Member Avatar for AngieM

Hello,
I have what is probably a very simple to fix problem.
I have a desktop running on windows xp home.
I have a new laptop running on windows vista.
They are connected with a netgear router.
My connection is fine, I can see my desktop on my laptop and vise versa. However when I click on my desktop icon on my laptop to access the files. It says computer is not accessible. and to contact the administrator for assitance well that's me. and I don't know how. I have checked the firewalls and I believe I have enabled everything and unblocked access because now I can see them. however obviously I have missed something. Any ideas what I should be specifically looking for? In simple terms please.
Thanks in advance for your help
Angie

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by TT4Titans

Dani AI

Generated

Useful follow-ups to the answers already posted by , and — this looks like visibility is OK but authentication or policy is blocking access. A few focused checks (beyond the basic file‑sharing and firewall mentions) usually find the culprit.

On the XP machine: XP Home’s “simple” sharing can force remote users to connect as Guest. If Guest is disabled or the share/NTFS permissions don’t give Guest access, connections will be rejected even though the computer is visible. Disable Simple File Sharing to view the full Sharing and Security tabs, or create a local XP user that exactly matches the Vista username/password so Windows authentication will succeed. Also confirm the Server and Workstation services are running on XP.

On the Vista side: make sure the network is set to a private/Home profile (not Public). If “password protected sharing” is on, remote clients must supply valid credentials — which ties back to the XP account strategy above. Verify Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing are allowed for that profile in Network and Sharing Center.

Router and connectivity got less attention in the thread but can block peer access: some Netgear/APs have “client isolation” so wireless clients can see the router but not each other. If one direction of connectivity is flaky, check the router wireless/security settings. Try connecting to the XP machine by its IP (not just the name) and, as a test, share a folder with Everyone/Read to rule out permission layering (then tighten it after testing). Finally, check Event Viewer on XP for failed logons and inspect Windows Firewall inbound rules for SMB/File and Printer Sharing to ensure those specific services are allowed.

These steps isolate whether the issue is permissions/authentication, a host firewall/service, or router isolation; they also provide a quick, reversible way to test and confirm the real cause before changing permanent security settings.

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Member Avatar for TT4Titans

have you got the file sharing enabled on either of the computers?

Member Avatar for TheNNS

I know in vista if you don't have file sharing, you won't be able to see other comptuers, so you do have it on vista, most likeley.
Try pinging the computers, and tell us what happened.

Member Avatar for heidelbergcc4

I know in vista if you don't have file sharing, you won't be able to see other comptuers, so you do have it on vista, most likeley.
Try pinging the computers, and tell us what happened.

I have the same problem. XP home desktop and new Vista laptop. For me, I have tried everything. File sharing is on for both computers. I can ping for Vista laptop to XP home. But, not the other way around. On the Vista PC, I can see (when viewing all netword devices) the XP machine. But, I can't touch it. I have tried \\computer name to look at the XP. No luck.

I'm out of options. So, hopefully somebody can help both of us.

Member Avatar for TT4Titans

Are you using norton?

If so You MUST add the network you are on to your trusted networks inside of Norton.

Open Norton. -> Select the Norton Internet Security Tab. -> Select the Firewall Options link. -> Select Trust Control. Locate your network and add to trusted.

Should be able to see the other computers on your network.

Also go get this:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=4F01A31D-EE46-481E-BA11-37F485FA34EA&displaylang=en

Read everything on that page before Downloading and installing.

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