Joey04 Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 We just replaced a very old XP computer with a brand new Vista computer. We have a home network (it was all XP machines) where we could share files and share printers among the computers (all on an 802.11g network.) We are able to connect the Vista machine to the 802.11g network, so it has internet, but I can't figure out how to get it to "share files" or "share printers". It was real easy on the XP machines with the "network setup wizard", but I can't find anything like that on Vista. I spent a couple hours with it, couldn't figure it out, so I thought I would ask here. If there is another forum I should ask, please let me know. Thanks so very much! Joey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammin Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 Everything you need you should be able to find in the Network and Sharing center: In network discovery, just set your workgroup to the same as that of your XP machines. Enable file and printer sharing and everything should work itself out. I don't remember it being any more complicated than that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey04 Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 Ok, so I changed the name of the workgroup on the Vista machine as the same workgroup name as the XP machines on the Vista machine. It asked me to reboot the machine and I did. I have everything on (Network Discovery, and everything down the list as On.) But I still can't find this computer on the other machines, or the other computers on this machine. However, I do see this machine only when I log into the wireless router, but I still can't figure out how to share files or printers. Hope I am just missing something simple. Any help is really appreciated! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey04 Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 Made some progress... I just found the Vista machine when I did a Network Search for Computers on an XP machine. But I can't open it... Tells me I don't have permission. If I could just find out how to give permission... Or find anything from the Vista machine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waco Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 You have to actually share something for it to give you access. I have my shared folders set as readable by everyone, just right click on what you want to share, click on Share, then add "Everyone" with permission "Reader." Make sure you turn off "Password Protected Sharing" in the Network and Sharing Center. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey04 Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 On my Vista machine, I have a folder, c:\share that I set to share to all users. (I don't know if that is all users logged into this PC, or all users in the "Casa" workgroup. I said all users, but it doesn't even give me the option to add other users in the workgroup) The vista machine still does not recognize any of the XP machines. From the XP machines, I can see the Vista machine, but can't get onto anything. Thanks, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjloki Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 On my Vista machine, I have a folder, c:\share that I set to share to all users. (I don't know if that is all users logged into this PC, or all users in the "Casa" workgroup. I said all users, but it doesn't even give me the option to add other users in the workgroup) The vista machine still does not recognize any of the XP machines. From the XP machines, I can see the Vista machine, but can't get onto anything. Thanks, my little home network had to be chaged to 'private" for it to see the other machines and i had to make myself "administrator" in profiles......if you are currently networking as a "public" network then nobody else in the net will be able to share resources with you and visa versa.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey04 Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 my little home network had to be chaged to 'private" for it to see the other machines and i had to make myself "administrator" in profiles......if you are currently networking as a "public" network then nobody else in the net will be able to share resources with you and visa versa.... Where is the option to go from public to private? Do I have to do that on the XPs and the Vista machine, or just the Vista? I still can't see the XP machines anywhere on the Vista machine. I just learned that (in Vista) when I go to "show me all the shared network folders on this computer", I see the printer and all of the folders I set to public. However, when I go to "Show me all the files and folders I am sharing", it doesn't show anything (just goes to a file listing window with "No items matched your search") This is a horrible way to lose an entire Sunday, but I am obsessed with getting this new machine to network with my old machines! Thanks for all the ideas.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjloki Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 Where is the option to go from public to private? Do I have to do that on the XPs and the Vista machine, or just the Vista? I still can't see the XP machines anywhere on the Vista machine. I just learned that (in Vista) when I go to "show me all the shared network folders on this computer", I see the printer and all of the folders I set to public. However, when I go to "Show me all the files and folders I am sharing", it doesn't show anything (just goes to a file listing window with "No items matched your search") This is a horrible way to lose an entire Sunday, but I am obsessed with getting this new machine to network with my old machines! Thanks for all the ideas.. where the other guy showed ya on the networking center over on the right hand side in the middle where it says "customize"...klik on that and change to private.!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey04 Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 where the other guy showed ya on the networking center over on the right hand side in the middle where it says "customize"...klik on that and change to private.!! Ok, it is set to private. I still can't find any of the XP machines from the Vista machine. And on the XP machines, I can only see the Vista machine, but can't access any shared files or printers. From the XP machine, I go into a file window and type in exactly what the Vista machine sais the shared name of the folder is: \\Laura-PC\share and it just hangs for 30 seconds and then tells me it can't find it.... On the XP machine under add Printer, I can browse under network and find the Vist computer (Laura-PC), but I can't find any printers under the computer, when we got one connected... I sure appreciate all ideas.... Is there anything I need to do to make the XP network also private? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey04 Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 Actually, since changing the network to private, I found on help why XP machines can't be found.... And a hotfix on microsofts website... Let me try that route... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey04 Posted November 30, 2008 Posted November 30, 2008 Ok, I downloaded the hotfix on an XP machine. I can now view the XP machine when I go to "View Full Map" at the "Network and Sharing Center" on the Vista machine. But I still can't share files or printers, or even see what printers are connected to what machines... Any ideas? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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