I have already posted this, got one response, but no responses to my reply!Have included everything from that post......Right...This is driving me absolutely insane, I CANNOT for the life of me, enable File Sharing in Vista anymore. I bring down the little menu thing, select Enable and click Apply, then.....thats it. doesn't do ANYTHING.Its annoying me, because i do share quite a few files across my network and I can't access it whatsoever.Any idea's what it could be??I've got SP1 on Vista Home Premium.I've tried enabling it on many many occasions, restarting, it is the same when connected via Wireless or LAN.Hellllllllp!!!!(My First Post)-------------------------------------------------------- Hi Did you change anything before this has happened? Is file and printer sharing enabled within Network and Sharing Center? (Sent by Youngun)-------------------------------------------------------Hi,No, nothing has changed, not that I can think of...any idea's what I may have changed? The only thing I do in networking, is change the IP address to static sometimes, for work purposes, but....that is it.I've just opened up Network & Sharing Center....What I have is:Network Discovery - OnFile Sharing - Off (If i try and enable, it doesnt allow)Password Protected Sharing - OnThats all I have on.If i disable Network Discovery and go to view computers & devices, it drops down the yellow box saying "Network discovery and file sharing are turned off. Network computers and devices are not visible, Click to Change..."So... i click it, click to turn Netowrk discovery AND file sharing on and all it does is enable network discovery, it cannot start file sharing at all.Once Network Discovery is activated, the only thing that is under "Network" is "Microsoft Publication Service Device Host" I havent seen this before, until I started getting this problem...Does that help at all Youngun?(My Reply)

Hi, Before we go further, I would like to confirm the following information with you: 1. Is there any error message received when you try to turn on File Sharing in the Network and Sharing Center? 2. Is there any third party firewall or antivirus program installed on the Windows Vista machine? Meanwhile, please perform the following tests to troubleshoot the issue: 1. Please boot into Safe Mode with Networking to check if you can turn on the File Sharing, it should display Custom. 2. Please temporarily turn off the firewall to check if the File Sharing is On.

Hi,Thank you for your response!1. There is no error when i try and turn File Sharing on, the little yellow bar at the top, just keeps dropping down as soon as i've clicked to enable it, no errors in Network & Sharing Center either.2. I'm using AVG Free Edition and Windows Firewall. I have never had any problems with AVG, so don't expect any now...3. I have already tried turning the firewall off, to see if this was preventing me from enabling File Sharing, it didn't make any difference.4. I am currently in Safe Mode as i type this, I have firewall disabled too and i still cannot enable File Sharing. I click "Turn On File Sharing" and click "Apply" .... nothing, straight back to nothingAlso, Network Discovery is set as "Custom" - I can't make it say "On" :-SThanksSimon

Hi Simon, I would like to confirm if you booted into Safe Mode with Networking or Safe Mode. Please understand that the two modes are different. Thus, please make sure that you perform the test in Safe Mode with Networking. Meanwhile, please try to access the share folders on the Windows Vista machine with Windows Firewall disabled and let me know the result (exact wording of the error message). Based on my understanding, the options (On/Off) in the Network and Sharing Center will be changed according to the Firewall rules. Supposed the File Sharing will be On automatically after Windows Firewall is turned off. As a result, I suspect that there is other third party filter driver preventing the File Sharing from being On.

Hi Joson, I have just tried what you said and it still didnt work. I did go into Safe Mode with Networking. That is how I managed to send you the reply whilst being on it. I have had a search on google for this Microsoft Publication Service Device Host, and it appears that its a problem known on Vista, many people are having the same issue. I have uploaded a video to Photobucket, so you can see what is actually happening when i try and enable it. http://s304.photobucket.com/albums/nn195/ch33ky_m0nk3y05/?action=view&current=Movie_0002.flv I will pursue these other forums, unless you can find anything else that might be the answer. its all to do with this stupid Microsoft Publication Service Device Host!! Thanks for your help so far. Simon

I am getting exactly the same error, running Vista Ultimate 64 bit. Computers on my workgroup that I could see and access before this latest "upgrade" now show up, but cannot be accessed. Some, especially the older XP computers on this workgroup, cannot be seen at all. I have changed nothing except to permit the installation of Microsoft's various upgrades. When I try to access the computers that I can see, I get the following error: "\\computer 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. The specified network provider name is invalid." This is ridiculous.

I Have the same freaking problem with my computer as Jee, Its between my computer and my fathers... Same error, But Im trying to access a Vista computer with Vista D:

Hi Simon, I amin no a "techn guru, but I have the same problem on my network. When viewingyour photobucket video (excellent idea), I noticed the "Microsoft Publication Service Device Host" on your system too. Do you know its purpose? I cannot do anything with it and was wondering if this could be causing the problem?

Hi Marq, I am not sure myself, I have tried to search for it and tried removing it, or disabling it with some help from some other forums. Again.....had no luck! Recently, I had to wipe my laptop due to some malware which was causing me issues, I have now not got SP1 on it and my networking is fine, I am wondering what is it that causes it, is it SP1? Is it something else? Some other Windows Update that triggers something off?? :-S