[dal 1]

HI guy's
I have 2 pc's wired through a netgear router both running a new copy of windows vista ultimate.

i have managed to network them together and identify the shared drives.

this is where my problem is.

when i click on a drive to access it says it is not accessible contact the administrator. Both PC's are in administor mode on the user id.

I have little luck in either private mode with no passwod box or public mode with the password box. i dont know what the passwords are and i dont use passwords on the user accounts.

I have looked through the security tab and cannot see what i need to change.
More interestingly i have looked for my 2nd PC on the network map and it shows at the bottom as a discoverable device that cannot be placed on the map. Is this why i cannot find it on the security tab?

When i try to build a map on the 2nd PC it states windows cannto create a map.

both PC's are in the correct workgroup. When i goto network and view computers & devices it shows both systems so i know they are connected. Now i amvery lost! help please?

cheers
Daz

[DaveA]

What firewall program are you runnig?

[dal 1]

Just the windows one. i have taken down the internet connection and turned it off and it still hasnt made a difference

[TerryNet]

Please do the following on both PCs and report the results.

To open a Command Window: Start - Run – cmd (command in 98SE) – OK
(if Run not on Vista’s Start menu, just type cmd in the Search box)

To determine a computer's IP address: open a Command Window and type
ipconfig

Now for some troubleshooting:

1. On each PC open a Command window and type
ping IPofOther (where IPofOther is the IP address of the other PC)

Do you get Replies, or do you get packets lost?

If you got Replies,

2. Do the same ping except use the Computer Name of the other computer:
ping NameOfOtherPC

Replies or lost packets?

[dal 1]

HI,
I was able to ping the IP address and the PC name on both. All tests completed with 4 packets sent and all received with non lost.

[TerryNet]

I don't know what the problem is.

Do know that you want/need your network designated as private. By default Vista requires passwords for file sharing, so you want to have password sharing off.

Just to see if it makes a difference you might try assigning a password to (at least one) user account on each machine, turn password sharing on, and see what happens. If you are prompted for account/password it will be those on the remote machine.

Even though the pings all worked there is still a chance that the problem is a 3rd party firewall (internet security). Sometimes they block in odd ways when 'disabled' or when they don't uninstall completely and cleanly.

[DaveA]

Do you have Norton's or McAfee running in these computers?

[jonmcc33]

Is each Windows Vista system using the same username (and password if applicable)? With a workgroup you have to use identical usernames. Turn Password protected sharing off.

How are your shares set up? Best way to control shares is to give Everyone full control share permissions and then use NTFS permissions to control the access level (read only, write, etc).

Take screenshots (Alt + Print Screen) of each share for us and post them here via any free image hosting website.

[coover]

Do you have file sharing enabled? Do you have Public Folder Sharing enabled? You'll find these options in the Network and Sharing Center.

[dal 1]

HI Guy's
I have uploaded the image requested below with as many windows as possible that relate to the problem

http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/432...6376201_rs.jpg

Just for clarity.

I can ping both PC's without any packet loss. I can see both PC's and all the drives that are nomiated as sharing. I cannot however access any of the drives.

The map loads on the desktop PC showing that the 2PC (i have called server!) cannot be shown on the map and therefore shows on the footer. see image

When i try and load a map on the PC called server it states that map not aviable.

These machines are both fresh installs of Vista. No 3rd party fire walls are in place and i have taken down the windows fire wall for the duration.

when i open up the permissions tab i cannot see the other PC to allow me to allow permissions. In image!

Both the PC's have the same network settings as the one shown and password sharing is turned off. Both PC's have the same user account as suggested earlier.

[TerryNet]

Some people have had trouble accessing a shared drive while others have had no problem. I do not know what's behind the difference. Can you access a shared folder?

[dal 1]

yes. I can get on the public folders not problem at all

[TerryNet]

Then it's that problem with complete drives. You have been saying "drive" all along but that just went over my head, and I think the others missed that significance also. We have been concentrating on general file sharing/permissions issues.

I'm still no help, but hopefully one of the others can offer a cause and solution.

[DaveA]

Have you defined an shares on BOTH machines?

[dal 1]

Originally Posted by DaveA

Have you defined an shares on BOTH machines?

Sorry Dave - Lost me?