I can connect to the internet wirelessly thorugh the router no problem. When I try to log onto the server to see the shared files etc. it pops up asking for a username and password. OUr server does not have a username or password. XP laptops have always just piked it up straight away and run with it so there must be a problem with windows 7. The server runs on XP. I have tried a number of things through googling - disabling the IP v6 unistalling and reinstalling the client microsoft local network thing. neither have worked. I have tried lightening the already lax security on the server itself, this didn't work. There are no problems with the network and any other computers on them. I am accessing it currently from my old laptop which has never needed a password or username to access the server. We have bought in outside Macs and all number of other laptops before all of which have worked fine and could see the server and print through the server printer. I have tried to bypass the server yb typing into the explorer bar \\server instead of the server name which has worked once before when I had a similar issue with a desktop running on windows seven. FRom the laptop though I get this message: "Windows cannot access \\server check the spelling of the name. Otherwise there might be a problem with your network. To try to identify and resolve network problems , click diagnose." If i click see details it shows error message "error code: 0x80004005, unspecified error" (Googling this is what led me to try some of the fixes mentioned in my first post.) If I click on diagnose it tells me that Windows can't find "server" (plus a longer useless message about contacting system administrator - umm hi, thats me...) I know server can be found through this server as it works when i type it into any of the other machines on the same server. I'm at my wits end, I'm getting tempted to get rid of 7 and boot up xp instead. Does anyone know how I can fix this. I am not very with it when it comes to computers so one syllable answers would be appreciated (in other words please don't presume I have any useful computer related knowledge!! :-) )

Hi, First of all, please make sure the both computer are members of one same Workgroup. If you have installed some antivirus programs on Windows 7, please remove it to test. In addition, please turn on Network Discovery on Windows 7 site: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Enable-or-disable-network-discovery Furthermore, you can check the steps of sharing settings is correct: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-7/share-files-and-printers-between-windows-7-and-xp/ Please Note: Since the website is not hosted by Microsoft, the link may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.Kim Zhou TechNet Community Support

I can connect to the internet wirelessly thorugh the router no problem. When I try to log onto the server to see the shared files etc. it pops up asking for a username and password. OUr server does not have a username or password. XP laptops have always just piked it up straight away and run with it so there must be a problem with windows 7. The server runs on XP. I have tried a number of things through googling - disabling the IP v6 unistalling and reinstalling the client microsoft local network thing. neither have worked. I have tried lightening the already lax security on the server itself, this didn't work. There are no problems with the network and any other computers on them. I am accessing it currently from my old laptop which has never needed a password or username to access the server. We have bought in outside Macs and all number of other laptops before all of which have worked fine and could see the server and print through the server printer. I have tried to bypass the server yb typing into the explorer bar \\server instead of the server name which has worked once before when I had a similar issue with a desktop running on windows seven. FRom the laptop though I get this message: "Windows cannot access \\server check the spelling of the name. Otherwise there might be a problem with your network. To try to identify and resolve network problems , click diagnose." If i click see details it shows error message "error code: 0x80004005, unspecified error" (Googling this is what led me to try some of the fixes mentioned in my first post.) If I click on diagnose it tells me that Windows can't find "server" (plus a longer useless message about contacting system administrator - umm hi, thats me...) I know server can be found through this server as it works when i type it into any of the other machines on the same server. I'm at my wits end, I'm getting tempted to get rid of 7 and boot up xp instead. Does anyone know how I can fix this. I am not very with it when it comes to computers so one syllable answers would be appreciated (in other words please don't presume I have any useful computer related knowledge!! :-) ) Adding on other advise. In your windows 7 rig, under network & sharing center>advanced sharing settings. Ensure the option of password protection sharing is turn to off. Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Start Control Panel and select Add or Remove Programs Select Add/Remove Windows Components Select Networking Services Click Details button Uncheck Internet Gateway Device Discovery and Control Client