I had a home wireless network with all computers running XP. My host computer is dual booting Windows 7, but the other computers are unable to do file/printer sharing while Windows 7 is on the host computer, but they can connect to the internet. When I boot up the host computer with XP, they work normally. Any idea why or how to fix this?

By default, Windows 7 starts out in a HomeGroup when the network connection is discovered. HomeGroup is specifically for other HomeGroup participants on a network who are using either Vista or Windows 7, so anybody else wouldn't even know that you're on the network.In your case, with Windows 7, you need to take yourself out of the HomeGroup so that the other machines can see you.

I have tried that already. Still not working. Let's assume I didn't have a network at all. I install Windows 7 on a host computer. How would I go about getting a XP computer to connect to a wireless network so that they can share files/printer?

This questionis hard to figure out. Two computers? Wireless network (probably with a router/firewall)? If so, they don't have anything to do with each other. Who is sharing the printer -- Win 7 or XP? Your question is a bit vague on the details.If you have a "mixed" network, you don't want the Win 7 to be in a home group. Remove it from home group if it is in one. At least then you will have fighting chance.

Sorry for not being clear. This is how the network is currently setup: XP Host (with the printer) is connected to router which is in turn connected to the modem. A XP laptop is connected to the network via a wireless connection and they share files and printer. If I dual boot the XP Host with Windows 7, the XP laptop can still connect to the internet, but can not share files/printers. If I had to start over, it would be like this: Windows 7 machine hooked up to a router which is hooked up to a modem. How would I setup a wireless network with a XP laptop so they can share files/printers?

I have used Vista, the 7 beta and now Windows 7 on a Sony Viao laptop, a Dell Studio XPS and a Visionman fitted out for gaming.My experience is that the networking capability in Windows 7 is far superior to Vista (signs in much faster). This is also true of Sleep. The Sleep function finally works in 7, and so far as I have tried, so does everything else. I have also found 7's streaming capability very good. I am using an 802.11n router which helps when it comes to streaming, but NetFlix and 7 were made for each other.

I have used Vista, the 7 beta and now Windows 7 on a Sony Viao laptop, a Dell Studio XPS and a Visionman fitted out for gaming.My experience is that the networking capability in Windows 7 is far superior to Vista (signs in much faster). This is also true of Sleep. The Sleep function finally works in 7, and so far as I have tried, so does everything else. I have also found 7's streaming capability very good. I am using an 802.11n router which helps when it comes to streaming, but NetFlix and 7 were made for each other. Good, now with all that experience, could you please tell me how to fix my problem.

One thing you can double check is under the Network and Sharing Center click on "Choose homegroup and Sharing Options" and make sure the printers box is checked. and also under the advanced sharing settings make sure file and printer sharing is turned on and also Network Discovery is turned on.

One thing you can double check is under the Network and Sharing Center click on "Choose homegroup and Sharing Options" and make sure the printers box is checked. and also under the advanced sharing settings make sure file and printer sharing is turned on and also Network Discovery is turned on. Already tried all of that. Still no joy.

Hello RogueWingIt's not clear for me how exactly your network looks like.As far as i understand you have a Machine Dualboot XP/7 (called dualboot below)So from this station you want to share the pritner, right?Now you want to connect from your XP laptop to the Dualboot's printer. And this doesn't work.So basically i would say your network has a Router with DHCP configured so your Stations will get the IP.Now is everything on IPv4? Or do you just have IPv6 Adresses on your Dualboot?Next question, do you have made the sharing also on your Dualboot again? (Sorry for this dumb question but i have to ask ;-)What fora user do you take to connect to another machine? Is there any security set?how do you do on the XP on dualboot, is it just the Administrator?(=> Administrator user is disabled in windows 7, so if you try to connect from another machine could be the problem)Regards:Dani

Yes, your understanding of my network is correct. When I use the dualboot in XP, it connects automatically with no problem. I set the network up originally by running the Network Wizard on both computers. The only security I use is AVG with Windows firewall. On the XP side of the dualboot, I only have the one account, which is the Admin account. Let's say I wanted to nuke the network and start over from scratch. How would I setup a network in Windows 7 and then how would I go about getting the XP laptop to connect to it wirelessly so they can share printers?

There is an easy way and a Special way:Easy way with same UsernamesYou can share files when you have on both machines same user names with the same passwords.So just create on all your XP Machines a user called the same as the user called on Windows 7.Give these users the same password as your account on Windows 7Use just this new created account to work on your XP machines, then you cann connect to your shares on \\Dualboot\ (<= Just go there with your Explorer)Normally you should then give enough right to access the datas.Way with make a net usehere you have two ways:use the command:net use \\Dualboot\share /User:Dualboot\UsernameHe asks you for a password, just put the password you use on the Windows 7Then you can connect with \\Dualboot\ to the shared files and printers...In this way you have to use the command everytime you want to access the share.Seconde way, make this with the GUIGo to exploreruse Tools => Map Network drive...Put in Drive a letter (eg. Z:)Put the UNC path in the folder-field like \\Dualboot\shareThen click a little below to the "different User name"And set the following User Dualboot\Username and the password of this userAlso you can define reconnect at logon, so it will reconnect you while next logon, else you lose the drive after next restart.Just as info, i put Dualboot above as the computername of your Windows 7 Machine!Also username you must put like the username on windows 7Here an explanation why the things work with xp but not with Windows 7:When you are on just windows xp (home i think) you have always an Administrator with a blank password.In Windows 7 the Administrator is by default disabled. Also you need to provide your user a password.When connecting to a share on a windows environment you need enough permission.On XP you had the permission because the credentials of both Administrators account were the same.Now with the mixed environment you have two problems:- No password on XP / Password on Windows 7- Administrator account on XP / Administrator account is disabled on Windows 7Hope this helps.. else ask me for more ;-)Regards:DaniPS: Don't forget to share thefolders by right clicking the folder and say Sharing...

Ok, I can share files and I can see the printer on the XP machine now, but none of the print jobs are actually being processed. Any ideas from here?

Just a little remark, i came from the professional side, so always with security in mind.Also with the Defaults of Microsoft ;-)For me it's not too complicated, but i understand, it's not easy for a home user...Also you are now working on a Windows 7 Ultimate, so it's different from the Windows xp where's a Home edition.I try to activate the local Administrator to make the thing easy, but as i tryhe tell me to change the password.So instead of creating another user, you can also go like this:Go first to the Computer Policies:Run gpedit.mscThen go to Computer Settings => Windows Settings => Security Settings => Accoutn Policies => Password PolicyChange the value of Minimum password length to 0(If this is not working see ponit 2)Go then to the Computer management (Right click the Computer under start Menu and "Manage")Then go to Users And Computers => UsersRight Click the Administrator and Enable it.point 2If you are not able to change the minimum password length you have to change before enabling Administrator his password:Just right click, Set password...Then you have also to set this password to all of your XP Machines.If you do this, it should after be as good as on XP.

Ok, I can share files and I can see the printer on the XP machine now, but none of the print jobs are actually being processed. Any ideas from here? I see it in the print queue, but nothing happens after that.

Ok, I can share files and I can see the printer on the XP machine now, but none of the print jobs are actually being processed. Any ideas from here? I see it in the print queue, but nothing happens after that. Apparently, the printer is not receiving communication from the dualboot computer. None of my jobs will print. I have uninstalled/re-installed drivers and can see the printer in the Control Panel. I can access the settings and options on it, and I can see it on the network from the XP machine, but I can't print from it. Any ideas? I'm beginning to think this printer is not supported under Windows 7 RC, which is kinda wierd since it worked great with Windows 7 Beta.

Is the printer spooler service running? If so, have you tried restarting it?

It is running. But I've also tried to restart it as well. No joy.