Unable to share files and printers between vista and XP pro

[Mr Mike]

Here's my problem. Added new Vista Ultimate laptop to home network.
Was able to share files on 3 XP PCs and Share Printers on XP PCs.
Norton Internet Security Expired and I renewed.
Vista Laptop no longer able to see other XP File Shares and Printers.
After trying to configure, decided to uninstall NIS.
Still unble to share XP file shares and printers.
Vista Laptop can be seen by XP PCs occasionally.
Vista network center shows network to be private - Check!
File discovery is ON - Check!
File Sharing is Custom. When I try to change to ON, and apply,
nothing changes.
Turned off Simple Networking on 1 of 3 XP PCs. No change.

Can anybody help?

 

[Mick Murphy]

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx

Have a read of the above link re Vista File and Printer Sharing.

Permissions/Share info is there as well.

If using Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro I.S., make sure file and printer
sharing is enabled in THEIR firewall.

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 to include
Vista in your “New†Network, even if you had an XP Network set up prior to
adding a Vista computer to it.

 

[Mr Mike]

Thanks for the assistance. I'm usually not this dense and able to
resolve these things myself. I had already read the article (link)
you provided. I sat down last night an very methodically walked
through every case of one PC accessing anothers shares and printers.

I double checked and all PC have the same workgroup name HOMENETWORK
I ran XP's Networking Wizard on each XP PC while Vista on network.
I double checked Norton setting on all PCs. THey should be wide open
for any PC in my network. I'm Blocking ICMP and Win 2000 SMP, EPMAP &
Port 5000.

Vista network discovery is ON.
Network is PRIVATE.
Public folder sharing is ON.
Password Protected is OFF.
File sharing is CUSTOM. If I try to turn on, nothing happens. I
assume this is due to Norton. However, when I tried to resolve by
removing Norton, the same thing happend and I was unable to resolve
the problem by turning file sharing on.

To summarize my findings:
All XP pro PC can access each other's shares and printers.
All XP pro PCs can see the Vista PC. When accessing the shares on the
Vista PC the first time after booting, I get a login prompt. Afterward
I can browse the vista folders with ease.

The only Odd thing seems to be the inability to turn on file sharing
even when Norton was uninstalled. Any clue here?

Thanks again.

Mike

 

[Mr Mike]

So far, no joy! Thanks for the assistance although.

I'm usually not this dense and able to
resolve these things myself. I had already read the article (link)
you provided. I sat down last night an very methodically walked
through every case of one PC accessing anothers shares and printers.

I double checked and all PC have the same workgroup name HOMENETWORK
I ran XP's Networking Wizard on each XP PC while Vista on network.
I double checked Norton setting on all PCs. THey should be wide open
for any PC in my network. I'm Blocking ICMP and Win 2000 SMP, EPMAP &
Port 5000.

Vista network discovery is ON.
Network is PRIVATE.
Public folder sharing is ON.
Password Protected is OFF.
File sharing is CUSTOM. If I try to turn on, nothing happens. I
assume this is due to Norton. However, when I tried to resolve by
removing Norton, the same thing happend and I was unable to resolve
the problem by turning file sharing on.

To summarize my findings:
All XP pro PC can access each other's shares and printers.
All XP pro PCs can see the Vista PC. When accessing the shares on the
Vista PC the first time after booting, I get a login prompt. Afterward
I can browse the vista folders with ease.

The only Odd thing seems to be the inability to turn on file sharing
even when Norton was uninstalled. Any clue here?

Thanks again.

Mike