XP and Vista networking

BarGin

I have a desktop machine running Vista which is connected directly to my router with an ethernet cable. I also have a laptop running XP which connects wirelessly and a wireless printer.

Both computers can connect to the internet OK and both can print wirelessly to the printer. I have enabled network sharing on both computers. My problem is that the laptop can see the desktop machine and access its files but the desktop machine (running Vista) can't even see the laptop on the network.

Can anyone please tell what I have to do to enable the Vista machine to see the shared folders on my laptop?

robt_2

Is there a firewall preventing access to the laptop?

BarGin

The Windows firewall is running on both machines. Nothing else.

Browntoa

try turning off the xp firewall for a second, or build a rule to allow all traffic via the network card

then try the same one the vista machine

BarGin

I've turned off both firewalls to no avail. I have refreshed the network window on the Vista machine several times while both firewalls were disabled but still no sign of the XP machine.

Browntoa

is there some sort of firewall built into the router ??

BarGin

Browntoa wrote: »

is there some sort of firewall built into the router ??

I've just had a look at the router's web page but can't see any mention of a firewall. Although I thought it was supposed to have one.

Santa_Claus_2008

Hi this may help but I haven't tried it but anything is worth a try...
In the Network and Sharing Center, just under Network Discovery is the File Sharing option. You can turn file sharing on and off. If you want to share files with others, it will need to be on.
To turn on file sharing, follow these steps:
1 Open the Network and Sharing Center.
2 Click the arrow under Sharing and Discovery next to File Sharing.
3 Select Turn On File Sharing.
4 Click Apply.
5 Click Continue.
Once file sharing is on, you can access Control Panel's power options from the Sharing and Discovery section. Again, Click the arrow next to File Sharing.
You will need to change the power options if you often put your computer to sleep.
If your PC goes to sleep, others on the network will not be able to access your shared files or printers.
Share the Public Folder...
Public folder sharing lets people on the network access files that are in the public folder.
The Public folder is a default folder automatically created for every user who has a user account on the computer.
Anyone who has a user account and a password can access what's in the public folders, if you allow it, you have two choices for the public folder; you can allow everyone who has a user name and password to access what's in it, or you can allow no one.
You can also decide whether you want people to only access and read items in the public folder or whether they can make changes to them too.
To see the options for enabling public folder follow these steps;
1 Open the Network and Sharing Center.
2 Click the arrow in Sharing and Discovery next to Public Folder Sharing.
3 Select one option from the following;
Turn On Sharing So Anyone With Network Access Can Open Files.
Turn On Sharing So Anyone With Network Access Can Open, Change and Create Files.
Turn Off Sharing (people logged on to this computer can still access this folder)
4 Click apply
5 Click Continue...
you have many options for locating the public folder on your computer:
click start, and in the start search box, type public in the results for files select public folder.
click start, and then network.
click public in the folder pane.
right -click start, click explore all users, and click public in the folders pane.
you can create subfolders in the public folder to further personalize the folder and allow access to additional data stored on your hard drive.

hope this helps...sc2008:D
I get the offical windows vista mag and that was in last months book home networking with vista...

BenL

Can the vista network discovery function see the XP machine?

When you run it it displays all devices that it has found on the network.

BarGin

BenL wrote: »

Can the vista network discovery function see the XP machine?

When you run it it displays all devices that it has found on the network.

No, it can't see the XP machine. I don't know if this is a clue but in My Network Places on the XP machine, I can see the Vista machine but not the XP machine? Does this indicate a problem there?

Coveredinbees!!!!

I just had the same trouble, you need a patch on the xp machine from microsoft as XP 'sees' networks in a different way to vista.

Go to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120 follow the instructions and magically it will all start working.