Vista - my vista laptop can't see my xp desktop

Hi all,

Here is my problem. I have a laptop running Vista, my desktop is running XP, i want to be able to access files and the printer which is connected to the Xp machine on my vista laptop, but they cannot see each other. I have the file and printer sharing stuff turned on on the laptop. Also I am running AVG on both systems and I have the Windows firewall enabled on both. Both are connected to a D-link router, DESktop is wired, laptop is wireless. Also a friend of mine came over and has the same laptop as me except he is running XP on his and he had no problem seeing my desktop, or accessing its files. Can someone please help, i've tried everything. Thanks.

There is a software patch from microsoft that lets Vista communicate with XP over the Network.
Heres the link:

Network Map in Windows Vista does not display computers that are running Windows XP

Should solve it!

I also found out how to Reset the TCP stack in Vista as follows, if all goes tits up:


TCP/IP stack repair options for use with Windows Vista.

Start, Programs\Accessories and right click on Command Prompt, select "Run as Administrator" to open a command prompt.

Reset WINSOCK entries to installation defaults: netsh winsock reset catalog

Reset IPv4 TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ipv4 reset reset.log

Reset IPv6 TCP/IP stack to installation defaults. netsh int ipv6 reset reset.log

Reboot the machine.

I've tried all of those things and still nothing. Although it does and has always been showing the other computer as a Windows media player device and through it i can access pictures and music and stuff, but no files.

Can you see each machine with windows firewall off?

I can see the laptop from the desktop but when I click on it it tells me "network path not found" and I cannot see the desktop from the laptop.

can you ping it?

You may find that the Vista laptop is set up for WORKGROUP (or something) network name while the XP is set to MSHOME. That may be why your friend's XP can 'see' your XP. Change the default workgroup (if that is the case) in Vista to MSHOME and you will then be able to 'see' your XP ... and others.

Yes, forgot about that one...Good point.

both pc's are on the same workgroup, both have sharing enabled, both have stuff shared, I turned off windos firewall on both, I have pretty much tried everything, believe me. I am pretty good around computers but I just cant seem to figure this one out. My XP machine has the LLTD installed, the TCP\IP connections which should be open are open, I just dont know what else to try. Thank you for your suggestions. And also i have pinged the other machine successfully.

Can the Vista machine 'see' the the XP machine?
What about the "Password protected sharing", is that turned off on the Vista machine?