File Sharing - Win7 & WinXP

I am trying to share files between my desktop PC (running Windows XP) and my new netbook (running Windows 7 Home Premium). I just got this new netbook (old one ran Windows 7 Starter and had no trouble with this).

It seems, after significant trial and error, and reading online, that the easiest way to file share between these systems is to run the network setup wizard on the XP desktop, then install the netsetup.exe application on the netbook (which is exactly how I set up file sharing on old Win7 Starter netbook).

When I open netsetup and go through the set up wizard, I get this error at the end (attached jpg.).

Help! I've been working on this for two days and I'm almost in tears over it. Contacted my ISP and he was a total idiot, which surprised me because I'm no computer genius, but he wasn't following what I was saying... I'm disabled and it's very difficult for me to even sit up for very long, so this has caused a huge headache. Isn't getting a new computer supposed to be exciting?!

 

I should add that desktop (XP) media files are showing up on netbook (but only as a media drive with Windows Media Player)...but computer itself isn't showing up under network computers/devices.

 

One more thing (sorry!) - using AVG Free addition, so only firewall is Windows Firewall, which supposedly defaults to correct settings for sharing - ?

 

im assuming windows xp is home version also. i dont know why micrsoft dont have more network support in home editions, its rediculous.

these steps are on a windows professional computer so something may be a little different.

What you can try is on the windows xp computer make a new folder named shared for example. right click it and click properties. click the Sharing tab and click share this folder. click permissions and add your user account to the list and give yourself full control.
Before we move to the netbook you need to have a password on your xp account and also set a static ip address for your desktop.

on the netbook open computer. at the top of that windows under the address bar you should see Map Network Drive. if its not there you can also get to it by right clicking Computer and clicking it in the right click menu. On the map network drive window pick a drive letter you want it to be and check the box Use different credentials. for the path type \\desktopipaddress\shared
So if your shared folder is name shared it will look something like this \\192.168.1.11\shared

now click ok and it will ask for a username and password. enter the username and password you use on your xp computer. If it was successful you will have a network drive in the computer window thats the shared folder on your xp computer.

Good Luck.