Vista File Sharing with XP machines

[Bryan]

Bought the kids a new PC... Vista was the only option. Can't figure out
how to share files simply inside our home network.
- all computers are in the same workgroup
- all computers have file sharing enabled without passwords being required.
- all XP computers can see the new Vista computer in the workgroup and
can read/write files from/into the folder
- Vista computer can not see ANY of the XP computers in the Network view
- Vista computer can access shared folders on any XP computer IF I map
the folders as network drives.

I would prefer to not have to map all drives... Is there a trick to have
the XP computers in the workgroup show up in the Vista computer's
network view.

Thanks in advance, Bryan

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Have you setup a static IP address for both PCs? I notice I couldn't access
my XP machine from Vista until I did that.

 

[Tim Slattery]

Bought the kids a new PC... Vista was the only option. Can't figure out
how to share files simply inside our home network.
- all computers are in the same workgroup
- all computers have file sharing enabled without passwords being required.
- all XP computers can see the new Vista computer in the workgroup and
can read/write files from/into the folder
- Vista computer can not see ANY of the XP computers in the Network view
- Vista computer can access shared folders on any XP computer IF I map
the folders as network drives.

That's exactly the problem I had until I figured out how to tell the
Vista machine that it was part of the workgroup that my XP machine
used. Control Panel, under "Network and Internet", click "View Network
status and tasks". Click the downarrow to the right of "Network
discovery". It will show you the workgroup the computer thinks it's
on. If it's not the right one, click "Change Settings" next to the
workgroup name, then click the "Change..." button in the resulting
dialog box.

 

[flambe]

If a simple thing like changing the name of the workgroup the Vista computer
uses do not solve the problem you should strongly consider changing to XP if
file and printer sharing between computers is necessary.
All Microsoft networking is problematic, Vista worse than XP.
It is astounding how many problems people have despite running the
"foolproof" wizards programmed by Microsoft.
On this newsgroup Microsoft VPs will frequently say that the problem is with
the firewall. However probably 99% of users with problems are using the
built-in Windows firewall and have used the network wizards.

 

[Frank]

flambe wrote:

....nothing but a bunch of uninformed lies and bullsh*t.
Grow up as*hole and face the fact that you're STUPID!
Frank

 

[Bryan]

Have you setup a static IP address for both PCs? I notice I couldn't access
my XP machine from Vista until I did that.

No the machines are all configured for dynamic IP... but I don't think
that's the problem as I can access the XP machines from the Vista
machine IF I map the drives. These drives are successfully remapped each
time the Vista machine reboots.

 

[Bryan]

That's exactly the problem I had until I figured out how to tell the
Vista machine that it was part of the workgroup that my XP machine
used. Control Panel, under "Network and Internet", click "View Network
status and tasks". Click the downarrow to the right of "Network
discovery". It will show you the workgroup the computer thinks it's
on. If it's not the right one, click "Change Settings" next to the
workgroup name, then click the "Change..." button in the resulting
dialog box.

Thanks Tim - unfortunately, my Vista machine had the correct workgroup
name... same one as all the XP machines.

 

[Len Cuff]

Bought the kids a new PC... Vista was the only option. Can't figure out
how to share files simply inside our home network.
- all computers are in the same workgroup
- all computers have file sharing enabled without passwords being required.
- all XP computers can see the new Vista computer in the workgroup and
can read/write files from/into the folder
- Vista computer can not see ANY of the XP computers in the Network view
- Vista computer can access shared folders on any XP computer IF I map
the folders as network drives.

I would prefer to not have to map all drives... Is there a trick to have
the XP computers in the workgroup show up in the Vista computer's
network view.

Thanks in advance, Bryan

Bryan,
Not sure how you've got it all set up BUT I have a mixed
network of Vista, XP and XP Media Centre PC's and all can see each
other's shared drives fine. Also fixed Ip's DON'T make any difference.
Some of mine are fixed and some DHCP. I assume you have gone into the
network sharing centre on Vista and set all the right options?

Look at the Sharing and Discovery options. Also make sure the XP boxes
are sharing drives and so is the Vista box. I'm thinking it's an
option in the network sharing which you need to turn on?

HTH


cheers,
Len

 

[David]

Are you using a 3rd party firewall like "Norton" if so try turning it off
temporary...................this worked for me

David

 

[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, etc’s Firewall, check its settings.

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.

 

[Mick Murphy]

There is nothing wrong with Networking!

It is cockheads like you that don't know how to use a computer!

 

[DarkSentinel]

Dude, there are lots of things wrong with Vista, one of them being
networking. I've experienced the same problem as the topic creator, and
went through the same steps. I've also had problems with Vista and
VPNs, and I can assure you I know what I'm doing.

Vista is a new OS and has plenty of bugs. It is not suitable for
mission critical tasks, or if you want do things easily right now.

Odd, I had zero problems setting my XP/Vista Network. Works great on my
mission critical stuff (Graphic Arts). Does everything I need to do easily
and effortlessly.

 

[DarkSentinel]

Bought the kids a new PC... Vista was the only option. Can't figure out
how to share files simply inside our home network.
- all computers are in the same workgroup
- all computers have file sharing enabled without passwords being
required.
- all XP computers can see the new Vista computer in the workgroup and can
read/write files from/into the folder
- Vista computer can not see ANY of the XP computers in the Network view
- Vista computer can access shared folders on any XP computer IF I map the
folders as network drives.

I would prefer to not have to map all drives... Is there a trick to have
the XP computers in the workgroup show up in the Vista computer's network
view.

Thanks in advance, Bryan

You don't have to. There are more than likely something you have overlooked.
Here's my set up...

Vista Home Premium/XP Media Center/XP Home
DHCP set on D-Link DI-604 router to 10Mb/s cable modem.

Now question. What if any firewall are you running? Most firewalls will by
default prevent network discovery protocols from running. Also do you have
Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) installed and enabled on the XP
machines? I have my firewall set to allow the protocols, and have LLTD
installed on the XP machines, and can see the other machines fine without
mapping drives.

 

[Bryan]

Bryan,
Not sure how you've got it all set up BUT I have a mixed
network of Vista, XP and XP Media Centre PC's and all can see each
other's shared drives fine. Also fixed Ip's DON'T make any difference.
Some of mine are fixed and some DHCP. I assume you have gone into the
network sharing centre on Vista and set all the right options?

Look at the Sharing and Discovery options. Also make sure the XP boxes
are sharing drives and so is the Vista box. I'm thinking it's an
option in the network sharing which you need to turn on?

HTH


cheers,
Len

Hi Len - I believe I have set all the options in Vista-land. Sharing is
enabled and PW requirements is disabled. All machines (XP and Vista)
have at least one shared directory or drive. I'm assuming that sharing
is not the problem as I can map shared folders. My problem is that I
don't always want or need to map shared folders. When required I would
like my kids and family to be able to go into the equivalent of XP's "My
Network Places" and find the non-mapped but shared drives.

What discovery options should I check and where would I find them?

Thanks, Bryan

 

[Bryan]

You don't have to. There are more than likely something you have
overlooked. Here's my set up...

Vista Home Premium/XP Media Center/XP Home
DHCP set on D-Link DI-604 router to 10Mb/s cable modem.

Now question. What if any firewall are you running? Most firewalls will
by default prevent network discovery protocols from running. Also do you
have Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) installed and enabled on the
XP machines? I have my firewall set to allow the protocols, and have
LLTD installed on the XP machines, and can see the other machines fine
without mapping drives.

Firewall is Zonelabs on all machines with a subset of IP ranges enabled
as being truested.... but don't think it could be that as a firewall
issue would not allow me to map the drive. The LLTD sounds like it
might be the trick... Did a search and found a MS knowledge Base Article
ID : 922120 "Network Map in Windows Vista does not display computers
that are running Windows XP". Looks like its something that needs to be
explicitly installed on XP machines. I'll give it a try and see what
happens. Thanks for the pointer.

 

[Bryan]

Firewall is Zonelabs on all machines with a subset of IP ranges enabled
as being truested.... but don't think it could be that as a firewall
issue would not allow me to map the drive. The LLTD sounds like it
might be the trick... Did a search and found a MS knowledge Base Article
ID : 922120 "Network Map in Windows Vista does not display computers
that are running Windows XP". Looks like its something that needs to be
explicitly installed on XP machines. I'll give it a try and see what
happens. Thanks for the pointer.

Crap.... the patch didn't work. And to make matters worse, now my XP
machines can't see the Vista machine in their "My Networks" view. I can
still map drives - for now anyway.

 

[the wharf rat]

Crap.... the patch didn't work. And to make matters worse, now my XP
machines can't see the Vista machine in their "My Networks" view. I can
still map drives - for now anyway.

Well, ya know, if you can map drives but can't browse that
certainly seems like a firewall problem.

 

[DarkSentinel]

And I have it installed on my personal computer as well with no problem,
but that doesn't mean there aren't any problems.

Specifically the problem with VPNs not working if you are attached to a
NAT device, which makes no sense to me.

Now that specific problem I haven't run into yet with Vista. I ran into it
with SonicWall and XP/2K a few years back, but can't remember how we fixed
it...

 

[DarkSentinel]

Crap.... the patch didn't work. And to make matters worse, now my XP
machines can't see the Vista machine in their "My Networks" view. I can
still map drives - for now anyway.

Very odd. Let me see what I can dig up.

 

[Len Cuff]

Firewall is Zonelabs on all machines with a subset of IP ranges enabled
as being truested.... but don't think it could be that as a firewall
issue would not allow me to map the drive. The LLTD sounds like it
might be the trick... Did a search and found a MS knowledge Base Article
ID : 922120 "Network Map in Windows Vista does not display computers
that are running Windows XP". Looks like its something that needs to be
explicitly installed on XP machines. I'll give it a try and see what
happens. Thanks for the pointer.

Bryan,
I tried the free ZA yesterday and even though I set my
complete subnet as trusted, nothing worked until I rebooted the Vista
box. Then it all came back as expected. I certainly don't have LLTD
installed on the XP boxes and they can browse to my Vista boxes
through network places no problem. Vista does have one VERY annoying
'feature' where is doesn't appear to drop 'dead' connections. After a
couple of days, I have to reboot my PC as other PC's get a message
saying my PC can't accept any more connections! But that's a problem I
am still trying to fix!


cheers,
Len