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Resolved Networking Vista to XP (again?)

Discussion in 'Networking (Hardware & Software)' started by jparnold, 2011/07/16.

  1. 2011/07/16
    jparnold

    jparnold Inactive Thread Starter

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    I'm sure this has been asked before but I could not find any posts. I also read FAQ without finding a solution.
    I have two desktop PC's both running XP professional and with SP3 and networked successfully.
    I have recently purchased a notebook with Vista Business installed.

    I cannot see shared folders on the XP PC on the Vista PC and vice versus

    I have 'googled' the question and found a number of web pages such as 'How to Network Vista and XP computers together' etc and read and followed the instructions without success.
    All PCs run NTFS
    All PCs have the same workgroup name.
    I downloaded and tried to install Layer Topology Discovery Responder (as per instructions from a web page) but I get a window stating that it is not required as SP3 exists.

    I can access the Internet on both PCs

    Now what do I do?
     
    Last edited: 2011/07/16
    jparnold,
    #1
  2. 2011/07/16
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Windows Vista by default does not allow simple file sharing. Access to shared folders, including the public folder (if shared), requires a user name and password. Simple file sharing is enabled by default in Windows XP Home Edition.

    I would setup password protected sharing on all comps. (disable simple file sharing on xp)

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx
     
    TonyT,
    #2


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  4. 2011/07/16
    jparnold

    jparnold Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks Tony
    I'll print out the article, read through it and make suggested changes.
    BTW I already had simple file sharing turned off on the XP PC but forgot to mention it.
    After reading the first few lines it seems the solution could be in the way Vista uses public shared folder rather than Shared Documents folder BUT I will read it through closely later and see what I can achieve and post the result.
    Thanks
     
    jparnold,
    #3
  5. 2011/07/16
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    In XP, if simple file sharing is OFF, then you must use passworded sharing, and you must use Comp Mgmt to add users on each computer, then setup a new share on the drive or directory being shared via its Properties/Sharing tab. The "object" you must add is the user who can access the share.

    So, for the Vista user to access an XP pro computer you must on each XP computer do this:

    1. rt click My Computer > select manage.
    2. Local User & Groups > Users > rt click & select Add new.
    3. enter username of Vista computer, enter Vista user's password (same pw used to logo to Vista).
    4. uncheck "user must change pw & select pw never expires. "
    5. rt click a drive or directory to be shared > select Sharing & security.
    6. New Share button > enter a name for this share.
    7. Permissions button > Add button > "enter object name to select" and type the users who can access the share (one per line) > OK button > Apply button.

    These users (the other XP user and the Vista user) now have permission to access the shared drive or directory. In their Network Places the share will show up as the name you gave the new share.

    On the Vista computer you need to do the same thing by enabling a private network that uses password protecting sharing, then add the XP users to the shares. This guide shows how to do it:
    Password Protected File Sharing in Windows Vista

    This is the best way to setup sharing, it's secured and safer than simple file sharing.
     
    TonyT,
    #4
  6. 2011/07/17
    jparnold

    jparnold Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks Tony. Much more complicated that with simple file sharing which in my circumstances is good enough (I think) as no one except my wife and I use my network.

    I have now successfully created a shared folder on my Vista machine and set permission.s


    I also have successfully accessed shared folders on my XP PC from the VISTA PC but have not been able to see or access the shared folder on the VISTA PC from the XP PC.
    I believe that I must do the following you suggested on the XP PC -

    I have no idea what to enter as the username of the Vista PC. The name I gave it (not very imaginative) is NOTEBOOK. I think that I have to enter something like NOTEBOOK//john but am not sure so some direction here would be appreciated.
     
    Last edited: 2011/07/17
    jparnold,
    #5
  7. 2011/07/18
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    username = the name used to logon to a computer, not the comp name.
     
    TonyT,
    #6
  8. 2011/07/18
    jparnold

    jparnold Inactive Thread Starter

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    Totally confused!

    The Vista PC can 'see' shared folders on the XP PC BUT -


    The XP PC CANNOT 'see' any shared folders on the Vista PC even though I completed all detailed steps on the Vista PC to shares folders on it.
     
    jparnold,
    #7
  9. 2011/07/19
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Did you add the xp users as done in XP comps and setup "new shares" on Vista? You can set a dir as shared but no one can access it because it's already shared by default for admin purposes...logged on members of the admin group have access to all dirs. When you set a dir to be shared you must make a new share and then add the allowed users (objects).
     
    TonyT,
    #8
  10. 2011/07/21
    jparnold

    jparnold Inactive Thread Starter

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    Not sure how to add xp users (to the Vista PC) as they are the same name(s) on the Vista and XP PCs. Do I need to have different user names between the two PCs? This would be annoying as I am the user on both PCs
     
    jparnold,
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  11. 2011/07/21
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    TonyT,
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  12. 2011/07/22
    jparnold

    jparnold Inactive Thread Starter

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    Tony
    I think that I will have to give up on accessing shared folders on the Vista PC from the XP PC as I (think) I have done everything which has been suggested and also followed some other instructions I found on web sites I found by Googling "Networking and sharing files between Vista and XP ".
    UNLESS I am not using the correct method on the XP PC to access the Vista PC.
    On the Vista PC I CAN access shared folders on the XP PC by
    Control Panel > NETWORK then clicking on the XP PC name eg HOME_03BA5252C594 (strangely it does not display the name I gave the PC eg RUMPUSROOM_PC).

    On the XP PC I am trying to 'find' the shared Vista PC folders by double clicking on MY NETWORK PLACES as I normally do to access shared folders on the other XP PC I have. Is this where I should 'see' the Vista shared folders? All it displays is the shared folders on the other XP PC.

    Also I cannot work out how to give permission to VISTA shared folders to users on the XP PC. I have even tried turning off 'password protection'.
     
    jparnold,
    #11
  13. 2011/07/22
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Eh? 'scuze me? Never heard of that. In fact, I (and many others) promote having the same user account on all your computers!

    You'll have to have different computer names.

    Have a look at this article: Windows Vista Network Troubleshooting
     
    Arie,
    #12
  14. 2011/07/22
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    It makes it much easier to manage and t-shoot when there are unique usernames.

    For a simple home network, with a few computers, one should use Simple File Sharing, and just use the default shared directories.

    For networks that have sensitive personal data, business data, etc., it's best to use passworded sharing and use unique usernames. That way, one can set permissions for the separate users.

    For example, on a home network with tax info, financial data, etc., you can password share data for parents but restrict the kiddies' access to that share.
     
    TonyT,
    #13
  15. 2011/07/22
    jparnold

    jparnold Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi Arie
    Thanks for your input
    Firstly the link connected to
    just hangs. I split off the first part which opened the web page ok and then navigated to the troubleshooting page without any delays - strange that http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsVista/troubleshooting-01.html just hangs and that http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsVista doesn't.

    My question though is this -
    As the VISTA PC (notebook) which is connected to my router by wireless CAN access the internet successfully and CAN access files on the XP PC therefore should I NOT be concerned with the article's information about the possibility that the ROUTER may be outdated eg support or not for "TCP Extensions for High Performance "?
    I ran the Internet Connectivity Evaluation tool which passed most tests but not all.

    My problem is that I CANNOT even 'see' any of the VISTA PC shared folders on the XP PC (when I open My Network Places). That is there are NO ICONS displayed for the VISTA shared folders.
    But strangely the VISTA PC has access the the shared XP PC folders.
     
    Last edited: 2011/07/22
    jparnold,
    #14
  16. 2011/07/24
    jparnold

    jparnold Inactive Thread Starter

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    I will close this post now even though my problem is not solved it seems that it never will be.
    After following all the replies I still can't get my XP PC to even 'see' (let alone open) shared folders on my VISTA PC (even though the Vista PC has access to my XP shared folders).

    I will have to transfer any files via USB stick or emailing them to myself which isn't too much of a drama.

    Thanks anyway
     
    jparnold,
    #15
  17. 2011/07/28
    jparnold

    jparnold Inactive Thread Starter

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    I hope that everyone who sent replies to this post reads this.

    I HAVE SOLVED IT

    What I had been doing was opening MY NETWORK PLACES (as I had always done in the past BEFORE I got the VISTA notebook) and there were no icons displayed for the VISTA shared folders only for the shared XP folders.

    Last night I noticed that when My Network Places was open on the left was under Network Tasks VIEW WORKGROUP COMPUTERS and when I selected that it displayed both XP pcs AND the VISTA notebook which I opened logged in and then had the shared folders.

    Strange that NO ONE had advised me to access the Vista shared folders via VIEW WORKGROUP COMPUTERS not just opening My Network Places.
     
    jparnold,
    #16
  18. 2011/07/28
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Likely because none of us are using Vista. I myself had Vista installed once on a separate computer only because I needed to learn some of its basic functions so I could repair clients' computers, but I never did like it and used XP for my daily stuff. Then later, dumped Vista for Windows 7.

    Please mark this thread as "resolved ".
     
    TonyT,
    #17
  19. 2011/07/28
    jparnold

    jparnold Inactive Thread Starter

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    Point taken.
    Maybe then I should have posted this question on the VISTA forum although as it was related to networking I thought at the time that someone would move it to the networking forum anyway.

    I too would 'move' to W7 except for the cost. I am semi retired and so can't 'throw' money around and
    I also live by the saying "why fix it if it ain't broken "
    My 'main' PCs still run on XP (Pro) for the same reason and regarding security I always scan any new software reagardless of where it came from with AVG, Malwarebytes anti malware and also AdAware (which has picked up bad things which the former 2 haven't).

    At least I have 'solved' my problem. I also posted this (problem) question at another forum DEVOTED to Vista and no one there offered this advice which is even worse (as it is devoted to Vista).
     
    Last edited: 2011/07/28
    jparnold,
    #18

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