Can and cannot share on VISTA home network
- I'm trying to access a shared folder on the other computer in the workgroup on home network (2 Vista laptops). The files appear to be shared in properties but I can access one (Public) but not another (Program Files). User accounts seem to be out of synch or something...1 person got this answerI do too
Answers
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx
Have a read of the above link re Vista File and Printer Sharing.
Permissions/Share info is there as well.
If using Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro I.S., make sure file and printer sharing is enabled in THEIR firewall (or LAN allowed, depending on how their Exceptions are worded in their Firewall)
1st thing to do is make sure that the Workgroup Name of ALL the computers is the SAME.
In Vista Network and Sharing:
Network Discovery: ON (So it can see the other computers)
Network set to Private (Public is for hotspots, airports, etc)
File Sharing: ON
Public Folder Sharing: ON (Vista’s Public Folder is the same as XP’s Shared Docs)
Password Protected: OFF (unless you want to set up identical usernames and passwords on ALL computers in your Network) If you have it ON, and no identical usernames/passwords set up, you will be asked for a username and password when you try to access a Vista computer from a Vista computer.
- Marked As Answer byBrent-Support Engineer Monday, April 06, 2009 8:26 PM
- Proposed As Answer byKevin - Support Engineer Tuesday, March 31, 2009 9:22 AM
All Replies
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx
Have a read of the above link re Vista File and Printer Sharing.
Permissions/Share info is there as well.
If using Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro I.S., make sure file and printer sharing is enabled in THEIR firewall (or LAN allowed, depending on how their Exceptions are worded in their Firewall)
1st thing to do is make sure that the Workgroup Name of ALL the computers is the SAME.
In Vista Network and Sharing:
Network Discovery: ON (So it can see the other computers)
Network set to Private (Public is for hotspots, airports, etc)
File Sharing: ON
Public Folder Sharing: ON (Vista’s Public Folder is the same as XP’s Shared Docs)
Password Protected: OFF (unless you want to set up identical usernames and passwords on ALL computers in your Network) If you have it ON, and no identical usernames/passwords set up, you will be asked for a username and password when you try to access a Vista computer from a Vista computer.
- Marked As Answer byBrent-Support Engineer Monday, April 06, 2009 8:26 PM
- Proposed As Answer byKevin - Support Engineer Tuesday, March 31, 2009 9:22 AM
- By the way, you can not share Program files, and you can not share the C: drive in Vista.
The Program has to be installed on both Laptops.
Correct me if i have misunderstood your question.- Unmarked As Answer byMatt H - Support Engineer Saturday, May 16, 2009 11:23 PM
- Proposed As Answer byKevin - Support Engineer Tuesday, March 31, 2009 9:22 AM
- Marked As Answer byBrent-Support Engineer Monday, April 06, 2009 8:26 PM
I am having network printing issues. The printer worked successfully for a few days, but now it refuses to connect. The only thing that changed was the Windows Update. Does anyone else have networking issues following the last Windows Vista Update?
- also I am able to view other computers on my network, but when i attempt to view the shared files I get an error message, " '---' is not a valid host name" the computer is on and no changes have been made to the network which was operating last week.
One more thing, when sharing between XP and Vista there are sometimes issues due to the increased security of Vista.
But when going between Vista and another Vista PC, you can share any folder on the drive including the root of C-Drive. Although I would recommend against sharing the root drive.
Matt Hudson
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.also I am able to view other computers on my network, but when i attempt to view the shared files I get an error message, " '---' is not a valid host name" the computer is on and no changes have been made to the network which was operating last week.
I'm having the same problem, with 3 vista computers, one can view one of the other computers but the other 2 can't view any! comes up with same error message as above- I can't easily follow your first piece of advice, because one of my notebook PCs I use every day at work, where it is a member of a domain. At home, for simplicity's sake, I don't have a domain. As far as I can see Vista doesn't allow me to have my computer belong both to a domain and to a workgroup. So either I need a way of having it continue to belong to my work domain, but be able to access files on my home network when it's connected, or I need a way of automatically changing the domain/workgroup membership every time I move my computer between work and home (about twice a day on average).
How can I overcome this problem?
Thanks - Rowan - Shifting between Domains & Workgroups has bothered me a lot, however I am able to connect & transfer files by setting one shared folder on each machine & connecting to the PC via:
Start -> Run -> //xxx.yyy.zzz.ppp
Where, xxx.yyy.zzz.ppp is the IP address of the machine I want to connect to. Try it out, it works when the machine is shown but can't connect.
- A Learner, who sometimes writes about Microsoft & other random stuff at http://beingmanan.com :) - Hi all,
The problem I am facing is almost same, that's why writing here. In my home I have 6 laptops using under a wireless Linksys router, within these lappy's 3 running Win XP and 3 Vista. But I'm not able to create any network and I can't see any other lappy name from any one lappy, though lan messanger software like IPMSG etc are working well, but I like to keep a master excel sheet in shared mode in my laptop and want that to be edited/shared by other laptops (both XP as well as Vista).
Can anybody help me out doing so??
Thanks in advance,
Regards,
Abhisek - I've got a similar issue:
- USB printer connected to desktop 1 running Vista Home
- desktop 2 (XP pro) is wired into the network, no issues finding printer and printing
- laptop 1 (Vista x64) is connected to the network on wireless - can't find printer (used to a year ago), can't access desktop 1
- network using Linksys WRT54G router
- running Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 on all three machines
Help.
David- Proposed As Answer bysandmonk Thursday, November 26, 2009 9:03 PM
- Hi all.I've been struggling for ages trying to resolve very similar issues between 2 vista boxes at home (I have 5 in total). I could remote desktop from machine1 to machine2 but not the other way. In the same way, machine machine2 could not see any files, printers etc on machine1. I managed to resolve it just now by correcting an issue in my firewall settings on machine1 in Norton360 by going into firewall settings and using the network locations tab, I found that there were two networks active on both (one "security" and the other "shared"). On machine1 the shared network (description something like "the network whose gateway physical address is <hex addr>, with DOMAIN home") was not trusted. As soon as I trusted this "network" on machine one, it appears my problem has been solved.Of course I wont believe it until I see it working for a few days ... if it falls over again I will come back. I'm sure all 3rd party firewalls have similar options.Dhammica
- The BTW part directly above One of my Vista note books is all C: drive where I want to share the whole drive.
So I can just share sub folders?
and while I'm at it and is related I want to change my Net logon passwords one for each machine..
I have a seven character password I use; there is eight characters worth of dots I try to change the password;
The password does not change. - Can I ask please, if I change the workgroup name from PAUL HOME (on my XP Desktop) to match the workgroup WORKGROUP (on my Vista laptop) will my computers still run normally or are there other considerations. I am having a similar problem getting them to "see" each other. This partcular but it seems very important step is not mentioned in any set-up procedure I have read.
Thank-you.
Vanguard_1 Can I ask please, if I change the workgroup name from PAUL HOME (on my XP Desktop) to match the workgroup WORKGROUP (on my Vista laptop) will my computers still run normally or are there other considerations. I am having a similar problem getting them to "see" each other. This partcular but it seems very important step is not mentioned in any set-up procedure I have read.
Thank-you.
Vanguard_1
The Workgroup Name has to be changed to the same Name to Network them.
Info on how to Network XP and Vista:
://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspxHave a read of the above link re Vista File and Printer Sharing.
Permissions/Share info is there as well.
If using Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro or Kaspersky I.S., make sure File and Printer Sharing is enabled in THEIR firewall (or LAN allowed, depending on how their Exceptions are worded in their Firewall)
1st thing to do is make sure that the Workgroup Name of ALL the computers is the SAME.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/125089-workgroup-name-change.html
Above Tutorial is how to change Workgroup Name in Vista
http://www.home-network-help.com/set-computer-name.html
“How to Set Computer Name and Workgroup in Windows XP”
In Vista Network and Sharing:
Network Discovery: ON (So it can see the other computers)
Network set to Private (Public is for hotspots, airports, etc)
File Sharing: ON
Public Folder Sharing: ON (Vista’s Public Folder is the same as XP’s Shared Docs)
Password Protected: OFF (unless you want to set up identical usernames and passwords on ALL computers in your Network) If you have it ON, and no identical usernames/passwords set up, you will be asked for a username and password when you try to access a Vista computer from an XP computer, or a Vista computer.
XP File and Printer Sharing info:
Also, run the XP’s Home or Small Office Network File and Printer Sharing Wizard on the XP Computers, even if you had an XP Network set up prior to adding a Vista computer to it(redoing the Wizard seems to work for XP machines!).
In “My Network Places”: “Set up a Home or Small Office Network”
OR under Accessories > Communications > Network Setup Wizard > Allow File and Printer Sharing.
Cheers.
Mick Murphy - Microsoft Partner- Hi Michael,
Have read through this with interest as I have tried to link my two computers for sharing files as in my question above.
Now that my Workgroups are the same on both machines my Laptop (Running Vista Home Basic) and my desktop (Running Win XP Home SP3) still are not quite set right. I can see my shared folder on the laptop from the desktop but I can't see the shared folder on the desktop from the lap-top even though the machines are listed in the network devices as in the link below and when I try to connect to the Desktop files I get the error pop-up shown also in this image...
http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/zz48/Vanguard_01/Sharingproblem1.png
I have run again the wizard to allow file and printer sharing on the desktop but no difference. Have shut down and restarted both machines but wondered if this is anything to do with my Livebox perhaps, oh and both machines are running wireless as well ?
Any further things I need to check please?
Thanks,
Vanguard_1 - There is an XP download required to get the XP machines visible to the Vista machines.
Network Map Does Not Display Computers Running Windows XPUpdated: July 9, 2009
Applies To: Windows Vista
When you run Network Map in Windows Vista®, computers that are running Windows® XP do not appear on the completed diagram.
Cause
Network Map in Windows Vista diagrams the connections between network devices to help you troubleshoot connectivity problems. Network Map uses a discovery protocol called Link-Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) in order to query the other devices on the network to determine how the network is organized. Computers that are running Windows Vista include the software components that implement the LLTD protocol. For network computers that are running Windows XP to appear on the map, they must have a discovery protocol enabled that can respond to the mapping computer's requests.
Solution on Windows XP
For computers running Windows XP to appear on the Network Map diagram, you must download and install the LLTD Responder component. By installing the LLTD Responder, and enabling File and Printer Sharing in Windows Firewall, a computer running Windows XP can respond to other Windows Vista computers on the network that are attempting to create a network map.
The following procedures are performed on a computer running Windows XP.
To install the LLTD Responder onto a computer running Windows XP
- Download the update appropriate for your version of Windows:
- If you are running Windows XP with no service pack, with Service Pack 1 (SP1), or with SP2, download the update from here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=70582.
- If you are running Windows XP with SP3, download the update from here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=156601.
- If you are running Windows XP with no service pack, with Service Pack 1 (SP1), or with SP2, download the update from here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=70582.
- Run the update on the computer running Windows XP that you want to appear on the Network Map.
- On the Software Update Installation Wizard, click Next.
- On the License Agreement page, read the license agreement, and if you agree to the terms, click I Agree, and then click Next.
- On the final page of the wizard, click Finish.
- If you are prompted to do so, restart your computer.
LLTD Responder
You can verify that the LLTD Responder is successfully installed and running.
To verify the LLTD Responder is installed and running
- On a computer running Windows XP, click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Network Connections.
- Click Local Area Network Connection, click Properties, and then view the list of items used by the network connection.
- Ensure that the Link-Layer Topology Discovery Responder check box is selected.
- Download the update appropriate for your version of Windows:
- Hi donapcservice,
I Think I have found the fairly simple cause for not being able to see my XP share folders from my Vista machine.
In XP machine's Firewall settings I found that I had the sub section selected for windows firewall which is "Don't allow exceptions" and after a little experimentation I have realised that this was blocking the file share so logic suggested I uncheck it and now I can see all my shared folders from both machines and also on both machines.
I am having a problem with the above link for LLTD for SP3. The first time I clicked on it I went to a page where I had read the terms and conds as requested but then had to go back to re-read the next stage, after this I now get to a different looking page which does not show any terms and conditions (not sure how else to describe this, almost like it will only show this information once) but I cannot proceed with the LLTD Responder installation. All I now do is request a hotfix selected from the list on that page which has been mailed to me with lots of confusing notes about whether or not I should continue.
Have now retraced my steps and have the email with the link to the hotfix so I can now carry on with the installation on the XP machine.
Vanguard_1- Edited byVanguard_1 Tuesday, November 24, 2009 9:50 PMFound what I had done and now proceeding OK
- Hello,
excuse me if I "hijack" this thread, but I have a very similar problem so I hope someone can give me some specific clarifications.
I have two PCs in network via a router. DHCP on router assigns IPs to all devices in network. The network is a workgroup, whose name is set identical on every device participating to it. The two Pcs, though, have a particularity:
- the first one runs Vista Business x64 SP1 and have users authorizations; the file sharing is ON only for the "Public" folder, but as I don't want an indiscriminated access to it, Password-Protected is left to ON.
- the second one runs XP Professional 32 SP2 and has a single user, whose name corresponds to the same also present in the Vista machine, but here with no password. This "strange" situation is because once it was my "productivity" machine, so it had users authorizations; now, instead, I leave it for "family use" and I don't want my little daughter to deal with logon procedures whatsoever, so the access at startup is "automatic".
Probably the best thing would have been, on the XP machine, to create a new user first, then transfer the documents and other settings, and finally to delete my original user, in order to avoid possible conflicts. It's a thing I still can do, however, if you advice me to.
The two PCs "see" each other perfectly, and from the XP one I can access to Vista's Public folder after I enter a valid user account, and this matches 100% the behaviour I want from this side.
Problem:
on the other side, from Vista I can "see" the other XP PC, due to the fact that the network configuration is "compatible", BUT I can't find a way to access to the shared resources of the XP machine (the entire C:\ drive, in fact).
If I understand it well, the problem "core" is that the null-password associated to the XP user is not accepted by Vista. On the XP machine, in the Local Protection Criteria (sounds something like that, my locale is Italian...), I have tried the "Access from Network -> accept anonymous access -> enable", and also "Access from network -> sharings which can be accessed anonymously -> C (among others which were still present)", but this worked ONCE, then no more.
The only time it worked (I don't really know why), from my account on the Vista machine I could fully access to all the shared devices on the XP machine, including all folders in C:\ where the "everyone -> full control" permission was set, and the shared printer. But after switching off both machines and restarting them, this haven't been working any more...
How would I find my way through? Would it be solved by using a totally different user name (with no password) on the XP machine ? I begin to get a bit confused...
Thank you very much in advance, regards Hello,
excuse me if I "hijack" this thread, but I have a very similar problem so I hope someone can give me some specific clarifications.
I have two PCs in network via a router. DHCP on router assigns IPs to all devices in network. The network is a workgroup, whose name is set identical on every device participating to it. The two Pcs, though, have a particularity:
- the first one runs Vista Business x64 SP1 and have users authorizations; the file sharing is ON only for the "Public" folder, but as I don't want an indiscriminated access to it, Password-Protected is left to ON.
- the second one runs XP Professional 32 SP2 and has a single user, whose name corresponds to the same also present in the Vista machine, but here with no password. This "strange" situation is because once it was my "productivity" machine, so it had users authorizations; now, instead, I leave it for "family use" and I don't want my little daughter to deal with logon procedures whatsoever, so the access at startup is "automatic".
Probably the best thing would have been, on the XP machine, to create a new user first, then transfer the documents and other settings, and finally to delete my original user, in order to avoid possible conflicts. It's a thing I still can do, however, if you advice me to.
The two PCs "see" each other perfectly, and from the XP one I can access to Vista's Public folder after I enter a valid user account, and this matches 100% the behaviour I want from this side.
Problem:
on the other side, from Vista I can "see" the other XP PC, due to the fact that the network configuration is "compatible", BUT I can't find a way to access to the shared resources of the XP machine (the entire C:\ drive, in fact).
If I understand it well, the problem "core" is that the null-password associated to the XP user is not accepted by Vista. On the XP machine, in the Local Protection Criteria (sounds something like that, my locale is Italian...), I have tried the "Access from Network -> accept anonymous access -> enable", and also "Access from network -> sharings which can be accessed anonymously -> C (among others which were still present)", but this worked ONCE, then no more.
The only time it worked (I don't really know why), from my account on the Vista machine I could fully access to all the shared devices on the XP machine, including all folders in C:\ where the "everyone -> full control" permission was set, and the shared printer. But after switching off both machines and restarting them, this haven't been working any more...
How would I find my way through? Would it be solved by using a totally different user name (with no password) on the XP machine ? I begin to get a bit confused...
Thank you very much in advance, regards
hi ,
there are solutions , but why not simple upgrade them both to lets say vista or seven ??
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/Troubleshoot-network-connection-problems
hmmm , tried using live messenger ?? thats an other way to share or use online sharing ?? >> office live
http://download.live.com/
have a nice day and happy seasonal greetings
[url]www.microsoft.com/security[color=blue]Download and install the security updates from Microsoft Update[/color][/url]- hi ,
cloche did you ever consider windows home server ??
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/default.mspx
have a nice day
[url]www.microsoft.com/security[color=blue]Download and install the security updates from Microsoft Update[/color][/url]- Proposed As Answer byDabur972 Sunday, December 13, 2009 8:15 PM
- Hi,
thank you very much for your attention.
1) "There are solutions". Thanks, I'll follow your link!
2) Upgrade to Vista or Seven: Seven is out of question because of the use I do of the current Vista machine. My "key" programs have been certified recently for Vista x64 and are still lacking Seven certification. I could certainly upgrade the XP machine, but there are drawbacks: performance, compatibility of the hardware, and last but not least cost (buying an upgrade makes no sense for a 7-years old machine which works perfectly but is totally out-of-date, and dedicated to the "informatic first steps" of a little girl...).
3) Messenger? Would not solve my needs, I fear. Office Live? Yes, may be for some tasks, but not exactly equivalent to a "direct access" from machine to machine.
3) Windows home server? Didn't even know its existence. I'll give it a look.
Thank you again,
Regards - Hello,
most often the simplest solutions are the best: my problem was solved thanks to the advices reported in several posts above: simply re-run the Network Connections Wizard on the XP machine, and set "Simple sharing" instead of the full-authentication method.
Et voilà!
Thank you to everybody for their support!
Regards Hi,
thank you very much for your attention.
1) "There are solutions". Thanks, I'll follow your link!
2) Upgrade to Vista or Seven: Seven is out of question because of the use I do of the current Vista machine. My "key" programs have been certified recently for Vista x64 and are still lacking Seven certification. I could certainly upgrade the XP machine, but there are drawbacks: performance, compatibility of the hardware, and last but not least cost (buying an upgrade makes no sense for a 7-years old machine which works perfectly but is totally out-of-date, and dedicated to the "informatic first steps" of a little girl...).
3) Messenger? Would not solve my needs, I fear. Office Live? Yes, may be for some tasks, but not exactly equivalent to a "direct access" from machine to machine.
3) Windows home server? Didn't even know its existence. I'll give it a look.
Thank you again,
Regards
Hi ,
hmmm , upgrade the XP to vista , there is share point , office live , etc , .... and you have an online back up !! and you can view your files , work on your comp from the other side of the world , .... SQL server is great for databases !
you can share files true messenger , easy when sending pics for example to others , as for the home server , well its so stable i have yet to see a crash ! after a year that means something , but then again its a Fujitsu , virtually crash free .
give office 2010 pro a look , its great !!
http://www.officelive.com/en-us/
http://workspace.officelive.com/en-us/
http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/en/default.aspx
live mesh might also provide a solution , synchronizing live , plain and simple .
https://www.mesh.com/welcome/default.aspx
http://skydrive.live.com
enjoy
have a nice day
[url]www.microsoft.com/security[color=blue]Download and install the security updates from Microsoft Update[/color][/url]- Proposed As Answer byDabur972 Sunday, December 13, 2009 8:15 PM
hi ,
enjoy a few more useful links , copy them
- http://www.windowsservercatalog.com
click the top right also to go to the market place
- http://img.windowsmarketplace.com/img/edt/marketplace2.0/statichome/homepage.htm
the windows marketplace, always interesting
- http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/photos/default.mspx
Safeguard and organize your photography with Windows Home Server
- http://pinpoint.microsoft.com/en-US/
a real interesting place
- http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2008.12.cad.aspx?pr=blog
The Change Analysis Diagnostic tool identifies changes that occur on PCs
Microsoft SharedView, Connect with up to 15 people in different locations and get your point across by showing them what's on your screen.
Find add-ons that enable you to personalize Internet Explorer instantly.
The Network Diagnostics for Windows XP tool analyzes information about your network connectivity to help you troubleshoot network-related problems with your computer
SyncToy 2.1 is a free application that synchronizes files and folders between locations. Typical uses include sharing files, such as photos, with other computers and creating backup copies of files and folders.
Tool to allow capturing and protocol analysis of network traffic, you will find this one very useful.
Microsoft® ActiveSync® 4.2 is synchronization software for Windows Mobile®-based devices.
Microsoft ActiveSync 4.5 is the latest sync software release for Windows Mobile-powered devices. ActiveSync provides a great synchronization experience with Windows®-powered PCs and Microsoft Outlook right out of the box. Note: Microsoft ActiveSync works only with Windows XP SP2 or earlier.
Tool to view web page performance Web page performance visualizer and analyzer, interesting for you also
have a nice day
I'm trying to access a shared folder on the other computer in the workgroup on home network (2 Vista laptops). The files appear to be shared in properties but I can access one (Public) but not another (Program Files). User accounts seem to be out of synch or something...
I am also having a problem, whereby i am not able to get access to the data base file for my peach tree accounting 2005 through a shared work group net work on two vista machines, and there are two XP machine also. I can access the network but the data base files are not accessible can any one advised. this is an emergency !!!!!!!!
- I've been through many forums, including this one, with no luck.
I simply want to share files between a Windows 7 machine and a Windows XP machine in a wired environment, but apparently that is asking a lot.
I've deinstalled Norton Internet Security. No luck.
I've applied the recommended 'hotfix' from Microsoft regarding LLTD being required on the XP machine. No luck.
I've turned off all firewalls on both machines and on the router. No luck.
I've applied all Microsoft Updates to both machines. No luck.
I'm left with a Windows XP machine that can ping the Windows 7 machine, but the Windows 7 machine CANNOT ping the Windows XP machine.
Since all of the firewalls have been disabled, and Norton has been deinstalled, and I can ping in one direction, I think the problem must lie with Microsoft.
At this point, I've run out of options. I've been through many forums, including this one, with no luck.
I simply want to share files between a Windows 7 machine and a Windows XP machine in a wired environment, but apparently that is asking a lot.
I've deinstalled Norton Internet Security. No luck.
I've applied the recommended 'hotfix' from Microsoft regarding LLTD being required on the XP machine. No luck.
I've turned off all firewalls on both machines and on the router. No luck.
I've applied all Microsoft Updates to both machines. No luck.
I'm left with a Windows XP machine that can ping the Windows 7 machine, but the Windows 7 machine CANNOT ping the Windows XP machine.
Since all of the firewalls have been disabled, and Norton has been deinstalled, and I can ping in one direction, I think the problem must lie with Microsoft.
At this point, I've run out of options.
hi ,
use live synch or live mesh
https://www.mesh.com
https://sync.live.com
have a nice day
Scan with OneCare + 50 Windows 7even Tips + Plagued by the Privacy Center? REMOVE IT + Threat Research & Response Blog + Sysinternals Live tools + TRANSLATOR+ Photosynth + Microsoft Security + Microsoft SUPPORT + PIVOT from Live Labs + Microsoft Live Labs + Office 2010 beta + Get Windows LIVE!- Proposed As Answer byDabur972 Saturday, January 16, 2010 9:22 PM
