First off, I would like to apologize in advance if I placed this topic in the wrong area. I had it in the Networking section and got some good responses but unfortunately, nothing worked. To set up the scene, I am running Windows 7 on my desktop (Dual boot with XP) and right next to the screen I have my laptop set up with Windows XP Media Edition ( I am using a program called Synergy that allows me to use a single mouse and keyboard between them.) First thing that I tried to do when I finished the installation of Win 7 was to network my computers so that I can share files between one another. My desktop (with win 7) was able to pick up all the computers on the MSHOME WORKGROUP like a pro. However, I cannot go from my laptop and view any of the shared files on my desktop. What I am trying to access on my desktop from my laptop is my second HHD with all my vids and back up files from my previous installations. These are the things that I have tried (most of which are what people recommended me to try): I tried setting up a Homegroup I killed the homegroup and started to change the WORKGROUP by right clicking my computer I changed all the "Advanced Sharing Settings" to a more favorable selection (file sharing and no passwords needed) I changed where it would say Homegroup into Work network I tried numerous times clicking "Fix a network problem" I tried turning off the firewalls on both computers I turned off the UAC I made sure that the HDD was set to be shared and made all the setting the way that I like them (all access no passwords) There may be some other things that I have tried but with the same results... I am flat stuck on this one. What I liked about XP was that I was able to go through the Network wizard and set up all my computers to see each other and has worked since day 1 out of the box and back then, I was no where near as Network knowledgeable as I am now. Is there anything that I can do on either computer or anything that I can try to make my laptop (Win XP Media) view and edit files on my desktops (win 7) secondary HDD?P.S. Can't really try anything tonight, going to bed since it's 2:30am but I will be checking tomorrow morning. Thank you for anyone's time in this matter. I will be on again tomorrow to check on responses and to give further input.

The method is similar to this with Vista.Use "Work netgroup" and have the same works group on XP and Seven ("Workgroup" for example).Use the same user name and the same passname to connect.Seehttp://dechily.org/Forum_Aski/topic19.html

I have both computers set to MSHOME. I have turned off all password connectivity simply because it's more of an annoyance than anything. Sorry, I am not multi lingual so I can't really make out what that link says. Thanks for your help though.

It is also very difficult for a Frenchman to explain here.You may use MSHOME for the both computer, but you might try usingthe same user name et the same passname on both computers.

After you said that you are a Frenchman, I went to google and translated it in English. I tried those steps tuning passwords on and off and now I can't even see my desktop from any of the computers in the house. It looks like the more that I try the more that I make it worse.Is there anyway to reset all my network information back to default so that I can start fresh without having to re-install windows 7?

Don't panic !I don't know any possibility to return to the next settings except to restore your system at a previous date.I think that you have not to do that.Describe here that you have changed on each system and what are the current parameters :Display the Network and sharing center of Seven-click on "change advanced sharing center" and get a report then return- click on "change adapter settings", then right click on your "local area connection", click on "Properties", place your mouse on TCP/IPv4 then on "Properties", then get a report After that, report the settings ofwhat you share.That is a first stage.

Okay, I am back from work. Work as a Karate instructor so I don't get to be on the computer a lot >.<Here are my settings:Home or WorkTurn on Network discoveryTurn on file and printer sharingTurn on sharing so anyone with network access can open, change, and create filesMedia sharing is onTurn off password protected sharingAllow Windows HomeGroup to manage homegroup connectionsPublicTurn on network discoveryTurn on file and printer sharingTurn on sharing so anyone with network access can open, change, and create filesI can't turn Media sharing onTurn off password protected sharingAdapter SettingObtain an IP address automaticallyObtain DNS server addressAutomatic private IP addressRight now, the only thing that I am trying to access is a folder on my 2nd HDD. Here are some setting for that:When you click Share...Everyone Read/WriteAdvanced SharingShare this folder is selected and when you click Permissions in that option I have everyone and everything checked as allow.Thank you for all your help thus far. I am glad that you are trying to walk me through this.

I don't know how... I don't know why... And I have absolutely no clue what I did...All of a sudden, it now works?!?!?I was tinkering with the firewall settings and I gave up and reset everything to what it was. I then decided that it had been a while so I restarted my computer. After I restarted, I went back into Network and went to properties and saw that what was originally was called Work network was now called Public network and at the top of all that it said Network 2. I promptly set it back to Work network and went about my tinkering to see what else had changed.Later, I went deeper into the folder that I was trying to share and right off the bat, I saw that it said read only. I un checked that and started to go back into sharing to see if I missed upon something else. All of a sudden, I decided to check back again to see if I could access it. For the first time, it asked me for a password. I typed in my Win 7 account info and I was in!I really have no idea what I did to make it work.Here is a personal opinion of what I think Microsoft should do. There are still a lot of people (especially at home) that run earlier versions of windows. I do not have the funds to upgrade all my computers to a new OS. I think that Windows Vista and Windows 7 should have a special wizard to help link up and help network windows XP computers. I know that Microsoft is trying to make things simple for users and they are really trying to make things easy to set up and maintain. Windows XP had the wizard and every time I had a problem with anyone's personal network, I would tell them to just run the wizard and 9 times out of 10, that would solve their problems. Please consider this as an option for people trying to maintain home networks.I would like to send a big thanks to Aski. Even though there was a small language barrier, you were still willing to help me and I am very thankful to that. Thank you and I hope that someone will be able to find out what I did to make it work.

All your settings on Seven are right.I think that the secret of your success was the same login.On the other hand, the restarting of the computer often solves issues....-- Aski - MVP Desktop Experience