Vista home Basic File Sharing

Hi, I am trying to share files between a Laptop and Desktop running Vista Home Basic. I created an ad-hoc connection on the Desktop, I followed the instructions in the Microsoft website and I was able to get the Laptop to show on the Desktop butt the desktop does not show up on the laptop in the networks window. File shairng in on. both systems have firewalls on but the Laptop cant see the Desktop PC. I am using a Usb wireless adapter on the desktop since it doesnt have a built in wireless card but the Laptop does have a built in wireless card. Thank you for your time.

The easiest solution is to start over from scratch than to try to figure out what is wrong with the current connections and setup.

Delete all connections - both wireless and local (and broadband if you have them as well) on both machines.

Then review the following articles before you start - they may point out a step you missed somewhere along the way.

Here's a tutorial on how to setup a home network (including a wireless one) - check out the additional links for further information that may be of great help: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Setting-up-a-home-network.

Here's an article on troubleshooting wireless network connections (again with helpful links): http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Troubleshoot-network-connection-problems.

Here's a long guide on wireless internet connections in Vista: http://www.techwarelabs.com/guides/misc_mod/vistaconnection/.

Here's an article on how to setup wireless internet connection in Vista: http://www.clpgh.org/usingthelibrary/technology/wireless/WindowsVista.pdf.

You may need to setup a wireless internet connection in Network Sharing as well as the normal local network wireless connection and connect to it as well as the local connection depending on how the modem is setup. If you don't do this and it is needed, you won't have an internet connection. You may need both. You also need to enable some features in the Network Sharing main box to access the internet - they are fairly well defined.

Make sure both machines have the same workgroup. Make sure both machines have the same username and password on them. Make sure all the settings in Network and Sharing Center are correct to permit Network discovery and sharing on both machines.


I hope this helps. If you end up with the same problem, then we'll troubleshoot the problem rather than try starting over and see if we can find why the problem is occurring.

Good luck!

OK so this is what I will do...

Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Manage Network Connections(in the left panel.) > Delete- Wireless Network Connection > Delete- Local Area Connection.

The "Delete" option is greyed out? I tried disabling the connection, then trying to delete it but the "Delete" option is greyed out.

David Dickinson

Nvm I figured it out. I will try it..

Ok now im confused, so I need an Internet Connection to be able to share files? The desktop nor the laptop is connected to a Modem, the Desktop PC has a USB Wireless adapter and that how it connedcts to the internet. The laptop has a built in wireless card.

Ok I figured it out, I made the connection from the "Manage Networks" instead of clicking connect to > setup a connection.

Now I have a different prob. I installed Vista on the Desktop, I upgraded from Windows Xp SP3. On some page it said you can upgrade it for free, You can upgrade from Windows XP to Vista basic. Was I misinformed? The way I installed it was from an Installation disk (Windows Vista Dell OEM. , and instead of doing a Fresh Install. I clicked the upgrade button. Now it says the key that I entered is Invalid for activation. Thank you for the File Sharing help. Really appreciate it,

Hi beau,

This is really a totally different question and should have a separate thread, but as this is your thread and the original issue is resolved (if I read your post correctly), we'll just go ahead and deal with it here.

No, you can't upgrade for free - for some machines purchased when it was first released and had XP on them, that was true, but that is long and gone (it's long gone for Vista to W7 already as well). You need to pay for the upgrade and get a Vista upgrade disk (though you can use a full installation disk to do it although it will cost more money - but be easier to re-install if that ever becomes necessary since with the upgrade you first need to install and activate the original operating system before you can install and activate the update). Furthermore, you can't use an OEM disk from a different machine to do an installation on any other machine (upgrade or otherwise) as it is good ONLY for the machine on which it was originally installed - yes it may seem to work (some OEM disks do, and others don't), but the product key will not be valid and will not allow activation (even manually) and in 30 days it will go into reduced mode where you can essentially do nothing but activate.

However, you may be able to avoid a complete re-installation if you can find somewhere to purchase a valid Vista basic upgrade product key or a Vista basic full installation product key (that will activate what you did) - but in all honesty that's going to be VERY difficult since I know of no place that sells the product let alone the product key (I know that Microsoft does not any more). I've looked before and found only OEM disks for sale (which may or may not work even assuming they are valid and haven't already been used despite what the offer says). If it is a valid, unused OEM disk (which is almost certainly to be a full install and not an upgrade disk - but that's OK IF that disk allows upgrades) then I believe the product key may work though you will almost certainly need to do it manually. If you go this route, get the details about the disk and then I suggest you call the Microsoft activation center and verify with them that it will work before spending your money.

To contact the activation center, go to Start, Search Box and type slui 4 and enter. Choose your country and it will give you a phone number. Wade through the prompts until you reach a human and discuss the issue and see what they say - then you can confirm it will work.

If you decide to return to XP, it's not as simple as "uninstalling" Vista. You need to re-install XP. Here's an article on the procedure: How to go back to Windows XP after you have upgraded a Windows XP-based computer to Windows Vista.

I hope this helps and that you are lucky enough to find a Vista Basic product key (or product) to use.

Good luck!