XP and Vista File Sharing Problem

[mddolloff]

I am trying to setup file sharing on my Vista/XP home network and am having problems. I can't get the computers to see each other.

I've got a wired desktop running Vista Ultimate and a wireless laptop running XP Pro.

Both have file sharing enabled and the filesharing OKed in the firewalls (I've even tried disabling the firewalls alltogether). I can ping the machines but can't actually see the shared folders. One thing I've noticed is that the Network Map feature in Vista never actually loads a map (i left it running overnight). It just says that it's building the map (and yes i've isntalled the patch on the XP machine to enable vista to see it).

Any ideas?

 

[corkyg]

Since one is wireless and the other wired, is it safe to assume they are linked through a router that does both?

Are they both members of the same Workgroup? If not, you don't have a network.

 

[dawks]

I like to manually navigate to my computer shares. I go to a run dialogue box (Windows Key + R) and type \\computername (where computer name is the name or IP of the computer you are trying to connect to (such as \\192.168.1.15)). If that works properly you should get a list of the visible shares on the remote computer. You might be prompted for a username and password, and this is where you'll provide the credentials of an account created on that remote computer.

Edit: as corkyg said, be sure they are on the same workgroup (workgroup or mshome by default).

 

[mddolloff]

Ah yes they are on the same router and yes the workgroup is set to the same thing on both machines.

 

[mddolloff]

Originally posted by: dawks
I like to manually navigate to my computer shares. I go to a run dialogue box (Windows Key + R) and type \\computername (where computer name is the name or IP of the computer you are trying to connect to (such as \\192.168.1.15)). If that works properly you should get a list of the visible shares on the remote computer. You might be prompted for a username and password, and this is where you'll provide the credentials of an account created on that remote computer.

Edit: as corkyg said, be sure they are on the same workgroup (workgroup or mshome by default).

No joy on this. I tried that last night as it is what I do at work.

 

[dawks]

What happens when you do \\computername and hit return? Just a blank white explorer window? You've definitely configured a fileshare and clicked ok instead of cancel? hehe

Also make sure you have disabled any important services like server or computer browser. also try net use command.

 

[mddolloff]

Originally posted by: dawks
What happens when you do \\computername and hit return? Just a blank white explorer window? You've definitely configured a fileshare and clicked ok instead of cancel? hehe

Also make sure you have disabled any important services like server or computer browser. also try net use command.

I'm not sure I completely follow you. Yes I am sure my file shares are enabled as I can see them locally on each machine.

I've not tried \\computername only \\ipaddress. It eventually just times out and I get some error message (I can't remember what it says at the moment).

Did you mean "haven't" not "have" disabled? I don't know how those would have gotten disabled but I can take a look when I get home from work.