[aka Brett]

I have read some other posts on this forum regarding vista xp networking with the problem I have,the trouble shooting usually cures everyones problem before mine.

Here is what I have.
Desktop xp home sp3 hard wired to router.{printer to usb}
Vista laptop home premium sp1 using wireless connection.
2nd Vista laptop home premium sp1 using wireless connection.
linksys wireless router

setting are:
vista and xp machines have the same workgroup names
each pc name is differant
network is set to private
no third party firewalls.
network discovery on
file sharing on {on connection properties too.}

Ok.The vista machines can access the xp desktop and they can also access each other with no problems.

Now at the xp desktop I cannot access either vista machine.
I can open cmd and ping either vista machine by ip or by name.
I can ping the xp desktop from either vista machine.

At the xp desktop using explorer adress bar typing in Vista ips or computer name does not gain acess to Vista public folder.

Using run provides the same results with the error ...network path not found.

Attempted remedies are as follows windows firewall off,on, etc.am now at default settings again.

All services on xp and vista machines at default.

An attempt to install the topo...discovery thing on the xp machine..come to find out it is included with service pack3.

Any help will be greatly appreciated,I have spent numerous hours trying to beat this only to be where I started out at.

[JohnWill]

Turn off any firewalls for debugging. If the firewall is the problem, you'll have to configure it to allow access to "trusted zone" addresses. Note that some firewalls must be completely uninstalled to stop them from affecting your networking.

Hold the Windows key and press R, then type CMD to open a command prompt.

In the command prompt window that opens, type type the following commands:

PING each remote computer by IP address, and if successful, PING by name. Open a command prompt as described above and type.

PING <ip address>
or
PING <computer name>

Where:
<ip address> - is the x.x.x.x IP address
<computer name> - is the computer name

A failure to PING is almost always a firewall configuration issue. Any failure to PING needs to be corrected before you go any farther.

Note: You can obtain the IP address and computer name of a computer by opening a command prompt (DOS window) and typing IPCONFIG /ALL. This should work for any Windows version. The IPCONFIG /ALL display will provide a wealth of useful information for debugging your network connection.

Check your Services are Started on all PCs:

• COM+ Event System (for WZC issues)
• Computer Browser
• DHCP Client
• DNS Client
• Network Connections
• Network Location Awareness
• Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
• Server
• TCP/IP Netbios helper
• Windows Zero Configuration (wireless configurations)
• Workstation

Note: You can check the services in Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services.

All of these services should be started, and their startup type should be automatic.

All computers should be in the same workgroup for computer browsing to function properly. File & Print Sharing has to be enabled on any computer you wish to share files or printers from. You also need to actually share the resource in question from My Computer, right click on the drive/printer/folder, and select sharing.

If you encounter difficulties accessing computers that are visible in Network Neighborhood, make sure the computer being accessed has an account with the same name/password as the system connecting to it uses to login.

While the default NetBIOS setting is correct for normal network configurations, it's possible for it to be altered, and it costs nothing to make sure it's correct. NETBIOS over TCP/IP must be enabled for normal network browsing.

[aka Brett]

Thanks for the fast reply.everything was proper except the ..NETBIOS over TCP/IP..which is now enabled.
still cant acess vista from xp.

Can you gointo more detail about required user accounts need for xp vista networking..i did turn on the guest accounts on both prior is that enough?

[JohnWill]

See if this site: File and Printer Sharing in Windows Vista helps you.


Also, PC Chuck's Windows XP And Vista On The LAN Together has some good information about sharing between XP and Vista.

[aka Brett]

Pc Chucks is a great link.I have tried about everything on there and still no sucess.I will mess with it later this evening.I am getting a little burned out on it.Got any more great links like Chucks?

[JohnWill]

I've never need any more links.

[aka Brett]

any more ideas john will I have treid everything that you suggested earlier and went through everything on pc chucks guide as suggested.Like I say I can ping my Vista machines by name or ip.When entering ip or name in run bar or explorer address bar I eventually get the error network path not found about a minute or so later.But if i enter a bogus name or ip i get the error much faster,which is implieing to me it is finding it when i do type in the vista names or ip,but throws the error because of something else.could it be an issue with the card itself?

[TerryNet]

Could be a non-Windows firewall (security suite). Including one that is "disabled" or was uninstalled but did not go away completely. What one do you have, or did you have, on the machine that refuses to share?

[aka Brett]

I did have a sygate firewall on the xp machine that is refusing to share.About 3 years ago I created a user account for my brother when he moved out i deleted it a few months later.When i created his account-- I the admin lost tray icon and when going through start menu recieved error that didnt have right or permission or to that effect when trying to open sygate.A few months after I deleted his old acount I couldnt get online.I did usual trouble shooting.I finally removed the firewall through add and remove programs,i was then able to get online.Think It left a setting behind?Any remeidie?

[TerryNet]

See if Sygate has some type of Removal Tool or procedure for cleaning up. If they don't, probably the ZoneAlarm "fix" is the best way--install the latest version of the firewall and then immediately uninstall it.

You could also look at the services that are Started (Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Services) and see if you can find one that is Sygate related. If so, set it's Startup Type to 'disabled.' Likewise use Task Manager (or another utility) to see if any running tasks are Sygate related.

[aka Brett]

sygate was bought by synamptic about that time so the new version wouldnt be compatible.I already checked to see if any services listed.I dont have any processes belonging to it either.

[TerryNet]

Is the following correct?

You have 3 PCS, XP, Vista1 and Vista2.
Each of the 3 can ping the other 2 by IP address and by name.

Start - Run - \\anotherPC - OK on any of the 3 machines
gives the XP's shares if "anotherPC" is the XP, but gives the error "network path not found" if "anotherPC" is either Vista machine.

If I don't have the above all correct, an accurate concise summary from you may help people refocus.

[aka Brett]

yes 3 pcs
xp desk top
1 vista laptop
2nd vista laptop

both vistas can access each other and the xp machine by start-- network



The xp machine can ping either vista by name or ip in command prompt

xp machine start run \\name or \\ip of either vista machine gives error network path not found ----same error when typed in explorer address bar

[aka Brett]

I just found 5 files belonging to syate in some temporary files dated back to 05[Imagine that} i am going to go to old version.com and try to find a version from that era then just save it then delete the temp files but have an install saved of sygate to run in case something dont want tolet it back on line might be able to use syagte install to fix then uninstall like you said.

[aka Brett]

I deleted the temporary file noluck--then installed sygate--it is set to allow all --everything else is set as open as you can get it--its a piece of glass right now.