Networking issues XP and Vista?

It can't be this hard, and the answers I've googled just aren't working. Gotta be something simple. So. . . .

* Main Computer is older Dell machine running XP Home SP3 w/ Norton Internet Security. Settings say firewall recognizes LInksys router / wireless Network
* Secondary computer is 2 year old Vista Home Premium 32 HP notebook running same Norton. Settings say firewall recognizes LInksys wireless network / router as well.

I have set up a simple network where I can access virtually all files (including C:/) on the Dell XP system from the HP Vista Notebook. I treat the Dell system as sort of my home server. However, yesterday I realized I had never tried to access files on the HP Vista Notebook FROM the Dell Dell XP system. The ONLY folder that shares on the HP Vista Notebook is the PUBLIC folder (probably why they call it "public" right ?) I have, on the HP vista Notebook, set designated other folders to be "shared" on the Vista Machine, and they are recognized on the Dell XP machine. However, except for the Public folder, I get the "Access denied, talk to the server administrator. . . ." when I click on the VISTA folder while in the XP machine's my network places.

One post went so far as to say to set up a "user account" on the Vista Machine with the computer name of the XP machina. Well, I did that. Don't think that works. For a couple of vista folders, I got sneaky and copied a shortcut from that folder into the PUBLIC folder. One worked! The others didn't. I've spent about 2 hours playing around with Vista's Network and Sharing Center, but I still can't get it to work. Oh. Funny. On the Dell XP machine, it locates the VISTA shared folders under "msworkgroup". I thought it would have been "MSHome"? But I digress. . . .

Actually, I'm going through all of this just to make the "DOCUMENTS" folder under my user name shared. By default, most files will save to that directory under Vista, not to the Public Directory. I am also starting some beginning Coldfusion Tutorials, where all files must be stored in the wwwroot directory before they will work, so I want to access those as well if I need to copy files across computers.

Am I missing something simple? I will be upgrading to Win7 on both machines by year end. Will that solve the problem?

Thanks in advance,

W!

 

both systems have to be in the same workgroup for it to work. check that they are and let us know

 

Sharing files and folder between XP and Vista is always a big issue, some times it work in one machine and the other one never.
I think it will work well, after the upgrade coz both PCs will be having the same OS.

Regards!

 

Hi wgrayson,

This is Mike from the Norton Authorized Support Team.

What version of Norton Internet Security are you currently using? As long as you have a valid subscription, you are entitled to a free update to the recently released 2010 version which is highly encouraged.

You will need to create the same user accounts on both machines and allow sharing on both machines and make sure they are in the same Workgroup. You will then need to make sure that the Windows Firewall is disabled on both machines and then configure the "Network Map" feature in Norton Internet Security Firewall to allow sharing.

Let me know if you are currently using the 2010 version or the 2009 version and I can then assist you further.

Thanks,
Mike

 

Make sure all the PCs that need to be networked for sharing purposes are all in the same Workgroup. On the Vista PC(s), set the network type to private:

 

Maybe this can Help.

Make sure that the Software Firewall on each computer allows free local traffic. If you

use 3rd party Firewall On, Vista/XP Native Firewall should be Off, and the active Firewall has to adjusted to your Network IP numbers on what is some time called the Trusted Zone (consult your 3rd Party Firewall instructions.

General example, http://www.ezlan.net/faq#trusted

Vista File and Printer Sharing- http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx

Windows XP File Sharing - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;
304040 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040

Printer Sharing XP - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx

Windows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357

Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista (Not need for XP-SP3) - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120

Sharing between Windows XP and Mac - http://www.realifewebdesigns.com/web-resources/mac-pc-file-share.asp
.