Re: Cannot see XP machine?

Derek wrote:

Hi,

I have a laptop running Windows XP SP3 and a desktop running Windows Vista
SP1. After connecting them to access internet through a router, they both
work well. However, when I want to share files between them, despite
proceeding all the steps outlined in the following link, the desktop still
cannot see the laptop yet the laptop can see and access the desktop shared
folders.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.mspx?&lang=en&cr=US&guid=&sloc=en-us&dg=microsoft.public.windows.vista.networking_sharing&p=1&tid=e92fa17a-85e4-4ea2-9a37-f3651818ddee

So the problem lies with the laptop's access. This is most commonly caused
by a misconfigured firewall and/or not creating matching user
accounts/passwords.

A. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area Network (LAN)
traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, this means allowing File/Printer
Sharing on the Exceptions tab. Normally running the Network Setup Wizard on
XP will take care of this for those machines.The only "gotcha" is that this
will turn on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you aren't running a
third-party firewall or have an antivirus with "Internet Worm
Protection" (like Norton 2006/07) which acts as a firewall, then you're
fine. With third-party firewalls, I usually configure the LAN allowance
with an IP range. Ex. would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you
would substitute your correct subnet. Do not run more than one firewall.

B. For ease of organization, put all computers in the same Workgroup. This
is done from the System applet in Control Panel, Computer Name tab.

C. Create matching user accounts and passwords on all machines. You do not
need to be logged into the same account on all machines and the passwords
assigned to each user account can be different; the accounts/passwords just
need to exist and match on all machines. DO NOT NEGLECT TO CREATE A
PASSWORD, EVEN IF IT'S ONLY A SIMPLE ONE. If you wish a machine to boot
directly to the Desktop (into one particular user's account) for
convenience, you can do this. The instructions at this link work for both
XP and Vista:

Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm

D. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab).

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Windows XP - computer workgroup
    ... A desktop uses windows XP PRO and a wireless ... They all have Windows firewall active and exception as remote desktop ... With the GUEST user account not active ... start by running the Network Setup Wizard on all machines (see ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: XP SP2 Killed My Network!
    ... Checking the Windows Firewall that I had ALREADY DISABLED the LAN box was ... My laptop can now print to the PC! ... This is the future of Windows. ... > System and Network config - have same account on both machines and logged ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)
  • Re: Outpost firewall prob when shutting down PC (XP SP2)
    ... anything that protects a user better than the Windows Firewall. ... admin, not to mention all the small businesses that are also running ... use an Administrator account, etc... ...
    (comp.security.firewalls)
  • Re: Cannot reply - 0X800CCC79 error
    ... Computer A can access the account, reply, and send emails with no problem. ... Computer A has Windows XP Pro. ... I am wondering about firewall but the Windows ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6_outlookexpress)
  • Re: Firewall on gateway computer?
    ... She will be running Windows XP. ... Asking her to use Linux ... some sort of firewall in place between it and the internet. ...
    (comp.os.linux.networking)