I have a Vista Laptop and 2 XP computers. I have tried setting up the network to share files but I cannot see any of my computers other than the one I am currently on. I have turned the firewall on and off. Updated permissions. But still cannot connect to any of the devices. I have shared files on my XP machines but they are not available to even each other. I am using a Wired and wireless network. (XP machines are wired, Laptop Vista is wireless). I cannot turn on file sharing in Vista. I click on the option to change it to yes but it simply goes through the motions and returns back to no. Any help would be appreciated. I want to share on big media drive from my XP machine to all on my network. All computers can get to the internet without a problem but talking to each other is the issue. Thanks for any help.

Have you got all the computers in the same workgroup? Have you got the same user accounts on all the computers? Mike Clarkehttp://mystyleit.comCLS, WSCP, MCP, MCTS, MCSA+M, MCSE+M

Hi, Thank you for your post. From the post, I understand that there are two Windows XP machines and one Windows Vista Laptop in this environment. The issues you encounter are: 1. The machines cannot see each other. 2. The Windows Vista Laptop cannot access the share folder (a big media drive) on a Windows XP machine. 3. File Sharing cannot be turned on on the Windows Vista Laptop. If I have misunderstood your concern, please feel free to let me know. In order to resolve the issue more efficiently, wed better focus on the second issue first at this time (I think it may be the most important issue for you). For this issue, please perform the following tests: 1. Please temporarily turn off the firewall on both the Windows XP and Windows Vista machines. Then, try to access the share folder from Windows Vista Laptop. How does it work? 2. Please create the same user account with the same password on both the Windows XP and Windows Vista machines. Logon the Windows Vista machine with this account, and try to access the share folder. How does it work?If there is any error message popping up, please capture a screenshot of it for further research. Hope it helps. I look forward to your reply. Sincerely, Joson Zhou Microsoft Online Community Support

Hi, As this thread has been quiet for a while, we assume that the issue has been resolved. At this time, we will mark it as Answered. Additionally, Ive listed some tips for troubleshooting file sharing as follows. I hope it would also be helpful for other communities: Troubleshooting file sharing involves two types of activity: Troubleshooting a computer that cannot access a shared folder that other computers can successfully access. In this case, troubleshooting efforts should be concentrated on the client - the computer that cannot access the share. Troubleshooting a computer that is sharing a folder when no other computers can access this share. In this case, troubleshooting efforts should be concentrated on the server the computer on which the folder is being shared. Tips for troubleshooting a client computer that cannot access a shared folder on a server include the following: Verify that you have basic network connectivity between the client and the server by using the ping command. If you cannot ping the server from the client, check your physical connection to the network by ensuring that your network cable is securely plugged into the computer. If the physical network connection seems secure, try running Windows Network Diagnostics on the computer. If you have basic network connectivity and you are trying to access a shared file or folder on the network using its UNC path, verify that the name of the remote computer and the sharename are correct. If these are correct, try using the IP address of the server instead of its host name or FQDN. If you can connect to the share using the IP address of the server but not its host name or FQDN, it should be a name resolution problem verify that NetBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled on the client and that the DNS settings for the client are correct. If you can connect to the share on the server but a Connect To servername logon box appears, and the computer belongs to a domain, ensure that the server you are trying to connect to also belongs to a domain (the same domain or a trusted domain). If the server belongs to the same domain as the client, make sure that you are currently logged on to the client using domain credentials and not computer credentials. If you can connect to the share on the server but a Connect to servername logon box appears, and the computer belongs to a workgroup, you may need to enter credentials in the Connect To servername logon box before you can access the share. If you are trying to browse the network using Windows Explorer on the client and you cannot find the shared folder, the browse list might not be up to date. You can either wait and try again later or try connecting to the share using its UNC path if you know this. Tips for troubleshooting a server computer (specifically, in this example, a Windows Vista computer that an administrator has opted in for file sharing) when client computers cannot access shares on the server include the following: Open the properties of your network connection on the server and make sure that File And Printer Sharing For Microsoft Networks is selected. If this component is not selected, you will not be able to share from the computer. Open a command prompt on the server and type sc query lanmanserver to verify that the Server service is running. If the Server service is not running, you will not be able to share from the computer. Open Windows Firewall on the server and verify that the File And Printer Sharing exception has been opened. If this exception has not been opened, client computers will not be able to establish SMB connectivity with the server. Verify that the share permissions and ACLs on the share the client is trying to connect to grant the appropriate level of permissions to the user on the client. If the user does not have at least Read permission for the shared file or folder, Access-Based Enumeration (if the server is a Windows Vista computer or a Windows Server 2003 file server with ABE configured) will prevent the user from even seeing the share on the server. Verify that the client computer and user have the Access This Computer From The Network user right. This user right enables users and computers to access network shares and also Active Directory. By default, all Authenticated Users have this user right, but if it is removed from a user or computer, that user or computer will be unable access shares on the network. For more information, please see Knowledge Based article 823659 (http://support.microsoft.com/?id=823659). Have a nice day. Sincerely, Joson Zhou Microsoft Online Community Support