Vista and XP wireless networking problem

[brian]

Hello All: I have a wireless router that is wired to one computer with
xp on it and connects wireless to a laptop that's running Vista.
Connects fine - both access internet no problems. The problem is with
sharing files between the two comps. I thought that it was xp not
talking to Vista so I took the laptop to the router and wired it up and
both machines can see and share and copy back and forth. Same thing when
both are connected wireless to the router. But when the Vista machine is
connected wireless it can see the xp machine when wired (in an explorer
window), can see the folders that are shared, but can only open the
Windows shares, not the data folders I want to share. It won't copy
anything from xp to Vista. From xp I can see and open and change text
files, but if I try to copy anything large (300megs) it gives a 'network
location is no longer available' error. I used to do this with two xp
machines and the same router (Comtrend) with exact same configuration.
But since I have the Vista machine wireless it won't work. Do I have a
router config. or network card config problem? I don't know enough to
troubleshoot this, I fiddle with configs. but so far haven't got
anywhere. Could someone offer some ideas, please?

 

[Chuck]

Hello All: I have a wireless router that is wired to one computer with
xp on it and connects wireless to a laptop that's running Vista.
Connects fine - both access internet no problems. The problem is with
sharing files between the two comps. I thought that it was xp not
talking to Vista so I took the laptop to the router and wired it up and
both machines can see and share and copy back and forth. Same thing when
both are connected wireless to the router. But when the Vista machine is
connected wireless it can see the xp machine when wired (in an explorer
window), can see the folders that are shared, but can only open the
Windows shares, not the data folders I want to share. It won't copy
anything from xp to Vista. From xp I can see and open and change text
files, but if I try to copy anything large (300megs) it gives a 'network
location is no longer available' error. I used to do this with two xp
machines and the same router (Comtrend) with exact same configuration.
But since I have the Vista machine wireless it won't work. Do I have a
router config. or network card config problem? I don't know enough to
troubleshoot this, I fiddle with configs. but so far haven't got
anywhere. Could someone offer some ideas, please?

You have 2 separate problems here.

Sharing the contents of the XP computer, with the Vista computer, is a matter of
access permissions. What are the data folders that you want to share? Is this
XP Home or Pro? If Pro, is it running Simple, or Advanced File Sharing?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html

The Vista file copying problem is a separate problem. If the file copy starts,
and terminates before its done, you probably have a driver issue. One of the
problems with Vista is that not all vendors of peripheral hardware (such as
network adapters) have released drivers that work in Vista. Have you contacted
the vendor, to ensure that you have the latest drivers?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-physical-network-problems.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-physical-network-problems.html

 

[brian]

You have 2 separate problems here.

Sharing the contents of the XP computer, with the Vista computer, is a matter of
access permissions. What are the data folders that you want to share? Is this
XP Home or Pro? If Pro, is it running Simple, or Advanced File Sharing?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html

The Vista file copying problem is a separate problem. If the file copy starts,
and terminates before its done, you probably have a driver issue. One of the
problems with Vista is that not all vendors of peripheral hardware (such as
network adapters) have released drivers that work in Vista. Have you contacted
the vendor, to ensure that you have the latest drivers?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-physical-network-problems.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-physical-network-problems.html

Thanks Chuck - I think we may have spoken to each other on dslreports'
site. I've just found out that when both the XP and Vista machines are
connected to the router wirelessly all file sharing and copying works
fine. As soon as I wire the XP machine to the router and turn off
wireless, then the above mentioned problems begin. I have the latest
Intel drivers for the NIC on the Vista machine. I don't think it's a
file sharing settings problem because all the folders share fine when
both machines are wireless. I've downloaded browstat (as your web-site
recommends) but I don't know what the error I get means. I do 'browstat
status' and I get browsing is active, Master browser is ASUS (the Vista
machine and then it says 'could not connect to registry, error = 53'
What does that mean? Thanks again for your help
b

 

[brian]

You have 2 separate problems here.

Sharing the contents of the XP computer, with the Vista computer, is a matter of
access permissions. What are the data folders that you want to share? Is this
XP Home or Pro? If Pro, is it running Simple, or Advanced File Sharing?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html

The Vista file copying problem is a separate problem. If the file copy starts,
and terminates before its done, you probably have a driver issue. One of the
problems with Vista is that not all vendors of peripheral hardware (such as
network adapters) have released drivers that work in Vista. Have you contacted
the vendor, to ensure that you have the latest drivers?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-physical-network-problems.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-physical-network-problems.html

Thanks Chuck - I think we may have spoken to each other on dslreports'
site. I've just found out that when both the XP and Vista machines are
connected to the router wirelessly all file sharing and copying works
fine. As soon as I wire the XP machine to the router and turn off
wireless, then the above mentioned problems begin. I have the latest
Intel drivers for the NIC on the Vista machine. I don't think it's a
file sharing settings problem because all the folders share fine when
both machines are wireless. I've downloaded browstat (as your web-site
recommends) but I don't know what the error I get means. I do 'browstat
status' and I get browsing is active, Master browser is ASUS (the Vista
machine and then it says 'could not connect to registry, error = 53'
What does that mean? Thanks again for your help
b

 

[brian]

You have 2 separate problems here.

Sharing the contents of the XP computer, with the Vista computer, is a matter of
access permissions. What are the data folders that you want to share? Is this
XP Home or Pro? If Pro, is it running Simple, or Advanced File Sharing?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html

The Vista file copying problem is a separate problem. If the file copy starts,
and terminates before its done, you probably have a driver issue. One of the
problems with Vista is that not all vendors of peripheral hardware (such as
network adapters) have released drivers that work in Vista. Have you contacted
the vendor, to ensure that you have the latest drivers?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-physical-network-problems.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-physical-network-problems.html

Thanks Chuck - I think we may have spoken to each other on dslreports'
site. I've just found out that when both the XP and Vista machines are
connected to the router wirelessly all file sharing and copying works
fine. As soon as I wire the XP machine to the router and turn off
wireless, then the above mentioned problems begin. I have the latest
Intel drivers for the NIC on the Vista machine. I don't think it's a
file sharing settings problem because all the folders share fine when
both machines are wireless. I've downloaded browstat (as your web-site
recommends) but I don't know what the error I get means. I do 'browstat
status' and I get browsing is active, Master browser is ASUS (the Vista
machine and then it says 'could not connect to registry, error = 53'
What does that mean? Thanks again for your help
b

 

[Chuck]

Thanks Chuck - I think we may have spoken to each other on dslreports'
site. I've just found out that when both the XP and Vista machines are
connected to the router wirelessly all file sharing and copying works
fine. As soon as I wire the XP machine to the router and turn off
wireless, then the above mentioned problems begin. I have the latest
Intel drivers for the NIC on the Vista machine. I don't think it's a
file sharing settings problem because all the folders share fine when
both machines are wireless. I've downloaded browstat (as your web-site
recommends) but I don't know what the error I get means. I do 'browstat
status' and I get browsing is active, Master browser is ASUS (the Vista
machine and then it says 'could not connect to registry, error = 53'
What does that mean? Thanks again for your help
b

Hi Brian,

Browstat is most useful when run from multiple computers, and the results
compared. An "error=53" in browstat generally comes from the master browser not
running either NetBT or the Remote Registry Service.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/mysterious-error-53-aka-name-not-found.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/mysterious-error-53-aka-name-not-found.html

But I don't think that you have browser problems. The browser affects
visibility of a computer in Network Neighbourhood, and you haven't mentioned any
symptoms there.

But now your latest diagnosis.
"As soon as I wire the XP machine to the router and turn off wireless, then the
above mentioned problems begin."
You earlier stated 2 separate problems. Which problem is not active using WiFi,
and becomes active with Ethernet?

What exact error or problem do you see when "can only open the Windows shares,
not the data folders I want to share."? There are maybe a dozen conditions that
I can think of that could result in "... cannot open a folder ...", each with
its own diagnosis.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html

 

[brian]

Hi Brian,

Browstat is most useful when run from multiple computers, and the results
compared. An "error=53" in browstat generally comes from the master browser not
running either NetBT or the Remote Registry Service.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/mysterious-error-53-aka-name-not-found.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/mysterious-error-53-aka-name-not-found.html

But I don't think that you have browser problems. The browser affects
visibility of a computer in Network Neighbourhood, and you haven't mentioned any
symptoms there.

But now your latest diagnosis.
"As soon as I wire the XP machine to the router and turn off wireless, then the
above mentioned problems begin."
You earlier stated 2 separate problems. Which problem is not active using WiFi,
and becomes active with Ethernet?

What exact error or problem do you see when "can only open the Windows shares,
not the data folders I want to share."? There are maybe a dozen conditions that
I can think of that could result in "... cannot open a folder ...", each with
its own diagnosis.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html

Hello Chuck: the problem that I have when I turn the wireless off on the
XP machine and use it wired to the router is that I cannot copy/move
large files from one computer to the other. A small text file can be
moved but nothing else. I can only do this from the XP machine. From XP
I can see the shares on Vista and open the files and copy/move small
files. From Vista, in an explorer window, I can see the shared folders
on XP but I cannot even open these files. I can open the Windows
designated 'Shared Folders' on the XP machine but not the ones I want to
share. This from Vista. When both computers are wireless however, I can
do whatever I want from both.
Thanks again for your help
b

 

[Chuck]

Hello Chuck: the problem that I have when I turn the wireless off on the
XP machine and use it wired to the router is that I cannot copy/move
large files from one computer to the other. A small text file can be
moved but nothing else. I can only do this from the XP machine. From XP
I can see the shares on Vista and open the files and copy/move small
files. From Vista, in an explorer window, I can see the shared folders
on XP but I cannot even open these files. I can open the Windows
designated 'Shared Folders' on the XP machine but not the ones I want to
share. This from Vista. When both computers are wireless however, I can
do whatever I want from both.
Thanks again for your help
b

OK, Brian,

If the file copy will even start, or if any files can copy (move), then you've
eliminated all of the most common file sharing problems. If there are problems
with either browsing, firewalls, name resolution, or permissions / security, it
won't even start to copy.

So this has to be a driver issue, but in this case, it's the Ethernet driver on
one of the computers. Or maybe malware on either.

Have you tried taking the laptop to another network, and seeing if it does any
better elsewhere? Or maybe having a friend come over with a laptop, and see if
you get any different results? Right now, you have 2 computers. If you can't
copy from one to the other, you can't really tell which computer is the problem.

Our gut says "Vista". Our head should say "Maybe not".
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html

 

[brian]

OK, Brian,

If the file copy will even start, or if any files can copy (move), then you've
eliminated all of the most common file sharing problems. If there are problems
with either browsing, firewalls, name resolution, or permissions / security, it
won't even start to copy.

So this has to be a driver issue, but in this case, it's the Ethernet driver on
one of the computers. Or maybe malware on either.

Have you tried taking the laptop to another network, and seeing if it does any
better elsewhere? Or maybe having a friend come over with a laptop, and see if
you get any different results? Right now, you have 2 computers. If you can't
copy from one to the other, you can't really tell which computer is the problem.

Our gut says "Vista". Our head should say "Maybe not".
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html

Thanks again Chuck: Well this is what I've tried since you answered last.
I took the Vista laptop to the router and wired it up. Both laptops
wired, networking perfect. Then I left Vista wired and set XP on
wireless only. Vista couldn't see or ping XP at all. Both wireless,
networking fine again. So as long as one computer is wired and the other
wireless, networking doesn't work. If they are both in the same state,
wired or wireless, networking is fine. It's tempting to wipe Vista and
put XPPro on both laptops and be done with it. The problem is that I
didn't receive a Vista disk when I bought the thing and all I have is
one of those stupid restore things that wipes everything off the hard
drive and puts it back to the way it was the day you brought it home:
i.e. full of crap. So, any more pointers for me? Thanks again for your
time and advice.
b

 

[Chuck]

Thanks again Chuck: Well this is what I've tried since you answered last.
I took the Vista laptop to the router and wired it up. Both laptops
wired, networking perfect. Then I left Vista wired and set XP on
wireless only. Vista couldn't see or ping XP at all. Both wireless,
networking fine again. So as long as one computer is wired and the other
wireless, networking doesn't work. If they are both in the same state,
wired or wireless, networking is fine. It's tempting to wipe Vista and
put XPPro on both laptops and be done with it. The problem is that I
didn't receive a Vista disk when I bought the thing and all I have is
one of those stupid restore things that wipes everything off the hard
drive and puts it back to the way it was the day you brought it home:
i.e. full of crap. So, any more pointers for me? Thanks again for your
time and advice.
b

Brian,

My personal opinion is that Vista will get better, and if you have Vista right
now, you should stay with it and move ahead.

Your problem may not be with Ethernet anyway. Multi-homed computers, whether
running Vista, XP or whatever, are always a challenge. Both browsing and name
resolution, two key components in Windows Networking, are affected by multiple
connections.

Start from the bottom, pinging.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html

What's the complete and exact return from the ping that doesn't work?

 

[brian]

Brian,

My personal opinion is that Vista will get better, and if you have Vista right
now, you should stay with it and move ahead.

Your problem may not be with Ethernet anyway. Multi-homed computers, whether
running Vista, XP or whatever, are always a challenge. Both browsing and name
resolution, two key components in Windows Networking, are affected by multiple
connections.

Start from the bottom, pinging.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html

What's the complete and exact return from the ping that doesn't work?

Thanks again Chuck: Well, the ping works. I can ping both from both, no
problem. It's when I try to open the shares in an explorer window that I
have the problem. Vista can see the XP wired machine, I even get a
network map that is correct. When I try to open that machine (XP
machine) I can see the shared folders. When I try to open them, that's
when I just get a long wait I get a '.......is not accessible, you may
not have privleges ....' message.
b

 

[Chuck]

Thanks again Chuck: Well, the ping works. I can ping both from both, no
problem. It's when I try to open the shares in an explorer window that I
have the problem. Vista can see the XP wired machine, I even get a
network map that is correct. When I try to open that machine (XP
machine) I can see the shared folders. When I try to open them, that's
when I just get a long wait I get a '.......is not accessible, you may
not have privleges ....' message.
b

OK, if you're waiting then getting the "... not accessible, you may not have
privileges ..." message, that's a timeout while attempting name resolution.
You're not getting a permissions reply, you're getting dropped packets. Or your
protocol stack is overloaded.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/fix-network-problems-but-clean-up.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/fix-network-problems-but-clean-up.html

When you have multiple connections, that can contribute to problems, just as a
overloaded protocol stack. Address resolution is the process of your computer
asking for the physical address of the other computer. No address = no access.
A computer having multiple addresses is like a person with schizophrenia. If
you're addressing that person in conversation, how do you know what to call him
/ her?

The physical considerations (Ethernet vs WiFi) should be transparent to name
resolution. Your computer asks for the physical address of another computer, by
having the switch (NAT router) send the name request to every active switch
port. That's called broadcast name resolution. The other computer should
respond with the MAC address of its Ethernet or WiFi connection, depending upon
what's active. Your computer now knowing a MAC address of the other computer,
it can send directed messages to that computer by using its MAC address.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/09/automatic-metrics-and-ability-to-roam.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/09/automatic-metrics-and-ability-to-roam.html
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/address-resolution-on-lan.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/address-resolution-on-lan.html