Hi, I'm trying to set up a network between a pc withXP home SP2 and a laptop (connected wirelessly) with Vista. I've tried setting it up in both computers with no luck. The xp machine can see the laptop but can't access it, and tht laptop can't see the xp at all. I've downloaded LLTD on the xp, and that didn't help either. I've also shut off the firewall on both computers, still no luck. If anyone could help that would be great. Thanks

I'm having the same problem, except that neither machine can see the other despite being connected to the same router. For some reason though I can access music files, from my xp desktop, on my vista laptop. Other than that I can't set up a network between the two.

I have reinstalled the update and not the computers can see each other but can't connect. The XP can ping the Vista but the Vista can not ping the XP. I tried turning the firwall off on both computers and still no luck. Any ideas what could be cause it?

Ok, it took me about 3 days to figure this one out. It worked for me and I couldn't find it in any help file. On the Vista machine, go to the Networking and Sharing Center. Click on Manage Network Connections. Right click your wireless connection and click Properties. Click on Client for Microsoft Networks and click Properties. In mine the Name Service Provider was blank. Switch that to Windows Locator and click ok. Mine discovered everything within seconds. Hope this helps!

I can't make the Name Service Provider selection remain after I close the Local Area Connection properties (after setting it to Windows Locator). When I reopen the Client for Microsoft Networks Properties window, the Name Service Provider is blank again. I've tried removing & reinstalling Client for MS Networks.Any ideas ?

I also cannot get the NSP selection to stick.

I forgot what happened there. You may want to switch it and hit ok, then immediately go to View Computers and Devices in the Network and Sharing Center. From what I recall everything was recognized at that point.

after all this, I checked the ip address and it was configured with an address. I changed it to automatic and then the network connected (the wired one)

Your solution worked, I've been trying to find a solution for this problem for over a month....thank you

my lap with vista can find and access my desk with xp. and my desk with xp can find my lap but wants a user name and password...i never made one. know nothing about one,,,can you help please

Bless you. What a simple answer and I never would have thought of it. I have been searching for an answer for several weeks. I installedthe XP patch tonight and was frustrated to realize I wasn't any closer, then I found your post and now I can get to the XP PC. Now I just have to get the administrative shares accessible without making a huge security problem, but I think I should be able to manage that now that I can see the PC. Thanks.

Hi, try the ' network discovery ' option under the 'network and sharing center' of vista. best regards

To the person having password problems going from xp to vista, there is an option in the Network and Sharing Center in Vista called password protected sharing. You need to turn that off, or you can create a windows password and use that along with your user name.Next, I added another vista machine to my network and ran across the original problem where nothing was being discovered and I could not get "windows locator" to stick. After hours and hours, I finally realized it was an uninstalled McAfee program that was causing the problem. I tried several different removal programs with no success and then I found the right one. If you are having this problem, try to find mcremove2.exe, 212 kb, because I don't remember where I found it. Then I had to uninstall and reinstall Norton 360 and everything is working great and all network items are discovered and functioning. Hope this helps!

I tried the recommended solution, but still , "No-Go". I couldn't get the "Windows Locator" to stick. I'm sure that many folks have tried a number of solutions before addressing the the one above. This question has been posted on many "fix-it" sites. People have been checking and unchecking check boxes throughout their VISTA Network windows. No telling what the real status of their machines might be presently, and some may be at risk from Internet predators, and not know it. My new Dell laptop came with McAfee. I would hope that Dell did not supply a program that would, in effect, break VISTA. Any other suggestions, or a procedure that I can try from scratch? Thanks.

I can't get windows locator to stay in the RPC box either. It just blanks out everytime. I can connect through wireless, but neither the pc (XP SP2) or the laptop (Vista Home Premium) are recognizing each other. Any suggestions?

Ok. First take a deep breath and gather your patience. I was in exactly the same situation when I bought my new HP laptop. I wanted to network it to existing two WinXP machines. It wasn't quick but it did work, eventually. Try some of these steps:1) Firewall settings - one of the biggest hassles. To get started I suggest you FIRST disconnect your network from the internet (for your protection), then disable ALL firewalls (including Windows firewall), and work to get your home network operating internally. What I learned on my home network is below. See the below link to a Microsoft article on file and printer sharing.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) Ensure sharing is enabled on all machines. This is fairly straightforward and is well documented on the MS site and elsewhere. Link for Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspxLink for WinXP: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=FD7FD48D-6B4A-448E-A632-076F98A351A2&displaylang=en3) Workgroup name. Ensure you are using the same workgroup name on all machines. WinXP and Vista machines have different default workgroup names. WinXP: http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/windows_network_changename.mspx?mfr=trueVista: http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/5723d061-b884-40da-b5e7-94a55f6fcead1033.mspxandhttp://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/baab4f1a-2461-482d-bb2e-c996a197e35f1033.mspx4) Download and install Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) onto the WinXP machines. Just a nicety, this enables the network map in Vista to show all machines on the network.http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4f01a31d-ee46-481e-ba11-37f485fa34ea&DisplayLang=en5) And the final step: check the registry on your WinXP machine per MS article 913628 that I found 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". See the article at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/913628. This finally did the trick for my network.Keep pounding away at it. It will eventually be worth it. It took me almost a week to get everything working right. Best of luck to you

Thanks so much for your info! It finally started working after I added the IP range to both the Desktop and the Laptops list of trusted sites...good call on the firewall issue. I can r/w/x/ files across the network now. Now Im onto making the printer work across the network..grumble grumble -Steve

Glad to assist. It will be really great when Microsoft makes home networking more straightforward.

The best thing I did was to get rid of the limited time McAfee that came with my laptop....I don't think it works well with Vista. Keep in mind that once you uninstall it, you pretty much have to get another program to clean it off. I could always tell that it was still resident when I opened my security center and it told me McAfee firewall was still running after the uninstall. I now have Norton 360 and do not have any problems.

Step 5 of your procedure WORKED!! Yea!!!!! There was also a registry entry "restrictanonymoussam" which I left alone. By the way, one of the things I tried unsucessfully was going back and forth from McAfee firewall to Windows Firewall. I'm back using McAfee, and it doesn't appear to affect the positive outcome I achieved by resetting the registry entry as above. Thanks!

WOw after spending hours going back and forth from the Vista laptop to the Xp pc's i finally got it to work thanks to your advise, all it was the Norton Bios blockage once i "ALLOW" the setting on the Vista laptop i was able to network everyone at home. Thanks again i would of never thought of looking at the Norton settings. Thanks a million

Ron I changed the Service Provider to use the Windows Locator, closed the window by clicking OK. When I go back into the Properties of the Client for Microsoft Networks, the Service Provider is reset to blank. It seems like I don't have permissions to change this option. I'm logged with admin priveleges

I don't know the first thing about networking computers but I did get some info from a Staples employee when I was ready to return my new HP laptop,runningVista Home Basic, for this same problem. I was told that to avoid any of the problems related to networking Vista and XP machines that I should upgrade to Vista Ultimate, which if you take a look at its website indicates that this what Ultimate is intended to do. Sounds easy enough but the upgrade is $259. However, I was told that if Staples came out to do the installation there would not be a charge for the software only the $129 service call. I was also told that if for any reason (related to Vista) they can not set the network up there would be no charge. I have them set to come out Friday so I will let everyone know how things work out. Hope this is helpful and I would think if Staples is doing this other retailers would be as well.

GMW21, There is so much mis-information regarding this problem, that it is hard to believe. I'm running VISTA Home Premium on a Dell 1505 laptop. The guy at our local Dell Kiosk store told me that the problemwas, that I could only run a network between two VISTA machines. What a laugh!! Don't trust the guy who is trying to sell you something. Using the information from previous posts on this forum,I was able to get VISTA and XP to network together and to share a printer. "Ultimate" may be a waste for you. It depends how you will use your computer. I would certainly give the suggestions in this forum a shot before I spent the money for an upgrade. Good Luck!

I have a HP laptop and after turning off my firewalls and I was able to get the two to share files but I still can't figure out how to get the Vista Laptop to print through my XP computer (3 weeks now) I can see the Icons in the printer folder but I cant print through them. My Linux desktop can use the printer though. (go figure!!)

Two questions: 1. Have you set your printer up for sharing? START/CONTROL PANEL/Printers and Faxes/Doubleclick your printer/Properties/Sharing/Share this printer. There should be a "hand" on the printer icon. 2. If you plug your printer directly into the laptop, can you print to it? Does VISTA recognize the printer and contain its driver? Good Luck!

I have set up my printer for sharing and have shared it with my old XP laptop for some time -- I have not tried to connect the printer directly to my laptop and I will try it later today. I have noticed that i can access the printer folder but connecting to the printer to look at it's properties is sluggish when compared to accessing files between the computers. I read somthing about the specific ports that need to be open to enable file sharing but I don't know where to find them to verify their status.

PROBLEMS WITH DETECTING ALL COMPUTERS Thanks for all of your help. I got this to work with my office at work. It detected some, but not all of the office computers. In case you run into this problem, you can do this. If it is adding some, but not all, get on the computers running vista and xp and go to run > Type CMD > Hit Enter > Type Ipconfig and hit enter Write down the ip address of your computer Repeat for other computers Now, from your vista computer, in the command window (CMD), type ping (ip address). If you get a response, GREAT! Now create a shortcut on your desktop, Right-Click > New > Shortcut > Type in the location box \\COMPUTER NAME\Folder Name\ If your computer pinged the other computer, it should add the folder. Within ten minutes of adding the shared folder, you will see your computer show up under your network!! I hope this helps someone.

I am about the throw in the towel! I have been on the phone with Dell a total of 7 hours over the past three days. They have no idea what's wrong - I am trying all these suggestions and nothing is working. Here's the deal: Old PC - Dell desktop running XP New PC - Dell Inspiron 1501 running VISTA (just got a couple of days ago!) XP machine sees vista laptop and can access shared folders. Vista machine cannot access the XP machine, although I am able to ping both and both respond to eachother using ip address as well as computer name. I added the patch to the XP machine that allows the vista machine to show it in the "detailed" map, however, it's just "there." Can't access it at all - although when you mouse over the picture it shows the name and ip address of the xp machine. The printer, needless to say, is on the xp machine, so no printer sharing is going on! Dell wants me to reinstall vista on the new laptop, then, if that doesn't work, they want me to reinstall xp on the old machine!!!! They just called me back to walk me through this and I didn't answer - I'm not ready for this! Quick! I need help! :-)

I had a similar situation ... and HP support was of no value. Here's the 5 steps I went through to get my Vista-WinXP network up and running. Not all 5 may apply to you but the solution for your problem may be in this set. See below ... Windows Networking Vista and WinXP Ok. First take a deep breath and gather your patience. I wrote-up the below thread after my recent experience in networking a new Vista laptop with two existing WinXP machines. It wasn't quick but it did work, eventually. Try some of these steps: 1) Firewall settings - one of the biggest hassles. To get started I suggest you FIRST disconnect your network from the internet (for your protection), then disable ALL firewalls (including Windows firewall) on ALL machines, and then work to get your home network operating internally. What I learned on my home network is below. 1.1) My WinXP machines have ZoneAlarm and I needed to ensure that all machines on the network were in the trusted zone. Go to the Zone tab of Firewall settings in ZoneAlarm free version. Ensure all of your machines IP addresses are listed, as well as that of your router or wireless access point. 1.2) My Vista laptop came loaded with 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, and Block Windows File Sharing to ALLOW. Configuring this beast of an app required a lot of trial, error and googling the Symantec site and others. 2) Ensure sharing is enabled on all machines. It is quite different for Vista vs WinXP. The procedure is fairly straightforward and is well documented on the MS site and elsewhere. In Network and Sharing Center it is critical on Vista machine that you have your network configured as Private and that the Sharing and Discovery Settings are set to ON except for Password Protected Sharing. Link for Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx Link for WinXP: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=FD7FD48D-6B4A-448E-A632-076F98A351A2&displaylang=en 3) Workgroup name. Ensure you are using the same workgroup name on all machines. WinXP and Vista machines have different default workgroup names. WinXP: http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/windows_network_changename.mspx?mfr=true Vista: http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/5723d061-b884-40da-b5e7-94a55f6fcead1033.mspx and http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/baab4f1a-2461-482d-bb2e-c996a197e35f1033.mspx 4) Download and install Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) onto the WinXP machines. Just a nicety, this enables the network map in Vista to show all machines on the network. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4f01a31d-ee46-481e-ba11-37f485fa34ea&DisplayLang=en 5) And the final step: check the registry on your WinXP machine per MS article 913628 that I found 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". See the article at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/913628. This finally did the trick for my network. Keep pounding away at it. It will eventually be worth it. It took me almost a week to get everything working right. Best of luck to you

Lee811g Hey! If everyone with your problem threw in the towel, Microsoft could start their own laundary! We all share your frustration, but don't give up. redondo77's suggestions are well worth trying. Good luck

Thank you for the suggestions...still nothing, though. "Restrictanonymous" was set to 0. Disabled all firewalls, uninstalled the McAfee Suite and just installed Virus Scan component, did all the suggested settings on both machines. Nothing...I will keep digging and let you know if I come up with anything. I'm open to other suggestions! Thanks for the help!

Ok, ok...I'll keep my towel! But nothing is working! There has to be some tiny little setting that I am missing, but I don't know what, and I don't know where. Ugh...I'll keep ya posted!

Lee811g So WinXP can access Vista. Vista recognizes the WinXP but can't access it. Explain more on that. When you open Network on the Vista machine, does the WinXP machine appear? If it does, what error message do you get when you mouse over the WinXP machine and try to Open it? If you're trying to connect the two wireless, then just for sh#ts and grins, hardwire them via the router and see if that makes any difference (wouldn't expect it but I will now believe anything when it comes to Windows networking). Anyway, try to capture some of the error messages and maybe one will click with another forum member. Keep hammering, Ballmer is still laughing. Cheers, Gato

Lee811g I've been reviewing VISTA books. You may want to check out your local library for: Windows Vista, Beyond the Manual, by Jonathan Hassell and Tony Campbell, Copyright 2007, Apress Publishing. See my reviews at: http://www.pacswinsig.org/forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=912 This book provides lots of info, and use of built-in Vista networking tools to try. Good Luck. Headscratcher

Hello again! Ok, let's see...yes, WinXP can see and access Vista. Yes, Vista recognizes WinXP machine (in the "detailed" network map) but cannot access it or the printer connected to it. When I mouse over it in the detailed network map, the pop-up shows me the ip address, and the correct "name" however, it's not "click-able." When I open Networks and Sharing in Vista, it shows the Vista lap, dotted line to the network name, then to the internet. When I bring up the detailed map, it shows that same configuration, but below is the WinXP machine, solid line to a "switch" with a dotted line from the "switch" up to the network name. The Network window just shows the Vista lap and the shared media on Vista. As I said before, I can ping from the Vista lap to the WinXP desktop, and the other way around, and everyone talks nicely, but other than that, no access from the lap to the desktop. The only thing I have not been able to do (and this is going back quite a few posts) is to select the "Windows Locater" in the drop down menu as the RPC service in the Client for MS Networks properties on the Vista machine. I can choose it, but it doesn't stay. I know some folks said that was all they had to do. That's what it is set to on the XP machine. I don't know if it could possibly be as simple as that, but I'll take anything at this point. Thanks for all the help...I'm still working on it! Lee811g

I'm getting the exact same things with the exact same settings. Gotta love a new and improved OS. Vista box and an XP Pro box, both set to share resources, both set to the same workgroup, XP box can see the Vista but does not have permission to access. All network and share settings correct on Vista box and password protected turned off. Everything else turned on. Vista box does not see the XP box on network computer and devisesscreen but does see it on the mapped screen. Also shows the XP box with a dashed line connecting it to the router. A laptop with XP Pro on the wifi side of the router connects and shares everything with other XP box. Can't get the Windows Locator to stick on the Vista box either. Haven't tried to ping but will next chance I get. I'm attempting to set this up for another person. Becoming an interestingyet frustrating experience. I'll go back through all the posted steps again but I know all the steps have been done and redone several timesbut still getting the same results. Let me know if you come up with anything else. Thanks....

Lee811g ... I seems to me that if your WinXP box can see and access your Vista box but not vice-versa then the configuration problem is perhaps in the WinXP box ... do you think? I was fortunate in having two WinXP boxes and one new Vista box to network. Getting the firewalls properly configured and Vista's network settings right was the first step. Then Vista could see WinXP(1) and vice versa, WinXP(2) could see Vista but Vista could not see WinXP(2). Do you have access to another WinXP box that you could use temporarily? To test whether you can network it with your Vista box and with your owned WinXP box? That might help isolate the location of the problem at your Vista box or your owned WinXP box. Without that third box it is difficult to isolate the network problem at this point. I assume you rechecked your registry for that restrictanonymous setting to ensure that it is set to permit access. I assume you are not getting any error message when you attempt to "open" one of the boxes you can see on the Vista box detailed network map ... that the menu is greyed-out. Keep hammering ... I'll keep thinking on this tough one ... Cheers, Gato

The same thing happened to me. The name came up but was not clickable. Don't worry about windows locator. I could never get it to stick, and my network works fine now. My fix was to input the opposite machine's internal IP address into both computers trusted sites on the anti-virus software. Once I did that, everything worked like a charm. Steve

Hi Steve... I haven't posted in a while because I had to "walk away" from the situation - I was going crazy. No, it still doesn't work, but I have come to terms with that! I have found no where in McAfee trial to enter IP address of XP machine, and same goes for XP machine running EZ Trust Antivirus. Thanks, though! Lee811g! :-)

How about: McAfee Security Center Icon>Configure Frame> Internet & Network>Advanced Button>Firewall Frame >Trusted and Banned Sites. I have all the Ip's of my router listed> 192.168.1.0 To 192.168.1.255 Headscratcher

I think that doesn't apply because I uninstalled McAfee, then reinstalled ONLY the Virus protection component...I purposely did not install the firewall and all the other bells and whistles as I had heard that those can hinder network connectivity. I am running Windows firewall on the Vista lap, the XP desk, and the belkin router contains a firewall, which I have tried disabling all three and it doesn't seem to work either.

To share networked computers,ALL of their network namemust bethe same. In Vista, go under "Network and Sharing Center", expand the "Network discovery" option, click on "Change settings" option, click on "Change" under Computer Name tab, then change the name of the network to be the same as the rest of the computers you are trying to connect to.

Yup, had done that already (XP's default name was MSHOME and Vista's was WORKGROUP, so I changed XP's to WORKGROUP also). As the techs from Dell said - everything seems to be set correctly and VISTA should be able to access XP, but for some unknown reason, it can't. Thanks anyway! :-)

Thanks, you saved my life.

I Just thought Id mention the stupidity That My vista can connect to my wireless xps but not to my wired pcs. The vista pc can network the wired from the patch that was listed here but yells at me with a dns error and check the name of the device. Just wondering if someone got that windows locater to stick Sort of wonder if theres a switch in the registry to switch it on or a service to turn it on.

i have been having trouble with this too. I lowered all of the firewalls and installed the lltd update. When i view the full map of my network in the network and sharing center i can see all of the computers on the network (one vista laptop and one xp laptop). I also made sure that all of the computers have the same workgroup.My problem is that i cant find or accessthefiles that i put in the shared folder in the xp laptop on my vista laptop. Does anyone have an answer bc this is really annoying? Thanks

here is the fix..If you are running Xp professionalclick start > run, type compmgmt.mscgo to local users and groupsadd a new user to the users group give this new user a passwordclick groups > double click administrator click add then in the names field type the name of the new user you createdonce this is done dont worry about logging on as this user or anything.Once you have added your new user with a password assigned to the name to the administrator group close the computer management windows.now on the laptop running vista go to "network" under startmake sure your network sharing is all on under vista when prompted for a user name and password this time enter the credentials of the new user you created and you will be logged on successfullyany files you share should by default be shared with anyone on your network, if you want them to be only shared with certain people make sure you add in this new user so you can access the files from your xp machine

If you really have to get to the laptop put on wireless. I had a movie on another familys xp home sp2 pc and I was able to copy and view on vista. There must be more routing info for wireless then cable. I posted this on yahoo answers and the one answer was if wireless works go wireless on the pc's.Regardless of wanting us all to be on vista It would be nice to have a patch soon for them to work together.

Hi I am trying to configure wireless network between XP and Vista, There are 3 Windows XP Professional computers their names XP-1, XP-2, XP-3 and Notebook with Windows Vista its name Vista-4: XP-1 have a DSL connection to the Internet, XP-2 and XP-3 receive access to the Internet through XP-1 ICS XP-3 have ASUS 802.11b Wireless adapter and Vista-4 have Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN Mini-Card I need to configure wireless connection between XP-3 and Vista-4, so that Vista-4 could have access to the Internet, shared folders and printers on the other computers. Please, show me how to configure this in detail

I have successfully resolved theXP <> Vista networking issue; please check out my computer blog from yesterdayat 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

have a linksys w/speed booster router. on a computer w/ XP. a laptop w/xp and we just bought a new tower that has vista.we have a belkiin adapter hooked up to new vista.i'm trying to connect to my existing network. i turned off vista firewall. i have a secure connection. i know the security code. but i'm lost on this set up. i tried the 'help' steps on windows and Hp, the connection wizared can't even find network "none available' never mind see my xp computers.... . i tried the wizard to connect. also to set up. neither worked. i tried the troubleshooting steps. to no availif i get a new adapter w/booster and vista capable make it work? however if i get the new adapter. how do i do the steps to connect to existing network?thank you

hello there i have a workgroup problem too. I have two wireless laptop. on hp i have xp and on datron i have vista starter.I have connected my laptops using adhoc.and i am using exactly the same workgroup. I have shared some files on hp and i can seethem using datron(vista)and can change them.but i cant reach the Datrons shared folders.It says me that "you may not have permission to this.please connect to admin"something like this.and when i try to reach from hp(xp) to datron in workgroup title a popup comes up and asks me the username and password but i didnt use any password.(i have tried the passswords i gavewhen i created th network but it stills gives the same problem.i also tried creating an user account on datron bu it didnt work anyway).please anyone could help meand if i can manage to solve this problem i want to share "microsoft works"in these laptops.can i manage to see the changes in one laptopwhich i makeat theother's microsoft work program??and how can i share it please...

Just for note , the password its asking for is the user account your asking to make use of. You have share only with users with profile on the pc checked off. If Its a pain turn it off. Thats all I have for now.coolbiker

Hi, Have you tried giving IP address of that Xp System in Laptop. If not try like this go to start run type like this \\ IP Address of the Xp. Yours Truly Vishwanath

Try Network Magic

Steve, Thank you for your input! You have solved the problem!! I added both ip addresses into the XP (wired) McAfee and the Vista (wireless) McAfee firewall trusted sites and everything including the printers transferred like magic. Thanks again, Larry Blue

Captain Ron,You saved me. I was searching many bulletin boards for weeks, and tried all other suggestions. Nothing worked but yours.I found many users are having the same problem. I wish MS would post a general solution for this issue.

I have a handheld application that has to access a SQL database. It works on my venerable desktop which has Windows XP. I bought a Compaq Pressario with Vista Premium last week and can't get the network to work completely. I can get on the internet from the Vista machine and I can copy fileson the XP machine to the Vista machine from the Vista Machine.My XP machine showsup on the Vista machine's network mapI can't access any files on the Vista machine from any other device on the network. The Vista machine won't respond to a ping. Everything else on the network can ping each other. I tried most of what has been suggested here but no luck. I downloaded LLTD and disconnected my internet connection and turned both the Norton and Windows firewalls off. Windows locator doesn't stick for me either. It's got to be something pretty specific that I need to set but I can't find it.

oh my GOD THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU!!!! IT WORKS EVERYONE LISTEN TO THE NORTON PART, ALLOW ALL THE THINGS, ANY CONNECTION ANYCOMPUTER!! I CAN CONNECT NOW!! THANKYOU!!

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

Lee811g wrote: Hello again! Ok, let's see...yes, WinXP can see and access Vista. Yes, Vista recognizes WinXP machine (in the "detailed" network map) but cannot access it or the printer connected to it. When I mouse over it in the detailed network map, the pop-up shows me the ip address, and the correct "name" however, it's not "click-able." When I open Networks and Sharing in Vista, it shows the Vista lap, dotted line to the network name, then to the internet. When I bring up the detailed map, it shows that same configuration, but below is the WinXP machine, solid line to a "switch" with a dotted line from the "switch" up to the network name. The Network window just shows the Vista lap and the shared media on Vista. As I said before, I can ping from the Vista lap to the WinXP desktop, and the other way around, and everyone talks nicely, but other than that, no access from the lap to the desktop. The only thing I have not been able to do (and this is going back quite a few posts) is to select the "Windows Locater" in the drop down menu as the RPC service in the Client for MS Networks properties on the Vista machine. I can choose it, but it doesn't stay. I know some folks said that was all they had to do. That's what it is set to on the XP machine. I don't know if it could possibly be as simple as that, but I'll take anything at this point. Thanks for all the help...I'm still working on it! Lee811g I've been reading through this and other threads for a while now. I was having the same issues as you and they were driving me mental. Just figured it out and, as redondo77 thought might be the case in his post following yours, the problem was on the XP computer. Try the following on the XP machine: 1 - go to "My network places" and click on "View network connections"; 2 - in my case, the computer was accessing the network via the ethernet card, so I right-clicked on that option and selected "properties" - right click on the relevant connection on your computer and select "properties"; 3 - the second checkbox in the list of options, namely"File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks", was NOT checked on my computer so I checked this box and clicked ok - do the same on yours; and, finally 4 - remvove network cable and then reinsert in order reinitiate the XP computers connection to the network. If it works like it did on my computer, your XP computer should magically now be visable and, more importantly, accessible through the "Network" page of your Vista PC (not just visible on the 'detailed map' as it is at the moment). Sincerely hope this helps. As I said, it has been driving me crazy and it turns out it was this one small setting in the properties of the LAN connection on my XP machine that was the issue all along....

Hi! Well, where do I begin. To make a VERY LONG story short, I installed a program called Network Magic (networkmagic.com) and within SECONDS I was sharing files, accessing xp from vista and vice-versa. HOWEVER, the one thing that still eludes me to this day is the printer sharing. I CANNOT share the printer that is connected to my xp machine. I don't know if it's a Dell thing (it's a Dell printer - as a matter of fact, all the systems involved are Dell systems), a router thing (recently had to get a new router - went from a Belkin to a Linksys), or the fact that the driver on the xp machine is an xp driver (of course) and the driver I downloaded for the printer on the vista machine is...you guessed it...a vista driver (of course)! Dell says that you do NOT have to install the xp driver on the vista machine, so I haven't tried that yet. When I try to "add a printer" in vista, and select a network printer, it sees the Dell 942 on the xp machine, but it keeps tell me "cannot connect...error 0x000000d....lost communication," etc. So now I am just thinking of getting a new printer with built-in wireless...I will research a few more options, but I am about done with this one! Thanks for the help!

Thanks so much. I just bought a laptop with vista and as i had all my other pcs and laps on an xp network. I could not quite figure how to get my vista laptop to see the others until i read your fix Thanks again. Worked Great.

I loaded up the seven day trial of Network Magic. I was amazed at how easy it was to network my VISTA and XP computers. Everything worked as it should. Then...... It seemed like my XP machine started slowing down. E-mail couldn't connect to servers, the Interent became slow as molasses, and I even received a report that my computer's DSL connection had failed. Oh Boy! I was not happy! My VISTA machine continued to function normally.I finally uninstalled Network Magic, and like magic, my XP machine recovered.Really not sure what was going on.Headscratcher

Woohoo, I finnaly got this stupid network to work. I have a wireless HP laptop (vista), and two cabled XP desktops all connected by a router.I selected the Windows locator in the network properties of the client for MS windows then pressed ok, then without closing the network properties box I opened up a new network tab and pressed refresh... and done!

JOY! Just bought a new Vista notebook for Christmas. Had the same problem as everyone else getting the new machine to communicate with my existing XP machines. The best advice came from Redondo77. Take a deep breadth. Then I proceeded toturn off the Norton antivirus and firewall that came with the notebook. Later I found out thatI could turn Norton back onas long afteraddingmy wireless access point and router to my Trusted list. As for the printers: I have 2 printers, each connected to XP machines. My epson connected as a network printer with no issues. However connecting to my HP gave me error messages, although it was clearly recognized by Vista. Here's the solution which worked for me: - Add Printer->Local Printer (Not Network) - Under Ports, select New Port - For the printer name, use the UNC (universal naming convention) \\ComputerName\PrinterName Thanks again all.

Check out: http://www.pacswinsig.org/forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=991 The Registry hack worked for me. Of course, I don't know what additional trouble I'll get into now.

I really need help!!!!!!!!!I have set up my network and I can see all computers but I am having problems sharing folders.The computer with vista is my server and when I try to access the shared folders it keeps asking me to set permissions and I don't know how to do this. If you can help me I would be very appreciative. This is affecting me being able to get the ball rolling with my office this year.

Have you tried any of the above suggestions presented in this forum?

you might also wish to post your issue at the below site ... i've found more postings with detailed help there:http://vista.theeldergeek.com/forum/look for the forum on windows networking ... there are senior tech folks there who have a lot of experience and are willing to share it cheers,redondo77

@redondo77 your #4 worked for me. i had basically tried all the other things already, so i'm sure it's a combination of a few things, but installing Link Layer Topology Discovery update on the XP comp worked. update is KB922120 good luck finding it if your XP system doesn't have an internet connection [ie. can't use Windows Updater]. i eventually found a torrent...

This post did help, with item 5, "you might not have permission to use this network resource" to finally successfully resolve the last of the connectivity issues between Windows Vista Ultimate connected via LAN switch to a Windows XP Home Edition PC. One of the vital steps to do first before dealing with item 5 above is to turn off "Microsoft TCP/IP version 6" on both the Vista Machine and the XP Home Edition machine. This is done first by displaying the Local Area Connection Status first on each machine and then clicking upon the properties button once the window box is painted. This paints the Local Area Connection Properties box. Scroll down and uncheck the "Microsoft TCP/IP version 6" button on the XP Home Edition machine. On the Windows Vista machine, this same feature is called the "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)", and you do want to uncheck it also. On this same machine, I modified the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" properties to as listed below (make up your own IP addresses as appropriate). I also had to repeat these steps on the XP Home Edition machine: Windows Vista Machine: Windows Home Edition Machine: IP Address: 169.254.91.200IP Address: 169.254.91.199 SubNet Mask: 255.255.0.0 SubNet Mask: 255.255.0.0 Default Gateway: 169.254.91.199 Default Gateway: 169.254.91.199 Preferred DNS Server: 169.254.91.199 Preferred DNS Server: 169.254.91.199 Remember that on the XP machine, you must download and install the Link-Layer Topology Discovery Responder ... and you must select it by checking its box on the Local Area Connection Properties window if you expect Windows Vista Ultimate to detect the machine. Remember also that you must set sharing properties for those disk drives and folders that you want to share over your LAN for each machine. The Trend Micro firewall that came with my new machine I had to deactivate completely and then activate the Windows Firewall on each machine. On the Vista Ultimate machine, I had to ADD the following ports as Windows Firewall EXCEPTIONS settings (I named each new port to indicate its type and port number): Windows Vista machine:Windows XP machine: Name Port Type Port Number Name Port Type Port Number UDP3702 UDP 3702UDP3702 UDP 3702 (Vista network discovery of TCP & TCP5357 TCP 5357TCP5357 TCP 5357 UDP traffic) TCP5358 TCP 5358TCP5358TCP 5358 UDP137 UDP 137 (Vista & XPnetwork discovery of UDP138 UDP 138 file & printer sharing traffic) TCP139 TCP139 TCP445 TCP445 UDP1900 UDP1900 (Network discovery of network TCP2869 TCP 2869 devices) After adding these ports to the Windows Firewall Exceptions list, be sure to check off the Core Networking, File & Printer Sharing, Network Discovery, & Peer-to-Peer Collaboration selections as a minimum group of additional Firewall EXCEPTIONS, and review the other optional selections to choose those that meet your LAN environment needs, such as Mobile-based Devices, Portable Devices, etc. Choose those that meet your needs also. After completing all of these steps, be sure to reboot each machine, and then you should be able to ping each machine and utilize "My Network Places" on the XP machine to see its shared files and printers as well as the Vista machine's shared files and printers. You have to load the Network and Sharing Center and click upon the "View Full Map" button and then click upon the Local Area Connection drag-down box to see the LAN machines of the same workgroup. If you don't, you probably forgot to be consistent when configuring each machine's workgroup name to be the same. As soon as you see that map painted with more than one machine, you're pretty much on the home stretch. If a machine is missing you have to check its settings to see if they are in line with the above and that each machine is in the same workgroup. You will then probably want to refine your disk drive and file folder share settings to meet your LAN needs, and then pop a cold beer to celebrate your success at doing something that shouldn't be so difficult to do with a newly released product.

I Found The Solution For My Network. I Have A Desktop With XP, Laptop With Vista. Same Problems Like Everyone Else. Tried It All and Nothing Worked. Finaly I Removed SP2 on My DeskTop And Every Thing Works Great. I Can Connect Back And Forth And All Of My Printers, USB Devices, Bluetooth, And Wirless IsAccesible On Both. I Will Not Install Another Damn Update From Microsoft Again. Hope This Helps Any One That Cant Get Othr Solutions To Work. Have Friend That The Other Solution WorkFor. Give it a try first before last resort and removing part of windows.

I've had this problem, try dowloading this software from microsoft and reading advice-worked for me! http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/409fb2fa-8eb8-45af-b063-4f50f5a77b291033.mspx?mfr=true

I have been having the same problems with sharing a printer over my network. I have a few xp desktops, one with a printer, and one new laptop running vista. I can print over my network on all the computers except the new vista laptop. I have disabled all the firewalls i could find on both the laptop, and xp desktop with printer. I can see and share files just fine, and can even see the printer on the xp machine from the vista laptop, but when i right click and try to connect, it says, "windows cannot connect to printer, access is denied." I tried to plug the printer in directly to the laptop, and with a little convincing, i was able to print with it. I believe this means that i have the driver for the printer on my computer. Still no luck on being able to actually connect to the printer though.and the irony of it all, when the vista laptop is connected to the printer directly, I can SEE THE STUPID PRINTER FROM MY XP DESKTOP that should have the printer connected to it!!.. frustrating..any help would be stellar, Thanks

What do you mean by "I opened up a new network tab and pressed refresh... and done!" ??? Where is this new network tab?

I also can not make the Name Service Provider selection remain after I close the Local Area Connection properties. I adjust it to "Windows Locator", but after reopening this windows again the Name Service Provider is blank again. Did you find the solution of this problem? Does anyone know how to fix it???

First you have to make sure that you haveLink Layer Topology check boxes selected on the Vista network card settings. On the XP machine you may have to download the Link-Layer Topology Discover Responder file from Microsoft's Tech website, install it, and then make sure that it is selected for the XP network card. On the XP machine, while you are selecting the Link-Layer Topology Discover Responder option, turn off the Microsoft TCP/IP version 6 option on both machines (Vista machine also). Next, while on the XP machine, load the firewall configuration program, and then select the "Exceptions Tab". To open up the network communications "pipelines" between the two machines, you must add TCP and UDP ports to the Windows Firewall exceptions screen. If you are running anyone else's firewall ... get rid of it and use Microsoft's. While on the XP machine, and at the Windows Firewall Exceptions screen, click on the Add Port button which pops up the Add a Port window. Give the first new port a name of TCP5357, with a port number of ... 5357. Click the TCP option button, and then exit the Add port window. Click the Add Port button again, and this time give the next port you are adding a name of TCP5358, with a port number of ... 5358. Click the TCP option button to select it, and then exix the Add port button again. This time ... name the new port UDP3702, with a port number of ... 3702. This time click the UDP button to select it and then exit the Add port window. You've now configured the XP machine's Window Firewall to communicate and share printers with a Vista Machine. Get on the Vista machine, and if someone else's firewall is on it, get rid of it and use Microsoft's firewall ... activate it and then select the Exceptions Tab just like you did on the XP machine. Now you have to do everything you just did on the XP Machine in adding TCP ports and the UDP port, but the bad news is that the Vista machine requires additional TCP and UDP ports over and above the same ports that you added to the XP machine (you still have to install these same ports on the Vista machine.). Once you've got the same TCP & UDP ports that you installed on the XP machine named and installed the same way as you did on the XP machine but this time installed and named on the Vista machine, you now have to add three more TCP ports and three more UDP ports to the Vista machine's firewall exceptions screen. These ports install the same way you did it on the XP machine, there's just more of them to install. Add the next TCP port, name it TCP139, give it a port number of 139, select the TCP button, and exit the add port window. Add the next TCP port, name it TCP2869, give it a port number of 2869, select the TCP button, and exit the add port window. Add the next TCP port, nameit TCP445, and give it a port number of 445, select the TCP button, and exit the add port window. Add the next UDP port, name it UDP137, give it a port number of 137, select the UDP button, and exit the add port window. Add the next UDP port, name it UDP138, give it a port number of 138, select the UDP button, and exit the add port window. Add the next UDP port, name it UDP1900, give it a port number of 1900, select the UDP button, and exit the add port window. Look at the Exceptions screen on the Vista machine, and there should now be 5 TCP ports and 4 UDP ports (communication pipelines) installed as exceptions to the Windows Firewall. The XP machine will have 2 TCP ports and one UDP port installed as exceptions to the Windows Firewall there. Reboot both machines, and try to see if you can see them with Network Neighborhood on each machine. If you don't, and now that you have the ports opened up through the Windows firewall on both machines, you may have to do what I had to do ... invent my own TCPIP numbers for each machine for the TCPIP v4 option,and utilizing the XP machine's TCPIP number as the gateway TCPIP number on both machines and the Preferred Domain Name Server TCPIP number on both machines. After I did this, I then had to search for the "hosts" textfile on each machine and add these TCPIP numbers and machine names to the "hosts" file on each machine and then save the file. There may be more than one of these files on each machine, and if you're not sure you updated the right one, update all of them as demonstrated below: # Copyright (c) 1993-2006 Microsoft Corp.## This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.## This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one# space.## Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.## For example:## 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host 127.0.0.1 localhost::1 localhost179.244.81.170Yourmachine1# Vista computer 179.244.81.169Yourmachine2# XP computer The TCPIP numbers and machine names have all been changed to protect my machine addresses, but if you invent your own and are consistent on each machine, you will now have a host table to tell Windows on each machine whatevery networked computer's address and machine name is. You next have to create a Network group name (such as MyNetwork), and on each machine, tell it that it belongs to the MyNetwork group and the machine name is YourMachine1 or YourMachine2 depending on which machine you are configuring at the time. Once you've completed these steps on each computer, reboot each one and try to ping each machine by typing the following command from the Start Run window: ping 179.244.81.170 or ping Yourmachine1 and pressing the enter key. If the machine you are on can see the one you are pinging, you will know it immediately. Get on the other machine and repeat the exercise, butthis time ping 179.244.81.169 or ping Yourmachine2 and pressing the enter key. Again, you will know immediately if that machine can see the other machine. There are other issues to deal with, but if the pinging is working, you are on the home stretch. Now you have to "share" subdirectories and printers on each machine and that's a topic all in itself. Some applications that work on XP mysteriously won't work on Vista ... because Vista's security reaches down to the subdirectory level and you may have to to change the user rights on an application subdirectory to administrator rights just so you can use a program you've been using for years on another version of Windows. Good hunting ... but consider this ... the reason Microsoft is so worried about Google is ... you can find solutions to your Windows Vista problems using Google's search engine faster and better than you can using Microsoft's resources ... go figure.

Re: Problem setting up a network with xp and vista First you have to make sure that you haveLink Layer Topology check boxes selected on the Vista network card settings. On the XP machine you may have to download the Link-Layer Topology Discover Responder file from Microsoft's Tech website, install it, and then make sure that it is selected for the XP network card. On the XP machine, while you are selecting the Link-Layer Topology Discover Responder option, turn off the Microsoft TCP/IP version 6 option on both machines (Vista machine also). Next, while on the XP machine, load the firewall configuration program, and then select the "Exceptions Tab". To open up the network communications "pipelines" between the two machines, you must add TCP and UDP ports to the Windows Firewall exceptions screen. If you are running anyone else's firewall ... get rid of it and use Microsoft's. While on the XP machine, and at the Windows Firewall Exceptions screen, click on the Add Port button which pops up the Add a Port window. Give the first new port a name of TCP5357, with a port number of ... 5357. Click the TCP option button, and then exit the Add port window. Click the Add Port button again, and this time give the next port you are adding a name of TCP5358, with a port number of ... 5358. Click the TCP option button to select it, and then exix the Add port button again. This time ... name the new port UDP3702, with a port number of ... 3702. This time click the UDP button to select it and then exit the Add port window. You've now configured the XP machine's Window Firewall to communicate and share printers with a Vista Machine. Get on the Vista machine, and if someone else's firewall is on it, get rid of it and use Microsoft's firewall ... activate it and then select the Exceptions Tab just like you did on the XP machine. Now you have to do everything you just did on the XP Machine in adding TCP ports and the UDP port, but the bad news is that the Vista machine requires additional TCP and UDP ports over and above the same ports that you added to the XP machine (you still have to install these same ports on the Vista machine.). Once you've got the same TCP & UDP ports that you installed on the XP machine named and installed the same way as you did on the XP machine but this time installed and named on the Vista machine, you now have to add three more TCP ports and three more UDP ports to the Vista machine's firewall exceptions screen. These ports install the same way you did it on the XP machine, there's just more of them to install. Add the next TCP port, name it TCP139, give it a port number of 139, select the TCP button, and exit the add port window. Add the next TCP port, name it TCP2869, give it a port number of 2869, select the TCP button, and exit the add port window. Add the next TCP port, nameit TCP445, and give it a port number of 445, select the TCP button, and exit the add port window. Add the next UDP port, name it UDP137, give it a port number of 137, select the UDP button, and exit the add port window. Add the next UDP port, name it UDP138, give it a port number of 138, select the UDP button, and exit the add port window. Add the next UDP port, name it UDP1900, give it a port number of 1900, select the UDP button, and exit the add port window. Look at the Exceptions screen on the Vista machine, and there should now be 5 TCP ports and 4 UDP ports (communication pipelines) installed as exceptions to the Windows Firewall. The XP machine will have 2 TCP ports and one UDP port installed as exceptions to the Windows Firewall there. Reboot both machines, and try to see if you can see them with Network Neighborhood on each machine. If you don't, and now that you have the ports opened up through the Windows firewall on both machines, you may have to do what I had to do ... invent my own TCPIP numbers for each machine for the TCPIP v4 option,and utilizing the XP machine's TCPIP number as the gateway TCPIP number on both machines and the Preferred Domain Name Server TCPIP number on both machines. After I did this, I then had to search for the "hosts" textfile on each machine and add these TCPIP numbers and machine names to the "hosts" file on each machine and then save the file. There may be more than one of these files on each machine, and if you're not sure you updated the right one, update all of them as demonstrated below: # Copyright (c) 1993-2006 Microsoft Corp.## This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.## This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one# space.## Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.## For example:## 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host 127.0.0.1 localhost::1 localhost179.244.81.170Yourmachine1# Vista computer 179.244.81.169Yourmachine2# XP computer The TCPIP numbers and machine names have all been changed to protect my machine addresses, but if you invent your own and are consistent on each machine, you will now have a host table to tell Windows on each machine what its address and machine name is. You next have to create a Network group name (such as MyNetwork), and on each machine, tell it that it belongs to the MyNetwork group and the machine name is YourMachine1 or YourMachine2 depending on which machine you are configuring at the time. Once you've completed these steps on each computer, reboot each one and try to ping each machine by typing the following command from the Start Run window: ping 179.244.81.170 or ping Yourmachine1 and pressing the enter key. If the machine you are one can see the one you are pinging, you will know it immediately. Get on the other machine and repeat the exercise, butthis time ping 179.244.81.169 or ping Yourmachine2 and pressing the enter key. Again, you will know immediately if that machine can see the other machine. There are other issues to deal with, but if the pinging is working, you are on the home stretch. Now you have to "share" subdirectories and printers on each machine and that's a topic all in itself. Some applications that work on XP mysteriously wont' work on Vista ... because Vista's security reaches down to the subdirectory and you may have to to change the user rights on an application subdirectory to administrator rights just so you can use a program you've been using for years on another version of Windows. Good hunting ... but consider this ... the reason Microsoft is so worried about Google is ... you can find solutions to your Windows Vista problems using Google's search engine faster and better than you can using Microsoft's resources ... go figure. MIke

Thank you so much for your post! I had spent a few hours trying everything out and was about to give up. I thought the antivirus (norton) would be alright, but it turned out that was the problem... Thanks again!

I have to tell you to please be grateful to Dell for even bothering to help! HP will not. My networking was working perfectly on my new laptop until my hard drive quit after only one month. I was offered PAID support. After receiving the new hard drive and spending 7 hours using the recovery media and then several additional hours installing the programs I actually use, I could not get my Vista computer to see the others or the XP computer to access the Vista (it did identify it). I spent all day today trying everything I could think of then called HP and they would do nothing. Of course, I actually did not expect that they would. The computer that I have now was replacing one that they had for two months UNDER WARRANTY SERVICE! Stick with Dell. They are doing all they can. There are just so many variables and different combinations of variables that can affect the networking. I tried all the other things mentioned earlier in this thread with no resolution, then...What did work for me:I ran Windows update and looked for OPTIONAL updates. I had service pack 3 and was running automatic update, but that only installs recommended or critical updates. I installed two .NET optional updates, rebooted and went back to My Network Places and noticed immediately that the icons were different and got excited! I was able to access my Vista laptop. Then I went on to my laptop. I had to refresh a couple of times, but I am now connected and was able to add my printer that is connected to my desktop as well!My new computer will definitely be a Dell. My sister-in-law even got them to send her a recovery cd for a used computer that was no longer under warranty. They spent hours trying to help her to get her computer to access the internet with her new DSL modem. I eventually got it to work for her before the cd came in the mail, but I was amazed that they actually went so far to help her when her computer was not even under warranty and she was not even the original owner. Now that is FANTASTIC customer service.

As far as I've seen on my computer connecting a vista pc to an xp pc is my store bought firewall. I was upgrading to vista and copying file via my network and my xp pc wouldn't let me in .Vista would say theres a problem connecting and then tell me to reset my network connection which ended up not being the culprit. I turned off the firewall for the time need and I was able to access the computer. My siblings xp computer which is on wireless I've had no trouble connecting to and he doesn't have the store bought firewall.Did someone in these 6 pages list the ports or should I just turn it off as needed. If I was in a corporate environment I know this would be troublesome fixbut its something to add.btw I'm sure if you have'nt gotten your wireless to work together again is not your hard drive if anything. the drive only holds the setting which you need to set again. (turn on sharing ,pc discovery, printers is nesseary). make sure that the drivers are installed for the network device and if theres any newer drivers otherwise off your pc's web site.hope that gives someone something to work with.

Great post, and this solved my problem too, except there's one inaccuracy. After you click, "Manage Nework Connections" click "Adapter properties" then click Client for Microsoft Networks then properties. You do not click your wireless connection.Thanks!

As far as i read, I've not found out my problem yet. My both pc and laptop can find each other on network but I can't connect to internet with my laptop (Which uses Vista). I've closed down my Firewall and so on but no chance at all Any suggestions are welcome, thanks in advance!

Mike@example.com wrote: This post did help, with item 5, "you might not have permission to use this network resource" to finally successfully resolve the last of the connectivity issues between Windows Vista Ultimate connected via LAN switch to a Windows XP Home Edition PC. One of the vital steps to do first before dealing with item 5 above is to turn off "Microsoft TCP/IP version 6" on both the Vista Machine and the XP Home Edition machine. This is done first by displaying the Local Area Connection Status first on each machine and then clicking upon the properties button once the window box is painted. This paints the Local Area Connection Properties box. Scroll down and uncheck the "Microsoft TCP/IP version 6" button on the XP Home Edition machine. On the Windows Vista machine, this same feature is called the "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)", and you do want to uncheck it also. On this same machine, I modified the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" properties to as listed below (make up your own IP addresses as appropriate). I also had to repeat these steps on the XP Home Edition machine: Windows Vista Machine: Windows Home Edition Machine: IP Address: 179.254.78.200IP Address: 179.254.78.199 SubNet Mask: 255.255.0.0 SubNet Mask: 255.255.0.0 Default Gateway: 179.254.78.199 Default Gateway: 179.254.78.199 Preferred DNS Server: 179.254.78.199 Preferred DNS Server: 179.254.78.199 Remember that on the XP machine, you must download and install the Link-Layer Topology Discovery Responder ... and you must select it by checking its box on the Local Area Connection Properties window if you expect Windows Vista Ultimate to detect the machine. Remember also that you must set sharing properties for those disk drives and folders that you want to share over your LAN for each machine. The Trend Micro firewall that came with my new machine I had to deactivate completely and then activate the Windows Firewall on each machine. On the Vista Ultimate machine, I had to ADD the following ports as Windows Firewall EXCEPTIONS settings (I named each new port to indicate its type and port number): Windows Vista machine:Windows XP machine: Name Port Type Port Number Name Port Type Port Number UDP3702 UDP 3702UDP3702 UDP 3702 (Vista network discovery of TCP & TCP5357 TCP 5357TCP5357 TCP 5357 UDP traffic) TCP5358 TCP 5358TCP5358TCP 5358 UDP137 UDP 137 (Vista & XPnetwork discovery of UDP138 UDP 138 file & printer sharing traffic) TCP139 TCP139 TCP445 TCP445 UDP1900 UDP1900 (Network discovery of network TCP2869 TCP 2869 devices) After adding these ports to the Windows Firewall Exceptions list, be sure to check off the Core Networking, File & Printer Sharing, Network Discovery, & Peer-to-Peer Collaboration selections as a minimum group of additional Firewall EXCEPTIONS, and review the other optional selections to choose those that meet your LAN environment needs, such as Mobile-based Devices, Portable Devices, etc. Choose those that meet your needs also. After completing all of these steps, be sure to reboot each machine, and then you should be able to ping each machine and utilize "My Network Places" on the XP machine to see its shared files and printers as well as the Vista machine's shared files and printers. You have to load the Network and Sharing Center and click upon the "View Full Map" button and then click upon the Local Area Connection drag-down box to see the LAN machines of the same workgroup. If you don't, you probably forgot to be consistent when configuring each machine's workgroup name to be the same. As soon as you see that map painted with more than one machine, you're pretty much on the home stretch. If a machine is missing you have to check its settings to see if they are in line with the above and that each machine is in the same workgroup. You will then probably want to refine your disk drive and file folder share settings to meet your LAN needs, and then pop a cold beer to celebrate your success at doing something that shouldn't be so difficult to do with a newly released product.

Captain Ron wrote: Ok, it took me about 3 days to figure this one out. It worked for me and I couldn't find it in any help file. On the Vista machine, go to the Networking and Sharing Center. Click on Manage Network Connections. Right click your wireless connection and click Properties. Click on Client for Microsoft Networks and click Properties. In mine the Name Service Provider was blank. Switch that to Windows Locator and click ok. Mine discovered everything within seconds. Hope this helps! Thanks. It worked for me.....your a star

You are a legend thanks heaps...saved my life

Hi I am stuck after Right click your wireless connection and click Properties. I don't see Click on Client for Microsoft Networks and click Properties.

Try clicking the install button, and then look for the Client for Microsoft Networks. If you see it listed, select it for installation.

I don't see a install button

4 steps that helped me with vishta:- enable widows firewall, disable antivirus firewall, set win firewal to standart funktions, go exceptions mark "core networking, file and printer sharing, network discovery, remote assistance";- go network and sharing center, set on network discovery, file sharing, password protected sharing on;- go manage network connections, local area network, properties, TCP/IP v4, properties, advanced, wins click Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP;- go start run (if there is no run , go click right mouse on taskbar, properties, start menu, customize, mar Run command) write "regedit" ok, go HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE >Software>Microsoft>Windows>curent version>policies>system>(if there is no that file create it by right click on right widow new>dword> file name"LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy") selectLocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy right mouse > modify value data: 1;I dont know which of that have helped? But I'v made all those changes acording to diferent sugestions from internet. And it now works (for the moment, you know microsoft!).

I fixed my Vista and XP networking issue with help from this thread. Someone mentioned using "manage network connections" on the Vista machine. Choosing "local area connection" properties and then choosing "Client for Microsoft networks" and then choosing "Windows locator" under "Name service provider". This almost worked except "Windows locator" would not stick. To fix this issue, after taking the steps mentioned above, I reset the "local area connection" by choosing to diagnose the local area connection and then even though it said it was working fine I reset / repaired the connection.Then Norton Internet Security 2009 was the other issue. If you choose to "Map your network" from Norton the other computer is there but not trusted or identified correctly. Configured these issues on both my Vista and XP machines in Norton, did a final restart and then it worked!!!!!Prior to this you must make sure you have both machines set up with the same workgroup name - XP and Vista use different default workgroup names - change this on the computer name tab under "system" from the control panel so both machines have the same workgroup name. And you need to allow file and print sharing and share the drives or folders you want shared. Make sure you consider security issues and access rights when sharing drives or folders.Hope this helps,Trish

Make sure both your Laptop and PC are on a Network called WORKGROUPor HOME. No matter, as long as BOTH are on the same Network ID.On your VISTA Laptop, go to START\RUN(*)and type CMD. Type ipconfig /all. Verify thatDHCP is enabled. And make note of VISTA PC's IP address (i.e., 192.168.1.xxx) Type EXIT.Do the same as above on your XP PC.If you have a Norton Firewall, go to Firewall Configure, Networking, Trustedtab, and add the XP IP.Repeat above with VISTA Laptop. (Similar settings should be available on other Firewalls.)Go back to START\RUN and type CMD. Ping IP address (ping 192.168.1.xxx) on each...You should seefour bee-u-tifull lines with a happy reply.Then, check your Network connections. U should see Laptop and PC on the network happily chatting with each other. From then on, it's a piece of cake.Chief Zee(*)If you can't locate RUN on your VISTA Laptop, go to Control Panel (Click Classic View on L-panel), find and double-click TASK & SETTINGS.SelectCLASSIC MENU. Your start up should resemble XP's.

If you have a Norton Firewall, go to Firewall Configure, Networking, Trustedtab, and add the XP IP. Where doI find this?And to add to that, I think all my IP address' are goofed, even though they all can connect to the internet.

EXCELLENT! Solution worked like a charm. Thanks a bunch guys.

All of redondo77's(April 14, 2007) information was very helpful. My network is now set up correctly. The only thing that was left for me to figure out was that I had to share my home computer's "c" drive. After I did that, my laptop (Vista) was able to access my Canon printer through my home computer (XP Home Edition). Myprinter is connected to my home computer via the USB cable and my laptop accesses the home computer wirelessly through the router.This set up enables my laptop to wirelessly send a print job to my home computer and my home computer sends the printing job to the printer via the USB cable. The print driver for Vista was not even needed on my laptop or home computer, which uses the print driver for XP. I am so happy now thanks to redondo77--you're the best!

Xp home edition can,t support n/w

Im having the same issue but my networked machines are xp with 1 windows 7 machine. how would i go about this on the xp machines?

Does anyone know why I would get this error when trying to access a freshly created workgroup, by the way, I am logged on with my admin account? "Home is not accesible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available" I would appreciate any feedback, thank you