Vista File Sharing with XP machines

Bought the kids a new PC... Vista was the only option. Can't figure out
how to share files simply inside our home network.
- all computers are in the same workgroup
- all computers have file sharing enabled without passwords being required.
- all XP computers can see the new Vista computer in the workgroup and
can read/write files from/into the folder
- Vista computer can not see ANY of the XP computers in the Network view
- Vista computer can access shared folders on any XP computer IF I map
the folders as network drives.

I would prefer to not have to map all drives... Is there a trick to have
the XP computers in the workgroup show up in the Vista computer's
network view.

Thanks in advance, Bryan

Have you setup a static IP address for both PCs? I notice I couldn't access
my XP machine from Vista until I did that.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E8E5CC039D51E3DB!9709.entry
"Bryan" <reply@thisforum.com> wrote in message
news:M09ej.40702$1C4.13444@newsfe10.phx...
> Bought the kids a new PC... Vista was the only option. Can't figure out
> how to share files simply inside our home network.
> - all computers are in the same workgroup
> - all computers have file sharing enabled without passwords being
> required.
> - all XP computers can see the new Vista computer in the workgroup and can
> read/write files from/into the folder
> - Vista computer can not see ANY of the XP computers in the Network view
> - Vista computer can access shared folders on any XP computer IF I map the
> folders as network drives.
>
> I would prefer to not have to map all drives... Is there a trick to have
> the XP computers in the workgroup show up in the Vista computer's network
> view.
>
> Thanks in advance, Bryan

Bryan <reply@thisforum.com> wrote:

>Bought the kids a new PC... Vista was the only option. Can't figure out
>how to share files simply inside our home network.
>- all computers are in the same workgroup
>- all computers have file sharing enabled without passwords being required.
>- all XP computers can see the new Vista computer in the workgroup and
>can read/write files from/into the folder
>- Vista computer can not see ANY of the XP computers in the Network view
>- Vista computer can access shared folders on any XP computer IF I map
>the folders as network drives.

That's exactly the problem I had until I figured out how to tell the
Vista machine that it was part of the workgroup that my XP machine
used. Control Panel, under "Network and Internet", click "View Network
status and tasks". Click the downarrow to the right of "Network
discovery". It will show you the workgroup the computer thinks it's
on. If it's not the right one, click "Change Settings" next to the
workgroup name, then click the "Change..." button in the resulting
dialog box.

--
Tim Slattery
MS MVP(Shell/User)
Slattery_T@bls.gov
http://members.cox.net/slatteryt

If a simple thing like changing the name of the workgroup the Vista computer
uses do not solve the problem you should strongly consider changing to XP if
file and printer sharing between computers is necessary.
All Microsoft networking is problematic, Vista worse than XP.
It is astounding how many problems people have despite running the
"foolproof" wizards programmed by Microsoft.
On this newsgroup Microsoft VPs will frequently say that the problem is with
the firewall. However probably 99% of users with problems are using the
built-in Windows firewall and have used the network wizards.

flambe wrote:

....nothing but a bunch of uninformed lies and bullsh*t.
Grow up as*hole and face the fact that you're STUPID!
Frank

Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] wrote:
> Have you setup a static IP address for both PCs? I notice I couldn't access
> my XP machine from Vista until I did that.
No the machines are all configured for dynamic IP... but I don't think
that's the problem as I can access the XP machines from the Vista
machine IF I map the drives. These drives are successfully remapped each
time the Vista machine reboots.

Tim Slattery wrote:
> Bryan <reply@thisforum.com> wrote:
>
>> Bought the kids a new PC... Vista was the only option. Can't figure out
>> how to share files simply inside our home network.
>> - all computers are in the same workgroup
>> - all computers have file sharing enabled without passwords being required.
>> - all XP computers can see the new Vista computer in the workgroup and
>> can read/write files from/into the folder
>> - Vista computer can not see ANY of the XP computers in the Network view
>> - Vista computer can access shared folders on any XP computer IF I map
>> the folders as network drives.
>
> That's exactly the problem I had until I figured out how to tell the
> Vista machine that it was part of the workgroup that my XP machine
> used. Control Panel, under "Network and Internet", click "View Network
> status and tasks". Click the downarrow to the right of "Network
> discovery". It will show you the workgroup the computer thinks it's
> on. If it's not the right one, click "Change Settings" next to the
> workgroup name, then click the "Change..." button in the resulting
> dialog box.
>
Thanks Tim - unfortunately, my Vista machine had the correct workgroup
name... same one as all the XP machines.

On Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:44:06 -0700, Bryan <reply@thisforum.com> wrote:

>Bought the kids a new PC... Vista was the only option. Can't figure out
>how to share files simply inside our home network.
>- all computers are in the same workgroup
>- all computers have file sharing enabled without passwords being required.
>- all XP computers can see the new Vista computer in the workgroup and
>can read/write files from/into the folder
>- Vista computer can not see ANY of the XP computers in the Network view
>- Vista computer can access shared folders on any XP computer IF I map
>the folders as network drives.
>
>I would prefer to not have to map all drives... Is there a trick to have
>the XP computers in the workgroup show up in the Vista computer's
>network view.
>
>Thanks in advance, Bryan

Bryan,
Not sure how you've got it all set up BUT I have a mixed
network of Vista, XP and XP Media Centre PC's and all can see each
other's shared drives fine. Also fixed Ip's DON'T make any difference.
Some of mine are fixed and some DHCP. I assume you have gone into the
network sharing centre on Vista and set all the right options?

Look at the Sharing and Discovery options. Also make sure the XP boxes
are sharing drives and so is the Vista box. I'm thinking it's an
option in the network sharing which you need to turn on?

HTH


cheers,
Len

Are you using a 3rd party firewall like "Norton" if so try turning it off
temporary...................this worked for me

David


"Bryan" <reply@thisforum.com> wrote in message
news:M09ej.40702$1C4.13444@newsfe10.phx...
> Bought the kids a new PC... Vista was the only option. Can't figure out
> how to share files simply inside our home network.
> - all computers are in the same workgroup
> - all computers have file sharing enabled without passwords being
> required.
> - all XP computers can see the new Vista computer in the workgroup and can
> read/write files from/into the folder
> - Vista computer can not see ANY of the XP computers in the Network view
> - Vista computer can access shared folders on any XP computer IF I map the
> folders as network drives.
>
> I would prefer to not have to map all drives... Is there a trick to have
> the XP computers in the workgroup show up in the Vista computer's network
> view.
>
> Thanks in advance, Bryan

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/...y/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, etc’s Firewall, check its settings.

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.


"Bryan" wrote:

> Bought the kids a new PC... Vista was the only option. Can't figure out
> how to share files simply inside our home network.
> - all computers are in the same workgroup
> - all computers have file sharing enabled without passwords being required.
> - all XP computers can see the new Vista computer in the workgroup and
> can read/write files from/into the folder
> - Vista computer can not see ANY of the XP computers in the Network view
> - Vista computer can access shared folders on any XP computer IF I map
> the folders as network drives.
>
> I would prefer to not have to map all drives... Is there a trick to have
> the XP computers in the workgroup show up in the Vista computer's
> network view.
>
> Thanks in advance, Bryan
>