Sharing files between two Vista PC's - works on one PC but not on the other???

spookylukey

I have a Vista (Home Basic) PC which is connected to the wireless router via a cable and a Vista (Home Premium) laptop which is connected wirelessly.

I wanted to be able to see the photos and word documents which are stored on the PC, on the laptop and vice versa. After much fiddling I can now see PC files on my laptop by clicking Network then selecting SpookyLukeyPC at which point three folders pop up Public, Users and Printers. I then click on the users folder select the username of my PC Spookylukey and then I can see all photos, documents etc that are from my PC on the laptop.

When I do this on the PC I get as far as Network, select Spookylukey Laptop but then there are only two folders to choose from Public & Printers - there is no users folder.

Any ideas why there is no 'Users' folder on the PC for me to select and any ideas how to get it to be there?!

Thanks in advance for any thoughts

damo24

Open "Network and Sharing Center (sic)" on the laptop and make sure that "File Sharing" is turned on and "Password Protected Sharing" is turned off. Also check your firewall to make sure it allows access to the laptop from the network but NOT the internet. If the PC can see the laptop then the firewall is most likely set ok.

spookylukey

I checked the laptop - File sharing was 'on' but Password Protected Sharing was also 'on' soI turned it off as suggested. It made no difference and I still didn't have a users folder to select when trying to access the laptop files from the PC.

Checked the settings on the PC (which does allow the laptop to see it's files) and Password Protected Sharing is 'on' so don't think that is the problem with the laptop settings.

damo24 wrote: »

Also check your firewall to make sure it allows access to the laptop from the network but NOT the internet. If the PC can see the laptop then the firewall is most likely set ok.

I'm running Vista firewall on both machines, any clue as to how to do the above please

Edit: Also, do both machines have to be turned on to share files? I just turned the laptop off and now the PC cannot 'see' it in the network.

damo24

Sorry, I missed a step out, right-click on the folder you want to share (most likely the user folder) and select sharing, from the top of my head in Vista there should be an option to allow users, make sure Guest is selected.

Don't worry about the firewall, if you're using the Vista one and the computers can see each other then it should be set right.

Both machines need to be turned on to share the files which will explain your other problem.