Cannot share files or printer between XP SP2 and Vista machines.

I have 2 (actually 4, but 2 are important here) machines that can see
each other network-wise, but not share files.

The Windows XP machine (Home SP2) has the printer and files that need
shared. It can see the Vista machine (a laptop) when I go to "My
Network Places" and click on "View Network Computers", but clicking on
the machine gives me the error "\\Laptop is not accessible. You might
not have permission to access this network resource. Contact the
administrator of this server to find out if you have access
permissions. The network path is not found."

The XP machine can share to other XP machines just fine.

The Windows Vista machine (it's Home Premium RTM, no beta versions of
SP1 installed) can not see any other machine on the workgroup (it sees
the router, however) from "Network" on the start menu, but it sees the
XP machine in "Control Panel > Network Map" (the XP machine DOES have
LLTP installed so that this happens.) When I type in "\\Desktop" in
the address bar, the error is "Windows cannot find '\\Desktop'. Check
the spelling and try again. In "Control Panel > Network and Sharing
Center", Network discovery, File sharing, and Public folder sharing
are on, and my wireless network (it's encrypted and MAC-address-
filtered) shows up as a private network.

They both are "attached" (wireless) to a Linksys WRT54G v8 router.

For a firewall, they both have Windows Firewall running, with File and
Printer Sharing checked as an exemption. (turning off the firewall
does not affect the error)

They both have been updated using "Microsoft Update" (for the XP
machine) and "Windows Update" (for the Vista machine) within the last
week. They can ping each other's IP addresses just fine.

What do I need to do?

 

1. Make sure you have assigned permission in the Security tab on the Vista.
Check this link for more details.

Vista Permission IssuesCan I assume the external drive used to be connecting
to other computer and you just re-connect it the the Vista? Check the
permission using this command: . ...
www.chicagotech.net/vista/vistapermission.htm


2. Make sure no firewall or security software blocks the sharing.

Vista sharing issuesSolved: Vista sharing - Access denied ... To share a
folder, there are two places, you need to assign permission. sharing and
security tabs. ...
www.chicagotech.net/vista/vistasharing.htm




--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com

 

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx

Have a read of the above link re Vista File and Printer Sharing.

How to give Permissions are there, too.

If you are running Norton, Trend Micro, McAfee, etc’s Firewall, check its
settings to make sure it allows file and printer sharing..

1st thing to do is make sure that the Workgroup Name of ALL the computers is
the SAME.

In Vista Network and Sharing:

Network Discovery: ON (So it can see the other computers)

Network set to Private (Public is for hotspots, airports, etc)

File Sharing: ON

Public Folder Sharing: ON (Vista’s Public Folder is the same as XP’s Shared
Docs)

Password Protected: OFF (unless you want to set up identical usernames and
passwords on ALL computers in your Network) If you have it ON, you will be
asked for a username and password when you try to access a Vista computer
from an XP computer.

Also, run the XP’s Home Network File and Printer sharing Wizard.

 

I have a similar problem except I can access the Public folders from two XP
machines but not from another. I'm using the Guest account from all three
and Vista just won't let the third machine on.
What should I be looking for in this case?

 

First thing first. Can you ping the vista by name?

--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com