Hi, We have a problem in accessing the network shared folders from XP SP2 Professional machine with Windows Vista Beta 2. When we tried to open the machine it asks for the user credentials and once the credentials were given it closes the windows. Please let us know how to access shared folders from other Windows OS machines. Thanks

Could you add some more information? Are you using Windows XP Home or XP Professional? Are you using "simple file sharing"? Are the computers in a domain or a workgroup? Can you access the shares from another XP machine?

Hi Byron, Thanks for your reply, we are using Windows XP Professional SP2 and both the machines (Vista and XP) are there in same domain for eg Workgroup. We could able to access the shared folders from other XP machines but we have the problem only with the Vista machine. Please let us know in what way we can solve this problem. Thanks

Sorry for the long delay. I believe there may be some changes to how workgroup access is handled between Vista and XP. I am forwarding your question internally.

Are you trying to access a file share on the Windows Vista machine from the Windows XP machine? In a workgroup environment without a Windows Server domain, you should be able to access shares on the Windows Vista computer from a Windows XP system by typing the computer name in the Address bar of Windows Explorer, for example \\computername. When the security dialog box appears, type the username and password of an account that has permission to access the folder on Windows Vista. Usually this is your user account on the Windows Vista computer. At this point, you should be authenticated and can access shares on the computer running Vista. If this doesn't work, try the following suggestions: Confirm that you've shared a folder on the Vista computer. To share a folder, right-click the folder in Windows Explorer, click Share and then use the File Sharing dialog box to share the folder. This should also enable the File and Printer Sharing exception for Windows Firewall. In Windows Explorer on the Windows XP machine, choose Map Network Driver from the Tools menu and then use the Map Network Drive dialog box to specify the share you want to access - for example \\computername\sharename. Also click the "different user name" link in this dialog box to specify auser account that exists on the Vista computer and has permissions to access the share. Open a command prompt window on the Windows XP machine, type net use * \\computername\sharename, and then type the appropriate username and password when prompted. This will map the last available drive letter to the specified share. If none of these work, let us know and we'll see if we can come up with a solution. Thanks for testing Windows Vista and helping us uncover any problems with it.

I've got the same issue here wherein I can not see other computers in my workgroup network. If I do enter the computer name in the run menu it comes up with no problems. Same thing with Printer setup as well. My shared printer is on another computer and searching for a network shared printer does not show up but as soon as I type in the computer name and put the / after the computer name it pops the name of the printer up! Something is awfully wrong with the build 5472 in terms of networking and security.Opus

I think that I have resolved my problem of not being able to access an XP shared folder from a Vista PC. On the Shared folder's Properties ==> Security Tab, the user EVERYONE was excluded from "Group or user name" list. If EVERYONE does not appear on your list, do the following: Goto the folder you wish to share; Right click ==> Properties ==> Security ==> Add ==> Advanced ==> Find Now==> Select EVERYONE from the list, and click OK to close all windows. In case you have not done so, install the LLTP fix (KB922120) from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=4F01A31D-EE46-481E-BA11-37F485FA34EA&displaylang=en

I have the same problem and would like to share what you find out. Thanks, Britt

I'M having a problem that is something like that but when I search for the computer by name Im able to get the files from the guest computer but my workgroup the only thing I get is my host computer and not the guest it goesnt find it. Im stuck at finding the problem. I hope somewhone can help.

This appears to be a rather ancient posting but with all upgrades and downloads suggested to solve this problem I still can't access the vista (ultimate sp1) machine from my 3 xp (professional sp3) machines. Basically, the message I always get is "The network name cannot be found". I can now see icons for all the computers in the workgroup from vista but cannot access them . In similar fashion, I can now display the xp computers as icons on the other xp computers but cannot map them. I still have limited connectivity between 2 computers that fully shared files before the vista machine came on the network and I downloaded all the LLTP and ran fixccs 5.1.2600.5614. The 3rd machine, which was recently reloaded from scratch up to xp sp3, doesn't communicate and can't be reached with anything, although its icon is readilly displayed on the other computers. All of these machines (a hard wired and 3 wireless) handle internet access with flying colors. Norton internet security is present on all computers but Windows handles the firewall. I welcome further suggestions.

Is this a dead branch? Your advice, though informative regarding options for addressing shared folders,didn't work for me and I need some more current suggestions. Thank you