cannot turn network discovery or file sharing off
I have successfully set-up a small network between my deskto (XP Pro) and my new Dell laptop (Vista Business) and have been able to share files OK. However, I want to turn off file sharing and in the network and sharing centre the "turn off network discovery" and "turn off file sharing" options are greyed out - therefore not allowing me to do this. I have tried customising the network connection - changing it from private to public and this still does not allow me to change the settings. Anyone any idea why this is so?
June 4th, 2007 10:06am

I played aournd more and think the reason is to do with my Norton 360 Internet security suite - when I turned the firewall off and turned on the Windows firewall, it then became possible to change the status of "network discovery" and "file sharing".
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June 4th, 2007 11:35am

I suspect that Vista might have been preventing you from turning off file-sharing, because the network (i.e., your XP machine) was already included in Norton 360's Trusted list. When you turned off the latter, the network was removed from that list and remained excluded when you turned on Windows Firewall. If you now switch off the latter and turn Norton 360 back on, you'll find that the network would have been automatically assigned to its Limited (i.e., no file-sharing) as opposed (fully) Trusted list. Check your Personal Firewall configuration settings each time you switch on/off to verify for yourself and get a better sense of how each firewall handles such default auto-configuration. You'll find a more comprehensive account of Windows Vista <---> XP accounting at http://www.svabhinava.org/Dia-Gnosis/SuntharVisuvalingam/ComputerBlogs/VistaXP-frame.php [Use Internet Explorer to view above page as it's in *.mht (HTML archive) format] which corresponds on this TechNet forum to http://forums.microsoft.com/technet/ShowPost.aspx?postid=1683125&siteid=17 Sunthar
June 6th, 2007 7:18pm

I only had to turn Windows Firewall on the make the changes. I left my other 2 Firewalls, McAfee and Proventia on. After I made changes I turned Windows Firewall off again.
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January 8th, 2008 8:33pm

it didn't work!.when i turned Windows Firewall off and turned on my Norton again, the Network Discovery and File Sharing turned on and grayed out. why this is so??Should i uninstall my Norton or is there some registry key that i can change to make them "off"?thanks. ^^
April 12th, 2008 6:29am

I have the same issue. I think it is 'Windows Firewallitself 'thatcontrols Network discovery settings. That could be why; when Windows firwall is turned back off the settings go back to default. I could be wrong.
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June 2nd, 2008 7:02am

HiI spent hours yesterday trying to resolve this issue. The solution was to upgrade from my Norton Internet Security 2008 to NIS 2009 (free if you have a valid copy) www.norton.com/nis09This resolves the problem of the Network Discovery and File Sharing settings being greyed out. You can then go and switch them off. However this then forces you to switch on the windows firewall. There doesn't seem to be a way around this. However I have gone into Windows Firewall and changed the settings in Advanced to un-check the Local Area Connection and Wireless Network Connection options. Hopefuly this will limit any conflicts with the operations of NIS
February 11th, 2009 12:51am

I don't have NIS running but MSE. I want to turn off file sharing and the windows firewall , but whenever I turn off file sharing within Vista's network and sharing center, the firewall comes back on. I go to turn it off, file sharing is re-enabled. I also have Client for Microsoft Networks and File and Print Sharing unchecked within the NIC properties. Is this because of MSE? If not, how do you turn off both? Is it possible? Thanks, Philip Jealousy is not proof of love, nor proof of emotional immaturity
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January 9th, 2010 6:12pm

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