Networking 2 laptops, one vista, one XP

itgoodson

Hi

I'm having problems getting my two laptops to 'see' one another. I want to be able to share files between the two.

They are both connected to my Linksys wireless modem
One runs Windows XP
One runs Vista (and it works ok on the wireless network at my work office)
I have tried using the XP network setup wizard, but it wants me to use a USB memory stick to save settings and plus it in to the wireless modem - but the modem doesn't have a USB drive

Does anyone have some advice? Do I need to change the settings on the router? If so, what do I need to change them to?

Thanks

rdpro

mmm... the network setup wizard would normally want you to create a profile on one PC, then transfer the settings to *other PCs* not to your modem/router.

It sounds like your two laptops are set to different Workgroup names (if one works at your office, it will be in the office Workgroup, not your home version)

Open the 'System' control panel and click the 'Computer Name' tab. Click the 'To change the computer name' part, and see what each has in the Workgroup or Domain fields - it'll be one or the other, not both.

TonyLisaP

One thing that you will find with this is that XP sets a workgroup name of mshome as default and that vista uses a workgroup name of workgroup. Change the XP machine to be on the workgroup workgroup and you should be fine.

itgoodson

Thanks for those replies.

I am getting somewhere!

In the 'Network' window on the Vista laptop I can see the other XP laptop.

However, it could not connect to the XP laptop. Vista said it tried to repair the problem automatically, but couldn't. the error message is 'Windows cannot find the host name "LAPTOP" [which is what the XP laptop is called] using DNS. The Domain Name Server may be down.'

I have no idea what this means I should do!

If anyone has any more ideas I'd be grateful!

itgoodson

I'm getting a bit further. Now when I try to access either of the other laptops from the other one, I am asked for a username and a password.

But I don't have any usernames or passwords set on the XP laptop, and I only have the password I use to login to my user on Vista.

So I'm still confused. Think if I can sort this password problem out we'll be there!

TonyLisaP

Have you actually set up shares and permissions on the shares?

itgoodson

yes - at least I think so. On vista's 'network and sharing center' I have turned everything on expect 'Public folder sharing'. So I think I'm set up to share everything on the Vista laptop.

But I'm asked for the password and username on the XP laptop when I try to get into it.

Anything else I should try?

thanks

TonyLisaP

Did you set the permissions on the xp laptop to everyone - read or other?

PROLIANT

Make sure that you have file and printer sharing turned on in the firewall on both machines and as previous posters have said make sure that you have a valid share on both machine's i.e. create a folder and call it XP_Share, right click on that folder and select sharing and security, select share this folder and set the share name and user permissions on it.

tomsolomon

Try running the network setup wizard on Vista first. XP will not recognise the new OS, but Vista will recognise XP. It should do it all for you, so long as you check the correct boxes during the setup wizard.