Help networking Win XP with Win Vista computers please

[Guest]

Hi
I bought a new computer with Win Vista Premium OS and added it to my home
network .This replaces an old computer-that was running Win XP Pro-which had
been networked to my PC that uses Windows XP home edition. These computers
are directly connected via wired LAN and I have a Belkin router/modem with a
wireless conection to a third networked computer.

I have a problem accessing the new computer via the network.When I click on
the new workgroup computer icon on my XP machine it gives an error message
saying this is inaccessible possibly due to not having permission to access
it. I am an administrator for all three machines (the other 2 computers are
for my son & daughter respectively).

I am most grateful for help to solve this please. Also when I click view
full network map on the Vista machine I see a computer icon of my XP machine
but clicking on this just gets a dialogue box called gateway device -not the
XP computer!?

I did have similar problems getting these 3 machines networked initially
with XP and now I am having it again on adding this new computer with Vista!
Anyway I hope someone can offer help please (I have installed the LLTD on the
XP machine) and look forward to a reply.....

 

[Malke]

Hi
I bought a new computer with Win Vista Premium OS and added it to my home
network .This replaces an old computer-that was running Win XP Pro-which had
been networked to my PC that uses Windows XP home edition. These computers
are directly connected via wired LAN and I have a Belkin router/modem with a
wireless conection to a third networked computer.

I have a problem accessing the new computer via the network.When I click on
the new workgroup computer icon on my XP machine it gives an error message
saying this is inaccessible possibly due to not having permission to access
it. I am an administrator for all three machines (the other 2 computers are
for my son & daughter respectively).

I am most grateful for help to solve this please. Also when I click view
full network map on the Vista machine I see a computer icon of my XP machine
but clicking on this just gets a dialogue box called gateway device -not the
XP computer!?

I did have similar problems getting these 3 machines networked initially
with XP and now I am having it again on adding this new computer with Vista!
Anyway I hope someone can offer help please (I have installed the LLTD on the
XP machine) and look forward to a reply.....

General network troubleshooting:

*****
This link will take you through Vista networking very well:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx

Problems sharing files between computers on a network are generally
caused by 1) a misconfigured firewall; or 2) inadvertently running two
firewalls such as the built-in Windows Firewall and a third-party
firewall; and/or 3) not having identical user accounts and passwords on
all Workgroup machines; 4) trying to create shares where the operating
system does not permit it.

Here are some general networking tips for home/small networks:

1. 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.

2. With earlier Microsoft operating systems, the name of the Workgroup
didn't matter. Apparently it does with Vista, so put all computers in
the same Workgroup. This is done from the System applet in Control
Panel, Computer Name tab.

3. Create identical user accounts and passwords on all machines. 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

4. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center:

a. If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab) and create identical user
accounts/passwords on all computers.

b. If you don't care about using Pro's advanced features, leave the
Simple File Sharing enabled.

Simple File Sharing means that Guest (network) is enabled. This means
that anyone without a user account on the target system can use its
resources. This is a security hole but only you can decide if it matters
in your situation.

I think it is a good idea to create the identical user
accounts/passwords in any case when Vista machines are involved and it
isn't an onerous task with home/small networks.

5. Create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users'
home directories (My Documents) or Program Files, but you can share
folders inside those directories. A better choice is to simply use the
Shared Documents folder. See the first link above for details about
Vista sharing.
*****

Malke

 

[Guest]

Malke
Thanks for your very helpful post. Silly me had forgotten to allow the
Norton firewall on the new Vista computer to trust this network! So I have
done this and now from my XP machine I can access the icon for the Vista
machine in the workgroup which then gives the harddrive icon I enabled for
sharing.However when I click this to access folders it says no permission!

I think I have the same user account and password on both machines and so I
am not sure why I cannot access this level. I will keep trying to see why I
cannot yet access this hard drive's folders. I hope to find the solution soon
but if I don't I will ask for your help again!

Many thanks and best wishes to you

 

[Guest]

Malke

I still cannot access the shared drive (of the Vista computer) from the XP
machine and if you can add any further advice I would be grateful.I looked at
your links but haven't yet got this fixed.

I also have a problem with shared printing. I have shared the printer on my
XP machine and added this to the printer folder on the Vista machine but it
will not print!
When I access the workgroup from the XP machine there is an icon for
printers for the Vista machine, but this is empty.There is a control to add a
printer from there and when I try to use that it says I do not have
sufficient privileges!
I expect this has something to do with user accounts and passwords. My user
account on both these machines is the same with no password enabled but this
maybe the problem. I am concerned if I change the user account on my XP
machine then I will not stay networked to my third computer (Win XP home).
I am afraid all of this is rather tiresome and seems tricky for me!!
I wish Windows was simpler!(and still secure).

Any more help and support I am very grateful for!

 

[Malke]

Malke

I still cannot access the shared drive (of the Vista computer) from the XP
machine and if you can add any further advice I would be grateful.I looked at
your links but haven't yet got this fixed.

I also have a problem with shared printing. I have shared the printer on my
XP machine and added this to the printer folder on the Vista machine but it
will not print!
When I access the workgroup from the XP machine there is an icon for
printers for the Vista machine, but this is empty.There is a control to add a
printer from there and when I try to use that it says I do not have
sufficient privileges!
I expect this has something to do with user accounts and passwords. My user
account on both these machines is the same with no password enabled but this
maybe the problem. I am concerned if I change the user account on my XP
machine then I will not stay networked to my third computer (Win XP home).
I am afraid all of this is rather tiresome and seems tricky for me!!
I wish Windows was simpler!(and still secure).

Any more help and support I am very grateful for!

1. Create identifical user accounts and passwords on both machines.
2. For printing, you need to share out the printer on the computer to
which it is connected. Then install the printer drivers for the correct
operating system on the computer to which the printer is not connected.
It will depend on how the printer drivers were written whether the
printer will be found during the installation routine or whether you
will need to use the Add Printer wizard.

Refer to the link I gave you for Vista networking again.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx


Malke

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply. I have tried these steps with no success yet!
I have the same user name and password and when I add printer it selects it
and
appears to say it is installed and then tries to print a test page which
doesn't print!
I cannot access the shared drive nor print from my XP computer, as it keeps
saying I don't have permission/rights!!
I will keep trying but this is very trying- of patience!
I will let you know if I ever get this working......
Best wishes

 

[Malke]

Thanks for your reply. I have tried these steps with no success yet!
I have the same user name and password and when I add printer it selects it
and
appears to say it is installed and then tries to print a test page which
doesn't print!
I cannot access the shared drive nor print from my XP computer, as it keeps
saying I don't have permission/rights!!
I will keep trying but this is very trying- of patience!
I will let you know if I ever get this working......
Best wishes

I'm sorry, but without being able to see your computer I can't help any
further. If you are getting "access denied" errors then you 1) don't
have identical user accounts/passwords on both machines; 2) haven't set
up your sharing/permissions correctly on the printer; 3) have a
misconfigured firewall - or any combination of those factors.

You may wish to have a local professional come on-site to set you up.
Get recommendations from family, friends, colleagues. Do not use a
BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of place.

Good luck,


Malke

 

[Guest]

RPD

I had the exact problem and I followed Malke's instruction and changed my
Internet security options in Nortons 2008. I went to my XP pc and got the IP
address. I then went into Nortons and added the IP to my trusted Computers
list upder the "Personal Firewall - Trust Control" settings. I can now see
all the shared folders and printers with no problem.

Malke, thanks for the info!!!!