Can't see vista laptop on network, please help!

[ctf20]

I am trying to network two laptops with a pc. one of the laptops has xp, one has vista. The main desktop with the router has different user accounts setup (not sure if that matters but i've never set one up with different user accounts.

i have renamed the workgroup on each computer to the same thing. they all can connect to the internet. The laptop with xp can see the shared docs on one of the user accounts on the main pc. and the desktop can see that laptops shared docs.

The desktop can see the vista laptop when i click on workgroup computers, but if i click on it, it says it's not accessible. I have turned on all the file sharing options i can find on the vista laptop. it doesn't see either other computer.

can anyone help?!?? i have tried everything i know...is there something different on vista that is keeping it from showing up??

i have ran the network setup wizard on the main pc. (when i do that again the workgroup has gone back to MSHOME, does that matter...even though on 'my computer' it says the right name)

 

[JackMDS]

Successful Sharing involves some general consideration in Network settings,http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html

As well as specific adjustment of each computer according to what it is allowed to be shared.

Vista File and Printer Sharing- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx

Basic XP - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/filesharing.mspx

Advanced XP - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040

Printer Sharing XP - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx

Windows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357

Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120

 

[ctf20]

i have read those and still don't see what i'm doing wrong!


...ok now all of a sudden the vista laptop is seeing the other computers but i can't access them...

 

[OCedHrt]

I have the exact same problem.

First problem I had:

XP can see Vista, XP can access Vista, Vista cannot see SP, Vista cannot access XP.

I installed some hotfix for this on XP, now, Vista can see XP, Vista can access XP,
XP can see Vista, BUT XP cannot access Vista.

The vista system is not even pingable when I turn off the firewall, HOWEVER, if I ping the netbios name, it does resolve to the correct address.

 

[delco007]

Try to enable the Guest user account on the xp pc and check out the properties of folders that you are trying to share ( if sharing is enabled or not) and also turn off simple file sharing ( from folder options)
I hope by this time you have already applied LLD patch on the xp pc .If not then apply the patch on xp pc .
two important questions :

1) are you using Windows xp Home or pro ?

2) is it a wired connection or a wireless connection ?

I hope this helps but anyways , do tell us what resolved the problem .


Guru

 

[OCedHrt]

Thanks for the response. I had already did my fair share of googling and so I had installed that patch already.

I finally figured it out. The problem? My stupidity. I had my corporate vpn software installed, which comes with own unconfigurable device level firewall that blocks ALL incoming connections.