Can't enable file and printer sharing in Windows Firewall

OK, I have read forum and support posts until I am tearing my hair out. I am running Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 (32-bit) with Windows Firewall and Microsoft Security Essentials. My problem is that somewhere along the line, my home network stopped allowing me to share files and my one printer. Each computer can reach the internet on its own, but they cannot share anything.

I tried enabling file sharing and printer sharing on the Vista computer (where the printer is) in Network and Sharing Center. But when I click on the button to turn on printer sharing, or file sharing, or anything else there, and hit Apply, absolutely nothing happens. After reading some posts I tried to enable exceptions for sharing in Windows Firewall, but when I bring up the exceptions window I don't see anything except two Skype entries. I added exceptions there for Ports 137, 138, 139 and 445 per another post, but that hasn't helped either. I have also checked my services and BFE and MpsSvc are running (another post).

Now what? Anybody have a suggestion?

Please describe the home network. Machines, OS on each, etc..

Also it's best to disable the firewall and AV software completely until you get the network stuff to work. Then turn it back on and see if it still works. Doing it the other way around can take a long time.

Ah, I will try turning everything off temporarily when I get home this evening. Here is what I have on the home network right now.

Gateway Desktop PC running Vista Home Premium 32-bit. It has Windows Firewall and Microsoft Security Essentials running. It is Ethernet wired into an Actiontec PK5000 wireless DSL gateway modem. The printer is connected to the desktop PC via USB. Windows Defender and User Account Control are turned off. It has only one user and it has administrator rights.

Second computer is an HP 2000 laptop running Windows 8 and connected over wireless to the modem. It is running Windows Firewall and the new Windows Defender. It has only one user and it has administrator rights.

Any additional suggestions are most appreciated.

Craig

Oh yeah, one more thing...... The home network is set up as Private.

Craig

One trick I used to get things going is to use the already shared folders, such as \username\Public on Vista and whatever they call it on W8 (was AllUsers I think on XP.) Usually if I could get files to copy to the other machine from a folder shared by the system, sharing other folders was easy.

It was almost like the OS ran out of excuses if you used the already shared folder. It gave in and let you copy the file(s).

As for mixing wired/wireless I have no clue. I've stayed with wired. Reality will force me to do wifi soon though.

Well, I tried sharing already shared folders but that doesn't appear to have done anything. Then I tried turning off the firewall.

When I turned off the firewall, I could turn on network discovery and file sharing in Network and Sharing Center. (Actually they came on by themselves.) I checked the exceptions window but nothing additional showed up there. And I could not turn on printer sharing. Alas, when I turned the firewall back on, I was back to square one with network discovery and all sharing turned off.

Ugh!!!! Now what?

Craig

CraigSiegel said:

Well, I tried sharing already shared folders but that doesn't appear to have done anything. Then I tried turning off the firewall.

When I turned off the firewall, I could turn on network discovery and file sharing in Network and Sharing Center. (Actually they came on by themselves.) I checked the exceptions window but nothing additional showed up there. And I could not turn on printer sharing. Alas, when I turned the firewall back on, I was back to square one with network discovery and all sharing turned off.

Ugh!!!! Now what?

Craig

Click to expand...

Just thought of something. Could there be something in my Actiontec PK5000 modem/router that is stopping me from being able to enable sharing? I poked around in its settings today but didn't see anything that looks like it might affect home network connectivity. Then again, I don't know much about modem/router settings.

Craig

I don't know what to tell you other than that I don't use firewall just because of hassles like this. If something bad is going to come in it's likely through a known allowed port anyway. Like through the browser. But I'm one of those guys who don't use real time AV shield either. Too much interference with the machine.

Also you don't have to "share" already shared folders. They are marked shared by the system. You should be able to copy across machines files out of and into those folders already. If that works, then I try sharing an ordinary user folder.