Can't access network shared files

We have three computers in our home:
- 1 laptop running Windows XP S3 (wireless)
- 1 desktop running Windows 7 Home Premium (wireless)
- 1 laptop running Windown 7 Home Premium (wireless)

In early February I had to reformat the hard drive on the laptop with XP. Prior to the reformat, I was able to file share between all computers with no problems, however after the reformat I am unable to file share between the computers. The two Win7 computers talk fine to each other. The XP laptop will let me share files to a User account called "Public", but not to any other user account(s)/file directories (desktop, documents and settings, etc), nor will it access any of the folders I have set for file sharing. Likewise, the Win7 laptop can not access the XP laptop at all - I get an error message that I do not have access and to contact my network administrator. Lately I have had to save files to a flash drive to transfer them from one computer to another. I have checked all the settings, each computer is set up in WORKGROUP, and they all see each other, but I can't get them to work like they were before I reformatted the XP HD. Any suggestions of what may be the problem?

 

I had this problem myself. My issue was that I discovered from research is that only Win 7 computers will communicate on the homegroup called HOME. If you have other OS's you need to set the homegroup to WORK on all of them, enable file simple file sharing and you should be good.


Let me know.

 

When I right click on My Computer and review Properties, computer work group is set to WORKGROUP on all the computers. When I open Windows Explorer on the Win7 computers, there is a "HOMEGROUP" subsystem that shows the the two Win7 computers, but not the XP. The XP computer does not have a HOMEGROUP on Windows Explorer tree. It seems to me that I was able to access all files previously under "Network", which when expanded does show all three computers, and if you click on any of them it shows the file folder status as "Shared", but I can't access them.

Are you saying I need to change the computer work group to HOMEGROUP?

 

Those two machines that are Win7 that are on HOMEGROUP, remove them from that group. That only works if all Machines are Windows 7. I believe the wizard makes a mention of that if I'm not mistaken.

Get Win 7 machines out of HomeGroup
Reboot and you should be fine.

 

Good morning motc7~
I did as you instructed - removed both Win7 computers from Homegroup, and rebooted. Still no luck getting the Win7 computers to access the XP computer. I have attached a screenshot if this helps. The computer named NANCYOFFICE is the XP, the other two are the Win7. As you can see from the screenshot, the directories and folders for NANCYOFFICE are set to share, but I can still only access the Users/Public directory.

FYI - I am NOT trying to access the Win7computers from the XP.

Thanks,
Nancy

 

I saw this in your original post though:

So is it that you are just trying to get the XP machines to see each other only? Sorry, just confused.

 

Good morning motc7~

I'm not very good at explaining myself in writing - sorry for confusing you. Just as a matter of information, the XP computer (Nancyoffice) is my "main" computer, where I store all my important office files, pictures, etc. The "Scraproom" Win7 computer I use for crafting, and at times I need a picture for a project I am working on. So accessing the XP for this purpose is my goal. Right now I have to go to my office (Nancyoffice) computer, access the file, and save it to Scraproom comp under the Users/Public directory (I can't access any other directories), or I have to save it to a flash drive, then copy it to the Scraproom computer. Kind of inconvenient.......

In the past the Win7 computers could see/access the XP computer user files and directories. This is what I am having difficulty resolving because although I have made all the appropriate setting adjustments, the Win7 computers can not access the XP files/directories at all. The XP can access the Win7 but only under Users/Public directory.

Should these all be able to network together for file sharing purposes under any User account?

 

Now I understand. You definitely want to be able to see the XP machine from your Windows 7 machine. Here we go.

• Make Sure both computers are assigned to the WorkGroup name.
• On the XP Machine, goto the folder, or directory you want to share.
• Right click on the folder, goto properties.
• Goto the Sharing Tab.
• If you see a message saying it's not shared, click the share button.
• Select the Everyone Group, since it's just you and set the right permissions. then click share.

On the Windows 7 Machine

• Now goto Computer, click on Organize/Folder and Search Options
• Make sure that Sharing Wizard is checked. If so, click o.k.
• Next, go into Windows Firewall via the control panel, and make sure that File and Printer Sharing is checked for both Home and Work.
• Next go into Network and Sharing Center in the Control Panel.
• Under View Active Networks, click on the link under your workgroup name.
• Make sure you click Work Network on the next screen.
• On the same screen click on Change Advanced Sharing Settings.
• Make sure you have Network Discovery Turned on, File and printer sharing, under file and sharing connections, select 40 or 56 bit encryption. Save changes

 

Great, thorough instructions - thanks! But still no access....:confused

Any other suggestions? Frustrating...........

 

Do you have a VOIP device hooked up?

When I had a similiar problem, I noticed that my device for my Vonage was not hooked directly to the router. Instead I had my computer connected to the Vonage box instead of directly to the router.

 

No, I don't have VOIP.

This is frustrating, more so than the inconvenience of not being able to share the files!!

 

I can't understand that then. all those settings if on should be doing the trick.

I would recheck your firewall and your router's firewall too just in case. Sorry man.