Vista cannot see XP PCs on the same network

[SomeOldGeezer]

I have a home network consisting of five PCs: three running Windows XP and
two running Vista. All five PCs share a common internet connection (AT&T
U-verse via a 2Wire DSL(?)). All five PCs can see the internet just fine.
However, the three Windows XP PCs can see each other just fine. The two
Windows Vista PCs can't see anyone else on the network, including each other.

Additional configuration information: The three Windows XP PCs are running
Norton AntiVirus 2007 (fully upgraded). The two Vista PCs are running Norton
360.

What I have tried so far:

+ I changed the workgroup name to a common name.

+ I downloaded and installed the network mapping upgrade for Windows XP on
one PC to see if I could get it to work.

+ I have searched the Microsoft web site for instructions and attempted to
execute them to the best of my ability, including changing work group names,
setting private network, OS updates, etc.

Thus far, each Vista PC has seen the rest of the PCs on the network exactly
one time and have never seen them again. I have spent over two weeks trying
to solve this problem with no luck. There are resources I need to be able to
share, like printers, etc., across this network and am unable to do so.

It seems ironic to me that such an allegedly sophisticated and
"user-friendly" OS can't be made to do what it would have taken me less than
five minutes to configure in Windows XP.

I know this is probably a simple problem, but I am really stumped on this one.

 

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

It could be the Norton blocks the sharing. This post may help.

Can't access sharing because of NortonSo it turned out that I had Norton
Firewall still running on the Vista > machine. I'm able to access the Vista
from the XP laptop if I disable the ...
www.chicagotech.net/netforums/viewtopic.php?t=1667


--
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

 

[Agent Smith]

You issue has nothing to do with Vista or XP. Your problem is the Norton 360
software. Norton 360 comes with a firewall built-in. By default, it will
block the communication that WIndows File and Printer Sharing uses. This is
why the two Vista machines are unable to interact with each other and the XP
PCs. Your XP PCs have Norton AV 2007 which does not have a firewall component
to it. So no changes are needed on the XP PCs.

Here is the step by step to trust your local network on Norton 360.
1.) Open Norton 360.
2.) Click on "Task and Settings"
3.) Click on "Change Advanced Settings"
4.) Click on "Firewall Protection Settings"
5.) Click on "Network Location"
6.) Your should notice your local network is under the "Limited" location,
select your network gateway address (your 2Wire's Mac Address) and click the
left-arrow button to move it to "Trusted" location.
7.) Click on "Apply"
8.) Click on "Close"
9.) Hopefully enjoy File and Printer Sharing!!

 

[Agent Smith]

So this worked for you? Just wanted to make sure.

 

[SomeOldGeezer]

I don't know for certain yet; I am at work and won't be able to try it until
I get home tonight. However, I had a suspicion that Norton 360 might be
involved (and, of course, I couldn't find any information on their website).
But this is the best answer I've seen on a couple of different forums that I
haven't tried yet, so I am optimistic that this will work.

 

[Agent Smith]

Okay, let me know how it goes. If it doesn't help, let me know and we can go
from there.

Also, Symantec's website does have information on how to configure the
Norton 360 firewall. It's in the Technical Support Knowledgebase. Ihave a
link for you incase you need to refrence to it:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...5715300728409?OpenDocument&seg=hm&lg=en&ct=us

If this doesn't work can you try a few things for me? This will help me
better understand what could be the cause and solution to your issue. So be
very detailed and include any error messages you get. Again, this is if
configuring Norton 360 doesn't work out.

1.) Can you PING by IP? (XP to Vista, Vista to XP, and Vista to Vista)
2.) Can you PING by computer name? (XP to Vista, Vista to XP, and Vista to
Vista)
3.) What happens if you try to manually connect to the XP and/or Vista PCs
from Start Search? (Use the UNC path to try this. So type "\\ComputerName\"
in the Start Search bar and hit enter.)
4.) What exactly are all of you Network and Sharing Center settings set to?

Again, I hope this all works out for you.

-Alex

 

[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.

If you are running Norton, Trend Micro, McAfee, etc’s Firewall, check its
settings to make sure it allows file and printer sharing..

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.
##############################################

 

[SomeOldGeezer]

Here is an update on what I tried last night. I looked up the Microsoft
article on their website on how to configure Vista for use on a private LAN
and followed the instructions. No success. I followed the instructions
given here to make sure that Norton 360 recognized my MAC address (?) as
"trusted". No success. I tried pinging one of the Windows XP machines via
name and IP address. No success.

I uninstalled Norton 360 and made sure the Windows firewall was disabled on
Vista, but still no success. I can't ping the XP machines or anything,
though the IP addresses all match what I except. I reinstalled Norton 360
and let it configure itself and it immediately recognized the MAC address as
"trusted".

I happened to recall that this worked at one time, but it took me a moment
to remember when and what changed. Fomerly, I was using Verizon Wireless
broadband as my internet service. I was running Verizon on a laptop and
using an "old style" internet connection through the laptop. Shortly after
the getting the Vista machines (which could do file and printer sharing on
that network at that time), I got AT&T's new U-verse cable TV and broadband
internet service (very nice stuff, by the way). Since then, my Vista PCs
cannot see the other PCs, so I am guessing that there is something odd going
on with the 2Wire box.

So, as far as I can tell the problem is not in Vista or Norton (which makes
sense; both have been doing this for years now). I will approach the problem
from this new direction now and will post back if I find out anything since
it is likely that others will experience this same problem in the future.