problem accessing and sharing a printer
I have a wireless network setup with my printer connected to my vista pc. I also have two xp pc's in this network with the vista and printer. This is a workgroup environment. The problem that I am having is that the xp pc's do not show up in my network on vista pc and they cannot connect to the printer. I also cannot see the vista pc in my network places on the xp pc's. I would like to keep the network wireless, so if anyone can help me with this issue, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks, Thomas
February 1st, 2008 7:05am

Hello Thomas, Thank you for posting and sorry for reply delay! The problem you described is a little complex, perhaps we need some steps to narrow down the problems scope. As the first step, please check the connectivity between the Windows XP-based computer and the Windows Vista-based one: 1. In Windows XP-based computer, enter Command Prompt and type ipconfig, record the IPv4 address. For example 192.168.1.2 2. In Windows Vista-based computer, enter Command Prompt and type ping <Windows XP-based computers IP address>, for example ping 192.168.1.2 3. Try to ping Windows Vista-based computer from Windows XP-based computer in the similar way. If the packages fail to be sent, the problem should be related to network connectivity, you may need to check it by changing some configurations of the wireless router and so on. If the ping command is success, please also check if Network discovery, File sharing and Printer sharing are both enabled in Network and Sharing Center on Windows Vista-based computer. Regards, Lionel Chen Microsoft Online Community Support
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February 11th, 2008 1:13pm

I have the EXACT same problem as the person above. I went though each of your steps and the computers are pinging each other just fine. Same symptoms as person above.... What are the next steps to solving this issue? Any help would be appreciated.
February 11th, 2008 8:40pm

Try accessing the computer by ip address or computer name from both computers. 1. Click Start, Run, type\\ <Windows Vista-based computers IP address>, for example\\192.168.1.2then click OK or press [ENTER] 2. Click Start, Run, type\\ <Windows XP-based computers IP address>, for example\\192.168.1.3then click OK or press [ENTER] -- Eric Cross Microsoft MVP (Windows Networking) http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
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February 11th, 2008 10:50pm

Hello Sletzer, Thank you for the post! As the second step, check if Network discovery, File sharing and Printer sharing are all enabled in Network and Sharing Center on Windows Vista-based computer. Besides, disable all the firewalls and anti-virus software on both sides. Regards, Lionel Chen Microsoft Online Community Support
February 12th, 2008 5:08am

I was able to access all the computers by using the run command. I downloaded & instaled the LLTD Responder on the XP machines which made them allviewable on the network map in vista, but I still can't access theXP computers from that menu. I can see them, but I can't interact with them... Right nowI'm stuck using the run command when passing info to or from the Vista machine, but at leastnow we can get to the information we need. BTW, yes network discovery, file sharing, and printer sharing are on in the vista computer. Also,all the files and printers& the exceptions in windows firewall have been made on every other machine. I feel likewe're almost to the main solution of the issue. Thanks for eveything so far!
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February 12th, 2008 7:21pm

Hello Sletzer, Thank you for the feedback! Please double-check that if there are anti-virus applications or firewalls on both sides of the computers, temporarily disable the firewall rather than adding exceptions and uninstall the anti-virus software. Then, test the issue again. If the step above doesnt work, please add a new user on both Windows XP and Windows Vista-based computers, with the same user name and password. Logon as this account and check it. Regards, Lionel Chen Microsoft Online Community Support
February 13th, 2008 6:07am

I am having similar issues. I have a home netwrok (WORKGROUP) with 4 XP SP2 machines. One serves as the homes file and print server. Just bought SWMBO a Vista laptop. The new machine has discovery and file/print sharing turned on. Firewall is turned off. It can only see the router in the network map. The XP machines can ping the Vista. The vista can not ping the XP machines. The Vista can get to the WWW no problem. Thanks Pete
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February 14th, 2008 2:12am

Hello Pete, Please disable the firewalls and anti-virus applications on both sides of computers and check the issue again. If Windows Vista cannot ping Windows XP successfully, a possible cause is the firewall. Regards, Lionel Chen Microsoft Online Community Support
February 14th, 2008 9:04am

I have a desktop computer running Vista and a laptop running XP. I can ping one from the other, I can successfully print from the Desktop that has the physical connection from the printer, and can on print one or two documents from the notebook after doing a fresh re-install of the printer. Each of the computers are visible on the Network and in the same workgroup. Allofthesettingaresettosharethisdevice,aproblemIneverhadrunningXP.I talked to Tech Support at HP and they indicate is not possible to have networked printers with different Microsoft Operating systems. I decided to try the Microsoft website for help, went through the instructions and made no progress. I found this thread which is the final straw and indicative of the absolute confusion. The instructions for pinging the other computer, indicate -> Start ->Run then enter the Ping command. Where is the RUN? How sharing a printer between two computers in my home can become so complicated is a farce. Vista is a joke. What makes me most upset is that the solution to my problem is to go out and spend money on an operating system that I should not need so that I can go back to XP on my new computer and having something useable.
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April 24th, 2008 9:12pm

I couldn't agree more with the above post. Vista is just an awful system to work with for end users. The anti-Microsoft bashers are, in this case, correct I believe. I will continue to strongly suggest to people to somehow get an XP installation if they are buying a new machine. Of course Microsoft understandably wants to migrate users to their new system. I have to believe the net result will be a lot of frustrated and angry users and probably more migration to Mac products.And the tech support answers in this thread are also extremely lame if not condescending. Sharing a printer should be a simple process (as it was in the past) for an end user to perform.If you are going to make such drastic and non-intuitive changes to simple processes, you should at least have decent tech support.
June 2nd, 2008 7:04pm

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