Can't find other computers on network

[MikeH]

My Vista machine cannot see other computers on my home network.
Additionally, when other computers are connected to the router the Internet
performance of the Vista machine goes into the toilet. The other machines
(running XP SP2) see each other fine.

Vista Home Premium
Dell XPS 420
SMC router Barricade model 7004VBR
RCA cable nodem
Norton Internet Security 2008
other computers are XP SP2

Windows firewall is off and I have tried firewall both enabled and disabled
in the router.

I tested router for Vista compatibility and it passed all tests except UPnP
which is disabled.

All computers are in workgroup "WORKGROUP"

Vista machine has all buttons on Network Sharing center ON except "Password
protected sharing". I have Public folders and printer shared.

If I select "Show me all the files and folders I am sharing" I get a screen
with "No items match your search"

What else do I need to do?

 

[Robert L. \(MS-MVP\)]

You may want to install LLTD. Or this search result may help. Please post
back with the result.

Vista cannot access othersVista: Can't see any computers in the Network ...
Network discovery may beblocking you from seeing other computers and
devices. To turn on th network . ...
www.chicagotech.net/vista/vistaaccess1.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

 

[MikeH]

OK. I installed LLTD on my XP machines. Now they show up when I select
"View full map". Intermittantly the other computers will show up in the
Vista Network window. If I double click one of them they are very sluggish
to show shared objects. I have attempted file transfer and after a minute
or two these sytems get disconnected. I turned off my modem and disabled
all firewalls and anti-virus software and it doesn't help the problem.

The Vista machine is new and has the latest windows updates. Not much in
other software has been loaded on except Norton.

 

[Mick Murphy]

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.


Also, run the XP’s Home Network File and Printer sharing Wizard on the XP
machines, so it knows vista is there.

 

[Robert L. \(MS-MVP\)]

If you start the Vista with clean booting, can you access other computers?

Troubleshooting Vista with clean bootHow to run Windows OS with a clean
....How to run Windows OS with a clean boot ... when you cannot determine the
cause of the issue, you may run Windows Safe ...
www.chicagotech.net/netforums/viewtopic.php?t=778


--
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

 

[MikeH]

Some progress, I think. This morning I booted up one of my XP machines,
turned off Norton and ensured that Windows firewall was off. I made sure
firewall was off in the router. I turned off my cable modem as I was wide
open at that point. Then I booted up the Vista machine (normal boot
configuration) and disabled all firewalls and antivirus. The XP machine saw
the Vista machine immediately. The Vista machine saw the XP machine via
"View full map" but it didn't show up in the Network window until about 10
minutes later. I was able to start file transfers from either machine and
achieved about 500 MBytes/min which is as good as I've seen to date.

I turned Norton firewall and antivirus back on on both machines and turned
on the modem. The XP machine was back on line with the internet
immediately. The Vista machine didn't see any differnce. Tried
diagnostic/repair buttons and eventually Network/Sharing was showing
MULTIPLE!! networks but no Internet. I've been here before. Disable the
"Unknown network" then both disappear as the network adaptor gets disabled.
Hit Diagnose and Repair and it enables on the network adaptor. Now I have
Internet again on the Vista machine but performance on Internet is back to
crappy. As far as the network goes XP finds Vista but gets "access denied".
Vista sees XP via "View full map" but not on Network window.

I've noticed that power cycling the router or modem usually results in the
multiple network situation.

I did a clean reboot (removed non-microsoft services and all startup items).
Performance is not improved.

Rebooting in safe mode (with network) Vista finds an "Unidentified Network"
and no
Internet. I connected straight to the modem, rebooted in safe mode again
and get the same.

 

[MikeH]

I've tried clean boot and safe mode. The only thing that worked at all to
get me a working network was to turn off the modem and kill all firewalls.
For Internet I have to connect directly to the modem. Then it works fine,
even with firewalls up. Not a satisfactory solution -- there are other
people in the house.

What can I try next?