwritten by public folder sharing). <!--[if !supportLists]-->5.) <!--[endif]-->Make sure that the firewall on the vista machine allows the IP address of the XP machine in the trusted zone and the firewall on the XP machine allows the vista machine. In zonealarm go to firewall->zones->Add->Subnet. get you ips and masks by start->run = cmd,enter, and then in the command prompt type in ipconfig, enter. make sure you click apply after. <!--[if !supportLists]-->6.) <!--[endif]-->Go to network on your vista machine wait a secondTa Da! Go to network places->workplaces on your XP machine and feel that sense of satisfaction.hopefully! Now in theory after all this, it should work, if it doesnt try following the more detailed steps of the legend that is Sunthar Visuvalingam! http://www.svabhinava.org/Dia-Gnosis/SuntharVisuvalingam/ComputerBlogs/VistaXP-frame.php
September 12th, 2007 6:46pm

Thanks so much you were a great help!! I have all of the connections on all of my PCs I still have to figure out how to use my printer on my PC that has the network connection and I cannot see the folders. I shared the printer, I can use it with all of my pcs except the one with vista. I also cannot access thosefolders yet, but I can access the other computers folders nwith the Vista PC. weird huh? Thoughts?
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September 24th, 2007 12:10am

I finally got mine working... window one care was one of the culprits. Also there is some help here: http://www.custom-computerz.com/forums/
October 13th, 2007 7:52pm

Redondo/Kchong: Y'all are lifesavers. I was out of ideas until I read your post. It works. I too changed the firewall in Norton and I can see the XP machines, and the XP machines can see my Vista machine. What a mess. I didn't change the registry settting. Thanks for taking the time to post this.
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October 30th, 2007 5:18pm

This worked for me. On the Vista Machine: Click Start_Select Computer_Right Click in Network Location Box_Select Add A Network Location_Use the Wizard to create SharedDocs location. Now go back to Start menu_Right Click a File (Example: Pictures) and select Copy. Go back to Start menu_select Computer_Double click to open SharedDocs Network Location_Right Click select Paste. Create this Location on your XP Machine.Start_ My Network Places_Click Network Tasks_Select Add A Network Place and follow the Wizard. Good Luck, it works, John
November 15th, 2007 7:27pm

*** Cross posted from "Windows Vista Networking" new thread re: "Open message to Microsoft re: Vista connectivity, etc." *** I just sent the following message via the normal Microsoft online support channel under the subject "Exchange Vista for XP Media Edition". It will be interesting to see when/how/if they respond. Hello, Support person. Please escalate this to management as you will not be able to authorize my request. I am not able to use my new computer efficiently on my simple home network. See the following thread on your TechNet forum for details. http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1175590&SiteID=17 Management should read all 6 pages of posts. Why was this not tested and resolved before product release? Based on Microsoft online help and the above noted forum I can now access my XP desktop from the new Vista laptop. I cannot however access the Vista machine from my XP machine even though it appears as part of the workgroup. Even disabling all security and enabling full access to "Everyone", I get a message indicating that access is denied... contact system admin, etc." when I try to access the Vista machine. Even the "Public" folders are not shown as available. Using my old XP laptop (before it was stolen) networking was "plug and play". With Vista it is a nightmare that has cost me many hours and much frustration. I spent most of my working life as a software developer, so I'm at least somewhat proficient in dealing with matters such as this. I can't imagine how a typical home user deals with it... beyond paying someone to help them. As the forum posts show, even that may not result in a resolution. This is simply not acceptable. Then there is the matter of using an external monitor. Every time I restart Vista, I have to go through this... even though the external monitor shows a blank extended desktop at startup. 1) right click primary desktop and choose personalize2) click on "Connect to a projector or other external display"3) click on "Connect Display"4) on the "New Display Detected" click on "Display Settings" in the comment "To select different settings, go to 'Display Settings' in Control Panel" At this point you may wonder why I wouldn't go directly to Control Panel and click "Display Settings". As you are probably well aware, there is no "Display Settings" option listed in the Control Panel window. 5) Orient the two screens to match my physical setup and click "Apply" My XP laptop remembered all of that after I set it up once. The Vista laptop has to be shown again every time I reboot. "Use the Quick Restart option" you might say. That works in that Vista remembers the external monitor setup. However it loses the mouse cursor. The cursor either becomes invisible, or if visible, it won't move to the extended desktop. This never happened when I used the "Suspend" option on my old XP laptop. Please tell me how much it will cost to exchange my Vista license for an XP Media Edition license, including software that will wipe Vista from my computer and replace it with XP ME. According to the forum, reformatting the hard drive and installing XP is somehow blocked by Vista. Plus I don't think it is fair that I should pay full retail for XP, having already paid for Vista as part of my new computer. Since I am in Mexico, the shipment must be via trackable courier since the mail service is unreliable. Please include the cost of shipping. Please don't tell me to contact HP (my computer mfr.). They are as confused and frustrated by Vista as I am. As far as I'm concerned they are victims of the marketing machine that foisted a non-functional system on the OEMs. I am however sending copy of this correspondence to HP so that they will be aware of the situation. My email address isxxxxxxxxxxxx Thank you for your consideration. I await your response. Sincerely, xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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November 21st, 2007 10:47am

Hi Chris and Sunthar, Thanks for your posts ... I was finally able to resolve the problem of accesing the Vista shares by adding in the IP addresses of the accessing XP machines by adding their IP adresses to the Norton FW allowed access. This did it for me THANKS. Regards Andy
December 9th, 2007 4:29am

you guys are doing better than I can, I can't get either computer to see each other, the vista laptop connects to the wireless router just fine but no matter what I try it can't find my XP desktop
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December 11th, 2007 4:41am

here was my fix to this problem I had to slap myself when I realized what it was , on your XP machine check your workgroup name, for XP the default is MSHOME, but here's the catch in Vista it names it Workgroup, all you have to do is change your workgroup name on your Vista machine to MSHOME, reboot and there you go I can get access to any folder now on my XP machine (When you go to your Network on the Vista Machine you have to wait a little while for ALL the networks to load) Hope this helps some of you out if not feel free to E-Mail me cutaway2@hotmail.com
December 11th, 2007 6:54pm

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December 12th, 2007 7:20pm

I know what you are talking about. A quick way around this is to go to www.logmein.com Dowload the free version on all of your machines. As long as it is running at start-up and you have networked the machines, it appeared to me that you can grab everthing on C drives and actually print (they say it's only available in Log Me in Pro, the paid version) it to your network printer. So you can then really access and control your computers, from outside of your network. However, inside your network you should see more functionality. What you are doing, I believe is setting up a virtual network I hope this helps. Microsoft needs to getVista more user friendly and useful, with respect to this issue. I would be curious about what you think about this works around the Windows problem that you mentioned. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, regardless of faith or lack thereof...Jack
December 24th, 2007 12:51pm

Update of December 2007 - steps I followed to get my Vista laptop to network with my XP desktops via a wired/wireless home network.1) Gotta do. Firewall settings. Whether ZoneAlarm or Norton Internet Security are installed, what was required was to ensure that the IP address of the router was entered as trusted in the firewall app on every pc.2) Gotta do. Sharing enabled on all machines. This is fairly straightforward and is well documented on the MS site at at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx and http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3ben-us%3b304040 for WinXp. 3) Gotta do. Workgroup name. Ensure you use the same workgroup name on all machines. WinXP and Vista machines have different default workgroup names. I changed my Vista machine workgroup name to match that of the WinXP machines. See http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/vista/Vista_network_options.shtml for a nice graphical article on vista networking that includes the common workgroup name requirement.4) Nicety. Downloaded and installed Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) onto the WinXP machines. Not required but enabled the network map in Vista to show all machines on the network. You can find this at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4f01a31d-ee46-481e-ba11-37f485fa34ea&DisplayLang=en5) A maybe step. Check and edit (as required) Registry Setting on WinXP machines. Tough to find step; not required in all cases. I found this step by searching MS for "error message when you try to access a Windows XP-based network computer: "You might not have permission to use this network resource". I edited the registry on my WinXP machines per MS article 913628 at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/913628.6) A maybe step. You may need to enter Vista PC Admin Account Username and Password to map Vista pc shares to a WinXP pc. Although sharing config on my Vista pc did not require password, when I went to map the Vista pc shares to one of my WinXP pcs a dialogue box opened requiring a username and password. No indication what username/password was being requested. I finally figured-out it was asking for the Vista pc admin account username and password. That worked ... networking and file sharing complete.What a trail, eh? Amazing that the everyday "user" has to go through all these hoops to get a home network to operate as designed. I'm not an IT guy, just persistent. Anyway, hope this works for all of you checking this forum ...
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December 27th, 2007 8:13pm

VISTA network engineers SUX Ask the XP network team how networks are done so we don't have to Downgrade to XP, use USB thumb drives and Overnight mail CDs with our documents... Shame on you...
December 28th, 2007 3:48am

Thought I'd register and thank redondo for the above. (march 17) Step 1.2 fixed me. I have 2 pcs wired on xp and a laptop wireless with vista. When I first bought the laptop they networked, but I stuffed something up. I could surf etc but I couldn't see the other pc's The step on changing nortons immediately fixed it. I can open and save files on my xp machine from my vista. I still can't open files on the vista machine from the xp machine. (not sure I even need to) but I'll read back through to cyannas stuff and have a go at getting at least one folder free for file exchanges. Thanks again I have no hair left
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December 30th, 2007 4:59am

and thanks to cyanna (28 Feb 2007, 6:14 PM ) I can now access a folder from the xp machine and can read and write to the vista. So I'm cured. thanks
December 30th, 2007 5:15am

Might be a day late and a dollar short but I noticed that nobody addressed the firewall settings built into the wireless router. I had problems for days until I remembered that the wireless router had a built in firewall. The killer for network sharing was the PoD (ping of death) block. This actually stopped the Vista machine (and the XP unit) from being able to ping eachother on the network. Once I turned off the portion of the firewall that blocked this, I instantly had full access to both units on the network. I gave the hard wired units the MAC address of the wireless router (The wireless units get new IP addresses every time the connect) and gave the IP address' of the wired units to the wireless units as trusted address'. If you don't have your network password protected I would highly recommend doing so. It will prevent "sharing" network bandwidth with the neighbors kids.
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December 31st, 2007 6:23am

this is very late but still gonna post it. it is late because i waited a year before i was even going to fool with Vista. can i get a "service pack" over here? i need a "service pack". i caught the security and sharing issues early on and figured out how to set the security on Vista. that was before i had the issues with accessing one machine from the other thru Explorer. i had been using VNC or a straight FTP client/server to access all the files and folders that i wanted to on any machine. realVNC and Filezilla client/server are staples in anyones little red wagon. the single thing that i found that made everything rosy was NETBios. this was touched on in the thread and it worked perfectly. setting the "allow NETBios over TCP/IP" to on on both the network adapters. play with your firewalls get them the same. workgroups. etc. NETBios was the magic protocol for my situation. thanks to all the posters who help us hit water when we fall off the boat.
January 16th, 2008 2:16pm

First I have to agree with all of Cyanna's directions. She deserves an outstanding A++ for her efforts in helping others overcome thismiserable situation Microsoft has deposited on us who have purchased new Vista computers and who want to build a home network from their XP computers to a Vista PC. After trying what seemed like two hundred times toshare the C Drive in my new Vista HP Pavilion notebook with my XP desktopI, was about to give up when I read Cyanna's posts. I did get the Public folder to share and a few of it's folders could be accessed from the XP machine but Ifound it impossible to get the XP machine to access the C drive on the Vista machine. XPcould see the C Drive but there's always that message (\\ C on Notebook PC is not accessable. You might not have permission etc. etc.) I followed all of Cyanna's directions but still could not access the C drive. I had been using Windows Explorer toright click on C drive for 'sharing' and then had one last thought which wasto go the Vista C Drive by clicking "Computer" then right clicking on the C Drive itself.I then proceeded to "SHARE" andadded "Everyone" for the C Drive asshesuggested andwent to give it full permission butgot a message that I had already given permission to myself as the administrator!! Did I want to replace myself with "Everybody? I figured what the hey I had triedeverything else so why not say yes. I then gave full permission to "everybody", returned to my XP desktop and tried it one more time and almost fell over when it worked and I could access the Vista C drive.I thought for sure it wouldn't keep but it's still working. Maybe I fell onto it by luck but I figure it might work for others. Johnny_L
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February 2nd, 2008 3:01am

I'm having exactly the same with my new Vista laptop and XP desktop. After spending all day reading forums etc. I'm nearly there, but can only open the Vista's "public" and "user" folders from XP. Now I've found that although I select "private network" in Vista, when I reboot the laptop it changes back to "public network". Could this be a clue to the problem? I've no idea why it does this.Why do they make it so bloody complicated?
February 7th, 2008 7:32pm

make sure the netbios is enabled on the connection for both machines
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February 11th, 2008 5:00am

Hello, I had racked my brain for 3 days... I removed the password I had for my guest account and made sure the workgroup names were the same...one of my xp computers was mshome and the others were workgroup...everything works now for me...good luck
February 22nd, 2008 9:07pm

I cut my teeth on DOS 5.0. I'm still trying to figure out whether I hate windows or love it. I think both. See if this works for you. Here is what I did... first I tried downloading the sugested software and rebooting all computers. Nothing happened (that I could tell). Then I disabled my Norton firewall, and still nothing happened(that I could tell). Then I (just by chance) did this. Click on [start] button. Click on Control Pannel. Click on Network and Sharing Center. Click on Manage Wireless Networks. Delete ALL networks BUT the one you wish to log onto. (You will get a warning) Suddenly both of my XP machines were just there! I shut everything off, and on restart it still worked! I assume this is some type of security feature so you are not dumping your whole computer into someone else's network. I also noticed that Vista hacked into my router software, and was able to trick it into thinking I was directly plugged in ...so I could alter my router settings wirelessly. Try that with XP. Hope that helped. I'm now going to try messing around with my firewall, and see what happens. Math_u g p
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March 6th, 2008 7:27pm

Well, of course I messed everything up. Reactivating Norton Firewall blocked my network (with the exception of my Internet connection). The problem is, shutting off the Firewall leaves Norton with an angry little red X over my Norton Protection Manager icon in the Vista desktop notification area. Being a former DOS hacker, and liking everything working smoothly, this was not satisfactory. I also just had to upgrade computers because over 400 Trojans were running on my old computer (which is too slow to keep virus/spyware software running) so not having a firewall was not satisfactory either. Here is the solution. Click on your Norton Protection Center. Click on the right tab called Norton Internet Security. Click on the second tab down called Settings. Under the second groupings of topics called Web Browsing click on Personal Firewall. A choice box will drop down. Click on Configure. After you have answered the Vista question A program needs you attention to continue by clicking on Continue, a new box called Internet Security and Firewall Settings will open. On the left side, under the second topic down called Personal Firewall click on the topic called Trust Control. Now click the second tab over called Trusted. You will now see a completely empty box (at least mine was). You are finally there. At the bottom of the empty box, click on the Add button. A little box called Enter Trusted Computer will appear with an example of 192.168.1.1 in it. Now you will need that number off of all of the computers you wish to add. Here's how to get it. Go to your other computer. I do this the old style with DOS (I don't care what you say, it's still there). So you will need to find your Command Prompt. Click on that, and you are in my world. At the prompt simply type in ipconfig and hit Enter. About four lines of typing will pop up on the screen. You may see several numbers that match what Norton's Enter Trusted Computer is looking for. You will need the one called IP Address . . . . . : 192.168.1.1 Note: your numbers will probably not be quite the same, you just need that computer's IP Address. Write that number down, and then type "exit" at the prompt and hit enter. Note: you can also close the DOS prompt with the windows X in the upper right corner. Now, go back to your Vista box. Type those numbers into the box provided, and click Add. Repeat these DOS instructions for every computer you have. When you are finished, click on OK at the bottom of the Internet Security and Firewall Settings box to save all of your hard work. Once I completed this entire process, my other computers actually appeared faster on my Vista box than when I simply disabled my firewall (so it was very worth it to me personally). Norton is happy, and I am happy! Also, please note that there is a way to get your computer's IP Address without dropping to DOS, I just don't know how to do it that way. I sure there are plenty who do, so I'll let that come from somewhere else. Thanks. Math_u g p
March 6th, 2008 10:33pm

I have exactly the same problem see here.Did you manage to get an answer to your similar problem.Rgds PhilD'''
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March 7th, 2008 7:04am

I have now encountered a third problem that I found a solution too as well. Of course, at first I blamed Windows. For "some reason" my fully functional network disappeared again. I found the problem to be Norton Firewall. I shut it off, and my other computers suddenly appeared again. I turned it back on and they are still there. Go figure!?! I have a ninety day free trial of Norton, and they have that long to fix their issues, or I will uninstall it! Matth-u g p
March 11th, 2008 11:12pm

AmyKI had exactly same problem, what I discovered is that if I had lunch, then the XP machines became visible on the Vista machine - bizarre. It seems that Vista just takes a long time to discover what other resources are in its workgoup, interestingly it discovers the Residential Gateway instantaneously. Coffe breaks also work.Rgds PhilD
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March 12th, 2008 5:15am

I have finally been able to access folders on my vista machine, Don't ask how I did it I got lucky I guess. My problem now is I can open the word or excel file but I can't modify it and save it without being prompted to save it as a new name. Any help would be great
March 13th, 2008 9:07am

I wish I never had Vista and stick with Xp pro like most people. Unfortunately I have clients who has vista and we can not network with xp machines.I get silly dialogue boxes saying 'Contact your administrator...etc' Hey I own the boody thing and am the the only person here and yes I have logged in as administrator.Why so simple stuff that people need when they first buy a machine need be so complicated? Why when most people asking the question about networking, answers are full of advise with passord protections etc. There are occasions where clients do not want use a passwords to log in to their own computers. And most of all why I or anyone else have to install this and that to make it work where it should have all that configured. I am really sick of this . its taken me 2 days and still can not connect to my desktop (wXP-pro) from Vista Home premium (why premium I have no idea) or visa versa.Where is microsoft? where is their simple solution? I do not really want to lear how networking works. I just want it to work!
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March 14th, 2008 5:11am

Hey dude if you problem is that you can't see your XP pc from vista or you see your vista machine from XPbut you don't have access and it show you up some error stating that you don't have permission o something try this: 1 run: regedit 2 find this key: HK_Local_Machine\system\currentcontrolset\control\Lsa 3 modify the following key: restrictanonymous must be 0 and restrictanonymoussam must be 0 as well good luck bro.
March 19th, 2008 6:00pm

I have a similar home configuration, a couple of XP machines and my new vista machine. If they are all in the same WORKGROUP (mine is named something else) and you have an account on each of the machines with the same logon you use on the vista machine and the passwords are all the same, and you have shared folders set up, it should work. Mine does.
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March 20th, 2008 3:22pm

Thanks redondo77. I followed your steps and it works. Thank you.
March 24th, 2008 10:45am

I have SUFFERED with exactly the same problem, and followed most of the "solutions" offered on this thread.I turned firewalls on and off, I disabled and enabled UACs, I made "everyone" co-owners of my Vista files, I changed IP adresses, Lsa values and network names, and mainly I cursed Microsoft for developing the Vista Virus! I spent two weeks trying to work out a solution with no success. Then yesterday I stumbled on to an answer which worked and tied together my XP pc, my Vista pc, my XP notebook and my two printers. Go to www.networkmagic.com and download Network Magic. You can download a 7 day FREE trial and run the Network Magic program on all the computers using XP or Vista that you are trying to network together . I don't know what it does or how it does it but it really does work like MAGIC.Within 30 min I had accomplished what I had just wasted two weeks in trying to accomplish - I had a working network with all the files on all my computers accessible to every other computer on my LAN. After you try the program you may want to buy one of the several options offered. If you want to buy oneenter the Coupon Code NMEasy when filling out the order form and you will receive a 20% discount off the price of any program. No, I am not a paid spokesman or employee of Network Magic; I'm just a very satisfied user. I don't even remember how I stumbled onto this site, but I can't sing the praises of this solution enough.
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March 31st, 2008 9:13am

After 112 so called solutions for something that shouldn't even be an issue in todays networking world. Your answer is TEAMVIEWER3. I have the same issue here with this Windows vista laptop that I just purchased. It didn't take long to figure out that it is just not worth the trouble of networking when I can access so easily with Teamviewer3. It's free and it's secure. www.teamviewer.com
April 10th, 2008 11:07am

Teamviewer is1. not networking but remote access/VPN software. Users will still need to know how to configure firewalls and routers to allow remote access and learn how to identify the IP address of other computers on the LAN. Most people have no need to access other LAN computers, they just want to have everybody in the family save the pictures in the same, shared, folder, preconfigured as default save destination for pictures. Not something this software does.2. It's commercial: if you want a remote PC option, try www.logmein.com, which has a free version allowing copy and paste, remote printing, no installation on the client side so you can access your PC from any internet connected PC in the world with just your email and a password.3. The manual seems to suggest some action or at least preconfiguration is needed at both ends, hardly practical for a quick connect-work-disconnect session.4. 42 pages of manual???? That's easier than Windows networking? This thread is a bit messy because "me too" is not a very good description of the problem and the network setup of each poster......... (OS, description of the physical layout of the network and security software running would be a good start). It still has a bit to go to 42 pages.........
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April 10th, 2008 9:27pm

Thanks to redondo77's post. Thiswas an excellent, well-organized post. I have a new Vista laptop and wanted to network with my linux laptop and Win XP desktop. Afterindependently implementingsome of the steps you listed over the course of two weeks- installing LTTD, turning off Windows Firewall (using Norton Internet Security as the firewall), enabling sharing, using the same workgroup name I STILL could not access the shared folders on other computers on my network. I found my issue was with the NIS settings. I allowed the TDP and UDP connectionsand Windows File Sharing from selected computers (only the ones in my local network). I could then see all three computers. After all the changes above, I did not have to adjust my registry on either Win machine (already the value was set to "0") or activate the guest account on the XP machine. Thank you for your help! I'm much happier with my Vista laptop now.
April 28th, 2008 4:56am

I've been wrestling with the same problems for a long time, coming back to it when my frustration level declines; but always with the same lack of results even though I have read with interest all the posts here and followed all the offered solutions without success. I wasn't ever able to ping between my Vista and XP systems. XP to XP was always OK. So I decided to look at other networking factors and found inconsistencies with the IP address of my Vista system which bears no resemblance to my XP systems IP addresses. After changing the IP address of my Vista system to one resembling the XP systems and the same subnet as the XP system it all works fine. I did have to manually put in the DNS server however as it seems you can't have automatic DNS when you manually enter an IP and subnet address. Anyway it works for me and I can now use the resources of all systems on the network!! I'm not particularly technical so I hope this makes sense and maybe helps someone.
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May 19th, 2008 11:13am

I've been wrestling with the same problems for a long time, coming back to it when my frustration level declines; but always with the same lack of results even though I have read with interest all the posts here and followed all the offered solutions without success. I wasn't ever able to ping between my Vista and XP systems. XP to XP was always OK. So I decided to look at other networking factors and found inconsistencies with the IP address of my Vista system which bears no resemblance to my XP systems IP addresses. After changing the IP address of my Vista system to one resembling the XP systems and the same subnet as the XP system it all works fine. I did have to manually put in the DNS server however as it seems you can't have automatic DNS when you manually enter an IP and subnet address. Anyway it works for me and I can now use the resources of all systems on the network!! I'm not particularly technical so I hope this makes sense and maybe helps someone. Neil G
May 19th, 2008 11:46am

g'DayThanks for documenting your fix, I'll be trying it at the location where I've been having similar problems next time I'm there.
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May 20th, 2008 12:29am

Hi all I had same problem for a few weeks. I went through all the possibilities. Finaly I found it! Even I shared the entire drive c:. Most probably your Norton is out of date. You should either switch it off or pay for its extending. Be sure after you switched off Norton, your firewall is still off. Try it. It worked for me.
May 20th, 2008 10:09pm

d482694 wrote: try this: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=70582 installer on your XP machines reboot everything, and it should work. It did for me. I want to thank you..... you fixed my networking problem with the link to this application download. I couldn't get my laptop with Vista to read my desktop with XP but as soon as I installed and rebooted the problem was solved! Thanks again!
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June 12th, 2008 8:03pm

It sounds like you gave "Administrator" full control privileges on network discovery. You might of locked yourself out. Go back to your control panel and change your sharing files. If you can't access these, you'll have to back up anything important & reboot.
June 21st, 2008 1:03am

I have an ACER laptop with Vista Basic. I set up a wireless network with Windows XP Desktop computer via linked wireless router. I have no problem accessing Vista laptop from the XP desktop, including sharing files and printers. However, when I try to use the Windows Vista laptop to access Windows XP on the desktop computer, access was denied, or Vista cannot find the desktop. However, in Vista network discovery, on viewing the map I can see Windows XP desktop computer. I also cannot ping the IP address from the Vista laptop to the Windows XP desktop. In reverse, I can ping from the Windows XP to the Vista laptop OK. I also downloaded and installed LLTD inWindows XP, which I can see in the property of network connections. I also downloaded Service Pack 3 in Windows XP. I have removed all firewalls from both systems. I have also given both computers the same group name. Does anyone have the same problem, and can anyone help me resolve the situation? I deeply appreciate it. P.S.: Both C: drives were shared on each computer, and all access rights were given.
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July 6th, 2008 4:32pm

when i went to this page and downloaded the files and try to install them the xp systems told me the spack on my system is newer than the files and would not install them but i cannot access the root cdrive to enable permissions on my vista and i am the admin. any other ideas anyone? how to get the true admin function like in xp safe mode that says administrator and how to truly setup or access c:/ i was able to set up some folders public etc. but could not see the files only the desktop.ini file thanks in advance. rick
October 4th, 2008 3:27pm

but can you do it from the root c:/ and get a full view and access read, write del on all of the files and folders. thanks
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October 4th, 2008 4:06pm

thank you NathCorp for the excellent instrucions...I did have to do 2 modifications...I had to shut off Passwork Protection as it caused instability in the XP having access to the Vista (some times it would let me see and work with it, sometimes it would tell me I didn't have the access)...and the other was that I did have to go into the XP and add "Everyone" to the list of allowed users on the drive I wanted to share. Thank you again everyone for a great forum! Cindy NathCorp wrote: Creating and accesing shares (non-admin shares eg C$)on Vista computeris straightforward. Check out http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1291597&SiteID=17 To accessthe root C drive forRead Access - you will need to create new share using the same steps in the posting and connect to it. The share you createis - "Net Share CRoot=c:\ /Grant:<username on Vista>,Full" Now if you want to access C$ share for Read/Write for adminstartive purpose - it will require couple of more steps. I am assuming since your are a administrator the high level steps are sufficient.Also - I am assuming that these computers are behind a hardware firewall eg Linksys or Netgear. 1. Turn on the file sharing using the "Network and Sharing Center". I normally turn on all of the items - Network Discovery, File Sharing, Public Folder sharing, Printer Sharing, Password Protected Sharing and Media Sharing. Keeps life simple. 2. In Computer Management I set a password for Administrator Account. It should be a very strong password; or a passphrase. Something no one would ever guesseg. "I love M1cr0$0ft". Notice the use of uppercase, lowercase, symbol and numbers in the passphrase. Your passphrase should contain all of these. 3. Run secpol.msc and under Local Policies->Security Options Enable "Accounts: Administrator Account Status". Now you can connect to the C$ share from your XP machinewith username=administrator and its password. Some caveats from a security point of view - Ifyou too have just woken up about security after 20 yearsin the computer businessand want to compensate it with a little bit of paranoia: - Do not interactively logon to the Administrator account and do things. UAC is turned off for this account - so you will not get its benefit. - In Local Policies->Security options setNetwork Security:Lan Manager Authentication Level= "NTLMv2 response only". Its the default. If someone sniffs your network traffic - he will not be able to break the network password.
October 12th, 2008 10:07am

It's in the new SP3.
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October 28th, 2008 7:02am

I've been trying for two weeks to get my XP desktop and Vista laptop to communicate. I've read countless forums and internet posts with every imaginable fix or tweak to no avail. Then... I downloaded and installed Network Magic Pro and everything is functioning perfect, it's also a nice program for managing your connections and shared items. I can now print from my laptop to my HP printer connected to the desktop!!!!! Finally.. I highly suggest this software, like is much easier now. I can't take all the credit, it was actually a suggestion by another poster in this thread... Much props to you.... Good luck.
November 28th, 2008 12:31am

12/20/08:Thanksto all who posted here. I used the info to get my new Vista Home Premium 32bitnetworkedwith my XPSP2 and the Brother printer attached to it.(My configuration is below.)Here'sthe situation and how it developed andgot resolved.I had a DLinkDI-604 router, which i used for NATting as a firewall.Ibought the Vista computer with a NIC preinstalled. I connected the Vista to theDLink, and immediately, both computers were sharing the RR connection to the internet.It took a while to get the computers themselvestalking. My big goal was to share the XP filesand devices with the Vista.I used info from this thread to configure both machines, it took roughly 6 hours or so.Muddasick suggested buying Cisco's NetworkMagic Pro 5. I downloaded it on both computers. It didn't enable folder sharing though. I had to diagnose the XP machine. I looked at the firewall, and discovered i had a ZoneAlarm firewall installed (surprise!!). I had deleted the ZoneAlarm files a couple years ago,(my mistake).XP would not let me shutdown the ZoneAlarm firewall. Finally, i took a chance, and reinstalled the ZoneAlarm firewall, with the goal to deinstall it.We all know these acts can result in success or failure. Luckily, it resulted in success for me, and the install/deinstall process removed the ZoneAlarm FW from my XP machine without a problem.OnceI got bothfirewallsdisabled, the Network Magic Pro software worked perfectly, and i could sharefolders, files and my printer.I ended up buying NMP for $32 on the vendor site.That's mystory. Hopefully, this adds to your info and provides you with some help.Thanks to the folks who posted and helped me. You saved me a lot of time and frustration.-- Router: D-Link DI-604, connected to RRunner New Desktop: Vista Ultimate 32-bit SP1, Windows Firewall, Turned Off,NIC: Intel 82562V-2(preinstalled by Dell) Old Desktop: Win XP SP2, ZoneAlarm Firewall (ON, and Windows won't let me turn it off), NIC: SMC EZ Card 10/100 PCI(SMC1211TX)-- Running Network Magic Pro, 5:On the vista computer, NM5 Map shows both the Vista and XP machine.NM5 Map from Vista for the XP computer gives alert "Network magic is not detected", which is not true.NM5 Map from XP for the Vista computer gives alert 'Network magic is not detected', which is not true. From the XP machine:I can ping the Vista machine by name and IP. I can access the Vista directories and drives from the XP machine. I can access the DLink Router Configuration page from the XP machine.NM5 Map shows the Vista computer alert as 'Network magic is not detected'. From the Vista machine: I can see the 3 devices on the Vista machine from the System | Network page:Vista computer, D-Link router, XP Computer. I cannot ping the XP machine from a Vista command prompt, even using the XP's IP address.I cannot access the DLink configuration page from XP.I can ping the DLink device using the DLink's IP address.I can ping the Vista machine using either the machine name or the IP address. Using the nslookup utility on Vista computer:server: UnKnownAddress: x.x.0.1: (Correct address of DLink router) Bob Hangsterfer
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December 20th, 2008 6:44pm

Hi Brownstem Have you got the LLTD (Link Layer Topology discovery) responderprotocol loaded onto your Xp if not you need it you will find it on microsofts update site or help and support. Good luck.
March 6th, 2009 2:39am

I recently had a client I was assisting connect 3 new Vista workstations to his existing XP workgroup network. We setup one of the Vista workstations to act as a small file server for his office to have one location to act as a file repository. This enabled us to cut down on network traffic during backups so we are only backing up his company files from one place. The problem came in when XP workstations would connect to the shares for their files but then lose the connection after about 20 minutes. We could reboot the Vista workstation and all workstations could connect again, but then only for a short timeframe. But during the time the XP workstations could not access the Vista computer all Vista computers could access files on the XP boxes.We knew then the problem was definitely a Vista related issue. We also were able to ascertain that it had to do with security and permissions. We then turned all security features off through the wonderful Vista GUI's and rebooted the Vista workstation. We got the same results the XP workstations would connect for approximately 20 minutes and then disconnect and until the Vista workstation would be rebooted we could not reconnect any of the XP boxes.Then while disabling the Norton Firewall service we noticed that Windows Firewall service was still in started state yet the "GUI" told us that Windows Firewall was not running. We disabled the Windows Firewall and immediately all workstation on the network were able to communicate with each other. All shared folders and files were accessible and no user permissions had to be set on any of the workstations as many of the threads I have read state. Personally as a professional Systems Administrator I felt stupid that I had not checked this service sooner, and would never recommend anyone have shares open to everyone on the network, but this client is into ease of doing business and trusts their employees. So many of the issues with connectivity are possibly related to the Windows Service still being started if you are simply relying on the control panel/Windows Firewall settings to report whether the Windows Firewall is running or not. In more cases than not it is reporting the Firewall not to be running but there are some features that are still in use if the service is started even if the GUI says it is not running.Just a little thing for those of you still having issues with XP and Vista to consider...
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November 11th, 2009 3:18pm

ok simply add the same user with the same password to all the machines and try to get from one pc to another this solves all your problems no need for anything else this is a permission issue hence fix it just let me know how this goes. i hope you figured this out already btw. Good luck.BrianM - MCSE,MCSA,MCTS,A+,NET+,SEC+ Toronto, On.
December 12th, 2009 6:48am

This is simply a premission issue to overcome this you need to create a user on the 3 computers with the same uname and password that way you will be able to connect from one pc to the next. also like some of the guys mentioned make sure network discovery is on.BrianM - MCSE,MCSA,MCTS,A+,NET+,SEC+ Toronto, On.
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December 12th, 2009 6:55am

I am having the problem as well. The difference is that I am logged on as true adminsitrator on both of my PCs. I have 2 computers. I am running XP Pro on one computer, and Vista Ultimate on the other. They are both fresh full installations on my personally built rigs. On both computers, I am logged on as "Administrator". The true one. Not the user that you create during installation. I was just wondering mainly if there is anybody at all who is able to get full access to their Vista C drive and all folders from an XP computer on the network. I'm running a private wired network between both of my computers using a netgear router for internet access. Using my Vista computer, I have full access to all of the files on my XP computer. Using my XP computer, I can see my Vista Computer on the network. When I try to open the C drive, I get the following error: \\vistacomp\c C is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. After contacting myself, and finding out that I am supposed to have access permissions, I still got the same error. Then I tried all kinds of adjustments under the Sharing tab of my C drive properties menu. Also under Security tab. I have been trying for days to find a solution to no avail. Is there anybody out there that can see and access their Vista C drive from an XP computer as well as handle all the files and folders within it? Interesting... I'm having the complete opposite... I'm able to access my Vista C: from my XPpro system, but what I'm trying to do is access my XP from Vista64 Ultimate and having a permissions error. But what's strange I can see the XP and I can hit other computers on my network. Seems my own Administrator login/pass on my own XP box can't be logged into from my new Vista64 laptop. I've never been so frustrated in my life.I am Running Norton Internet Security 2010, which the XP box has 'Full Trusted Permission' in. The XP has my login and 'Everyone' as full permissions and yet still errors.I can hit the Visat from the XP on the C drive but I really want both directions. Why can XP do this and Vista not?jeff
December 22nd, 2009 9:24am

My problem is that on my Vista machine I can access my XP machine, but I can not access my Vista machine from my XP machine. I can see the Vista machine (on my XP Machine) but I can’t access it. I get the following massage (You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions.) Thanks for any help Ok, I have to ask Euerpi... how do you have your XP setup? I've got the complete opposite issue. I can't login to my XP from Vista but can login to Vista box from XP box. It's very odd.jeff
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December 22nd, 2009 9:26am

Just F everyone's I, I'm the OP and nothing yet has solved this problem. My computer vendor, HP, insists that my questions regarding this issue are "advanced networking" issues and thus not covered by the warranty. What a joke. Microsoft itself is obviously of no use, which leaves us all to rot while someone figures it out.If I could simply rewind the clock I would have bought this machine a week earlier when I could still have gotten XP. Before I only thought those new Mac commercials were funny. Now I'm starting to think they may have something. brownstem I FULLY AGREE! and I love it they're saying Win7's so much better/easier... uh, yeah and nothing's compatible with it yet too!I too am wishing I went a Mac at times. Vista sucks big donky... and I've spent over 3 hrs. with Dell tech and 4 hrs. with MS level 2 tech and they've been no help either. They say it's a setup issue and passing the buck off to each other.jeff
December 22nd, 2009 9:28am

While this answer may not solve everyone's proposed issue (as it relates specifically to Dell computers) hopefully it will help some. After nearly 20 hours, infinite forum searches, numerous cigarettes, and a few beers I achieved nirvana (at least for my issue). My problem was that I had successfully networked my Vaio Win7 (formerly Vista) laptop with my XP desktop server (both were visible to each other and file and printer sharing was successful). However, I simply could not network those two computer's with my girlfriend's Dell XP laptop (it couldn't see us and we couldn't see it). After unsuccessfully attempting all the proposed fixes on this forum and numerous others it finally dawned on me that the problem might be that Windows wasn't managing her wireless adapter. Rather the adapter was being managed by Dell's stock WLAN utility. I disabled Dell's utility and enabled Windows Zero Configuration in order to allow Windows to handle the adapter management. Prior to this we had also had issues with her computer constantly getting kicked off our Netgear router. I assumed this was an issue with her old wireless card not being able to keep up with the new (by 5 years) router. However, now that Windows has control of the wireless adapter rather than Dell's utility not only does the network work seamlessly, but the router no longer kicks her off. I hope this helps someone out there running a Dell machine and allowing Dell's stock utility to manage the wireless adapter.
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February 9th, 2010 6:48am

Please forgive me if someone has already answered this. I assume that you're using XP Pro and Vista Pro or Ultimate. If not, then some of the steps may be a little different, but the principles are the same. Basically, you need to have at least 4 things set up: 1. Enable File and Printer Sharing in the properties of the Network Adapter and make sure that your workstation will be browseable on your network. 2. The account that you will use to assign permissions to the shared folder must exist on the PC that the shared folder is on, and on the PC that will access the share over the network. The username and password MUST be the same on each workstation. Here's why we're doing this: Let's say that you log onto workstation "A" and the shared folder is on workstation "B". If you've logged onto workstation "A" with a username that does not exist on workstation "B" then you will not be able to access the shared folder. The user must exist on both workstations, and the username and password must be the same on both workstations. Now, if you log onto workstation "A" with a username that exists on workstation "B", and has permission to access the shared folder on workstation "B" then if you open Windows Explorer, browse to workstation "B" and select the shared folder the share will allow you access according to the permissions that your user has to the share that exists on workstation "A". If you log onto workstation "B" with a different username then one that has permission to the share on workstation "A" then you will be prompted for the username and password of a user that has permission to the share on workstation "A". Once you enter that username and password then you will be able to access the shared folder on workstation "A". Just to keep things easy I'd like you to create the same user on all of the workstations so that if you share folders on each workstation you don't have to remember a different username and password for each share on each workstation. That's why, at the beginning of this step, I mentioned that if you log onto all of the workstations with the same username and password then you can skip this step, because the user already exists on all of the workstations. 3. You need to share the folder, and set up share permissions and NTFS permissions, assuming that all of your hard drives are NTFS and not FAT 32. (Vista will be NTFS by default, XP can be either NTFS or FAT 32). If your hard drive is FAT 32 then there are no NTFS permissions to be set. 4. Just to make things tidy, all of the PC's on your network should belong to the same workgroup.Here's how you do it: 1. A. In XP - Start >> Settings >> Network Connections >> Right-Click on your network connection (usually called "Local Area Connection") and choose "Properties" >> Check "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" - This will enable file and printer sharing >> Highlight "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and choose the "Properties" button >> choose the "Advanced" button >> choose the "WINS" Tab >> make sure that the top button in the "NetBIOS setting" area is chosen. This will enable you to browse the shares on this workstation from within Windows Explorer, and will enable this workstation to browse shares on the other workstations in your network. B. In Vista - Start >> Control Panel >> Network and Sharing Center >> Change Advanced Sharing Settings >> (Do the following in all sections, i.e. Public and Home or Work) Make sure that Network Discovery is on >> Make sure that File and Printer Sharing is on >> Make sure that "File Sharing Connections" is using the 40 or 56 bit encryption >> Make sure that "Password Protected Sharing" is on >> Make sure that under "Homegroup Connections" "Use user accounts and passwords to connect to other computers" is selected. Go back to Network and Sharing Center then choose "Change adapter settings" >> Right-click on your network connection (usually called "Local Area Connection") and choose "Properties" >> Make sure that "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" is checked >> Highlight "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) >> choose the "Properties" button >> choose the "Advanced" button >> choose the "WINS" Tab >> make sure that the top button in the "NetBIOS setting" area is chosen. This will enable you to browse the shares on this workstation from within Windows Explorer, and will enable this workstation to browse shares on the other workstations in your network. 2. --- NOTE: If you log into all of the workstations on your network with the same username and password then skip this step and go to Step 3 because the same username and password exists on all of the workstations on your network. Also, here's why we're doing this: Let's say that you log onto workstation "A" and the shared folder is on workstation "B". If you've logged onto workstation "A" with a username that does not exist on workstation "B" then you will not be able to access the shared folder. The user must exist on both workstations, and the username and password must be the same on both workstations. Now, if you log onto workstation "A" with a username that exists on workstation "B", and has permission to access the shared folder on workstation "B" then if you open Windows Explorer, browse to workstation "B" and select the shared folder the share will allow you access according to the permissions that your user has to the share that exists on workstation "A". If you log onto workstation "B" with a different username then one that has permission to the share on workstation "A" then you will be prompted for the username and password of a user that has permission to the share on workstation "A". Once you enter that username and password then you will be able to access the shared folder on workstation "A". Just to keep things easy I'd like you to create the same user on all of the workstations so that if you share folders on each workstation you don't have to remember a different username and password for each share on each workstation. That's why, at the beginning of this step, I mentioned that if you log onto all of the workstations with the same username and password then you can skip this step, because the user already exists on all of the workstations. A. In XP - Right-click the "My Computer" icon on the desktop and choose "Manage" (if there is no "My Computer" icon on the desktop then right-click the desktop, choose "Properties", choose the "Desktop" tab, choose the "Customize Desktop" button, check the "My Computer" icon, choose "OK", and then choose "OK".) Now, after Right-clicking the "My Computer" icon on the desktop and choosing "Manage" expand "Local Users and Groups" and choose "Users" - This is where you will add users, change their passwords etc. >> Right-Click "Users" and choose "New User", fill in the username and password etc. and uncheck "User Must Change Password At Next Login, and check "Password Never Expires" and then choose "Create". The user that you will use to access the shared folders on another workstation has been created, and this is also the user that you will assign the permissions to on the workstation where the folder is shared. B. In Vista - Right-click the "Computer" icon, if there is no "Computer" icon on the desktop then right-click the desktop and choose "Personalize" and then choose "Change Desktop Icons" and then choose the "Computer" check box and then choose "OK". Now, after right-clicking the "Computer" icon, chose "Manage" expand "Local Users and Groups" and choose "Users" - This is where you will add users, change their passwords etc. >> Right-Click "Users" and choose "New User", fill in the username and password etc. and uncheck "User Must Change Password At Next Login, and check "Password Never Expires" and then choose "Create". The user that you will use to access the shared folders on another workstation has been created, and this is also the user that you will assign the permissions to on the workstation where the folder is shared. 3. A. In XP, open Windows Explorer, highlight the folder that you want to share, right-click it and choose "Sharing and Security". You should see a "Sharing" tab and a "Security" tab. If your hard drive is FAT 32 then you won't have a "Security" tab, but do yourself a favor and convert your FAT 32 drive to NTFS, here are the instructions on how to do that : http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307881/ To see what the File System is on your XP hard drive, right-click on your "C" drive and choose "Properties". Towards the top you'll see "File System:" and next to that it'll tell you what the file system is. Like I say, do yourself a favor and use NTFS. But, if you don't want to convert the drive to NTFS then there won't be a "Security" tab, and you can just share the folder in the "Sharing" tab and assign the user that you will use to access the share whatever permissions that you'd like. If your drive is NTFS you will have a "Sharing" and a "Security" tab. In the "Sharing" tab add the "Everyone" group and choose "Full Control", "Change", and "Read" for the share permissions. Then go to the "Security" tab, add the user that we created earlier, or the user that you always log in as, and give them whatever permissions that you'd like. Do not modify any of the permissions or users that were already there before you added your user. Note: the user that you always log into the workstation may already be there, or the group that the user is a member of may already be there. (users have pictures that are only one head, and groups have pictures that are two heads.) For example, you may not see your user listed, but you may see a group called "Users". To see if your user is a member of the "Users" group, go to step 2 and take a look inside whatever groups are already assigned to the security for that folder. If your user is part of a group that already has permission to the folder that you want to share then you're done. If there is a "Security" Tab then go back to the "Sharing" tab and choose "Share this Folder">> choose the "Permissions" button ("Everyone" should already be there) >> choose the "Full Control" box, and then all 3 boxes should automatically be chosen >> choose "OK" >> choose the "Security" tab >> choose "Add" >> choose "Advanced" >> choose "Find Now" and you should see a list of all of the users that exist on your workstation. Pick the user that you created, or the one that you log onto all of the workstations with and then choose "OK", choose "OK", Pick the permissions that you'd like that user to have, choose "OK" choose "Close" and that's it. That folder is now shared on your network via that workstation. B. In Vista, the principle is the same, but they call things by different names. Right-click on the folder that you want to share, choose Properties >> choose the Sharing Tab>> choose the Advanced Sharing button >> Choose "share this folder" >> choose the "Permissions" button >> ("Everyone" should already be there) >> choose the "Full Control" box, and then all 3 boxes should automatically be chosen >> choose "OK" >> choose "OK" >> choose the "Security" Tab >> choose Edit >> choose "Add" >> choose "Advanced" >> choose "Find Now" and you should see a list of all of the users that exist on your workstation. Pick the user that you created, or the one that you log onto all of the workstations with and then choose "OK", choose "OK", Pick the permissions that you'd like that user to have, choose "OK" choose "Close" and that's it. That folder is now shared on your network via that workstation. 4. A. In XP, right click on the "My Computer" icon, choose "Properties" >> choose the "Computer Name" Tab >> choose "Change" >> choose "Workgroup" >> type in the name that you'd like to call your workgroup >> choose "OK" and follow the prompts. This will create a workgroup and join that XP machine to it. You'll have to do this on all of the workstations even if they do not host a shared folder, at least I would, because then when you open Windows Explorer, choose "My Network Places" >> "Entire Network" >> "Microsoft Windows Network" >> and then you'll see all of the workstations on your network in the same workgroup. This makes it easy to find the workstations, and to find the shares that they're hosting. B. In Vista right-click on the "Computer" icon, choose "Properties" choose "Advanced System Settings" choose the "Computer Name" Tab, and then choose the "Change" button, choose "Workgroup" and type in the same workgroup name that you used for the XP workstations. Now everything will be under the same workgroup name. Choose "OK", follow the prompts, reboot, etc. and then you're done. There's lots of other things that could be involved in sharing and accessing folders via a workgroup, and maybe you'll find some other information in this google query: http://www.google.com/search?q=file+sharing+in+a+workgroup&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1 Note that I queried "file sharing in a workgroup" on Google. This should fill in the gaps for you, if any. Hope that this helps.
March 13th, 2010 1:28pm

BooYaaSucks,I feel your pain. Does Home have an option to use simple file sharing, or can you create the same account on the host the the wife and kids use on the workstations accessing the share and give the appropriate NTFS permission to the share or even better, add em to a group and be done. Don't know if that's an option for you, but that should get you past being prompted all of the time. Please let me know if it works for you or not.
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March 13th, 2010 1:37pm

Oops,My monsterously long post was in reply to brownstem, and I don't see that I related it to his/her original question at all. Sorry about that.
March 13th, 2010 1:38pm

Oops again friends,When I wrote all of these instructions I was looking at a Win 7 box. Sorry about that. The only thing that's different is the Network and Sharing Center, and it's not really THAT different. Sorry if this creates any confusion. All of the other steps and descriptions should be fine. This should get XP and Vista talking to each other. There are other ways to do it, but they're not as secure, but each person will have to decide how much security they want. If you don't really care who gets to what, just add Everyone, Full Control to the share permissions and the NTFS permissions and be done with permissions for ever. But remember that some viruses propagate that way.....HTH
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March 13th, 2010 2:04pm

Hello all, This is quite simple to share the network folders in both Vista and XP before that keep in mind Vista is based on Longhorn core architecture and XP is based on legacy Whistler core architecture. Lets come to the solution..... By default Vista does not have administrator account what XP is having so when u get into the computer for the first time it would ask you to create the name and password for your computer and that account is acting as a administrator. When u share the "C" drive it will shows as owner after you share it also it will display the UNC path. Right click the shared drive and click Sharing and Security and click permission and select "everyone" on the top and place a chk mark in all the three boxes like read, write.... apply and ok. Then open the Network Sharing and connection window by right click the LAN Icon on the system tray. Chk the LAN connection is in public or private... if it shows as private than u cannnot access the sharing folder in Vista from other machine so make it as public. Once u done turn off the firewall and try this command in the command prompt in both the machine net view x.x.x.x (IPaddress of other computer). It will display the sharing details in the cmd prompt. If it shows as error 5 or error 56 then something wrong in your set up.. if it shows the sharing details in the cmd prompt then u can access your vista sharing folder in XP. Once you access the folder make sure turn on your firewall in both the machine and rechk it if u face any problem after enabling the firewall then u need to configure it. Incase u have doubt feel free to call me 972 514 3525 Warning : Sharing the "C" drive is high vulnerable hence share only the folder that you want to access in windows XP. Suresh.
August 3rd, 2010 3:41am

Hello all, This is quite simple to share the network folders in both Vista and XP before that keep in mind Vista is based on Longhorn core architecture and XP is based on legacy Whistler core architecture. Lets come to the solution..... By default Vista does not have administrator account what XP is having so when u get into the computer for the first time it would ask you to create the name and password for your computer and that account is acting as a administrator. When u share the "C" drive it will shows as owner after you share it also it will display the UNC path. Right click the shared drive and click Sharing and Security and click permission and select "everyone" on the top and place a chk mark in all the three boxes like read, write.... apply and ok. Then open the Network Sharing and connection window by right click the LAN Icon on the system tray. Chk the LAN connection is in public or private... if it shows as private than u cannnot access the sharing folder in Vista from other machine so make it as public. Once u done turn off the firewall and try this command in the command prompt in both the machine net view x.x.x.x (IPaddress of other computer). It will display the sharing details in the cmd prompt. If it shows as error 5 or error 56 then something wrong in your set up.. if it shows the sharing details in the cmd prompt then u can access your vista sharing folder in XP. Once you access the folder make sure turn on your firewall in both the machine and rechk it if u face any problem after enabling the firewall then u need to configure it. Incase u have doubt feel free to call me 972 514 3525 Warning : Sharing the "C" drive is high vulnerable hence share only the folder that you want to access in windows XP. Suresh. net viewx.x.x.x (IPaddress of other computer) after "net" there is a space between "view".
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August 3rd, 2010 3:44am

FYI Chris, U cannot downgrade from the newer version of OS to the legacy one... u r really lucky bcoz the computer vendors are not offering the drivers for windows xp when the machine is preloaded with vista. Incase u forced to install the XP in Vista machine then u r customer may face a serious problem on the hardware may be the whole system will leads to death :) Suresh
August 3rd, 2010 3:53am

In vista, open the network and sharing tab of the control panel (classic view) . There are the settings for what you can share, and who you share them with, also whether a password is required. "http://support.microsoft.com/fixit/default.aspx ". This is MICROSOFT'S new, FREE, fully automated, anonymous support portal, which can help users resolve windows and other product issues with a few mouse clicks. BOOKMARK THIS SITE, EVERYBODY !!!
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November 29th, 2010 6:26pm

Chk the LAN connection is in public or private... if it shows as private than u cannnot access the sharing folder in Vista from other machine so make it as public. Once u done turn off the firewall and try this command in the command prompt in both the machine net view x.x.x.x (IPaddress of other computer). It will display the sharing details in the cmd prompt. If it shows as error 5 or error 56 then something wrong in your set up. I changed to public and turned Firewall of on my Vista machine and still see error 5 on XP from: new view \\computername interesting notes: 1. I use network magic and have "shared" the Vista drives and on XP can "explore" those drives if I open in the Network magic window. 2. My real objective is to map the Vista drives From my XP drives like I did some time ago before SOMETHING change. any attempt to access the Vista computer name results in "not accessible" even though their is a plus sign under the computer name 3. On my xp Machine (I use 2nd copy) to sync/clone folders if I specify \\computername\folder name in their "command line" then it works fine. 4. On Vista After network I see Control panel, Recycle Bin and Network Magic Folders On XP I see the same and under the Network Magic Folders see the Vista drives (and can expand and see all the subfolders) but can not map to the drive. 5. I assume the inability to map is related the the inability to execute net view \\computername error 5 but How do I fix that? boblevy@storageman.com
May 14th, 2011 1:53pm

Chk the LAN connection is in public or private... if it shows as private than u cannnot access the sharing folder in Vista from other machine so make it as public. Once u done turn off the firewall and try this command in the command prompt in both the machine net view x.x.x.x (IPaddress of other computer). It will display the sharing details in the cmd prompt. If it shows as error 5 or error 56 then something wrong in your set up. I changed to public and turned Firewall of on my Vista machine and still see error 5 on XP from: new view \\computername interesting notes: 1. I use network magic and have "shared" the Vista drives and on XP can "explore" those drives if I open in the Network magic window. 2. My real objective is to map the Vista drives From my XP drives like I did some time ago before SOMETHING change. any attempt to access the Vista computer name results in "not accessible" even though their is a plus sign under the computer name 3. On my xp Machine (I use 2nd copy) to sync/clone folders if I specify \\computername\folder name in their "command line" then it works fine. 4. On Vista After network I see Control panel, Recycle Bin and Network Magic Folders On XP I see the same and under the Network Magic Folders see the Vista drives (and can expand and see all the subfolders) but can not map to the drive. 5. I assume the inability to map is related the the inability to execute net view \\computername error 5 but How do I fix that? boblevy@storageman.com
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May 14th, 2011 1:53pm

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