Windows Vista Forums

Cannot see WinXP computer in workgroup
  1. #1


    Jim Speiser Guest

    Cannot see WinXP computer in workgroup

    I have just configured two laptops to be on our network workgroup, HOUSE
    (network name changed to protect the innocent). Both laptops are Sony Vaios,
    one running Windows Vista Basic Business, and the other (this one) running
    Vista Home. The one desktop in the house belongs to my father, and runs Win
    XP, and is going to stay that way - the man's 84 years old, and he's not
    about to change his ways. Anyway, I had no trouble setting up the Vista
    Business laptop to see the network and the workgroup HOUSE. But that one
    belongs to his girlfriend (who is 5 years my junior...but I digress).
    Naturally, I would like my OWN laptop to also see the entire workgroup as
    well. But try as I might, I cannot get it to see the Win XP desktop. It can
    get on the Internet just fine, but it cannot see the WinXP machine for file
    and printer sharing purposes.



    Interestingly, when I type \\STUXP at the RUN prompt, I DO see the shared
    folders and the printer on my dad's desktop. But I cannot get it to show up
    in the View Other Computers In The Workgroup folder.

    Please help.

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Robert L [MVP - Networking] Guest

    Re: Cannot see WinXP computer in workgroup

    You may want to install LLTD Responder. These search results may help,

    Vista can't see XP on ...The information posted above actually does not respond to the "XP can't see Vista network map" issue -- it actually responds to the "Vista can't see XP on ...
    http://www.chicagotech.net/netforums...opic.php?t=236 - Similar pages

    Vista cannot access others
    Post Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 6:11 pm Post subject: Vista: can't see XP ... Both of the xp machines can address each other using \\machinename but the . ...
    http://www.chicagotech.net/vista/vistaaccess1.htm


    Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
    Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
    How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
    "Jim Speiser" <JimSpeiser@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:047EE3A4-7A23-43D4-A912-69C6E9EBA65B@microsoft.com...
    I have just configured two laptops to be on our network workgroup, HOUSE
    (network name changed to protect the innocent). Both laptops are Sony Vaios,
    one running Windows Vista Basic Business, and the other (this one) running
    Vista Home. The one desktop in the house belongs to my father, and runs Win
    XP, and is going to stay that way - the man's 84 years old, and he's not
    about to change his ways. Anyway, I had no trouble setting up the Vista
    Business laptop to see the network and the workgroup HOUSE. But that one
    belongs to his girlfriend (who is 5 years my junior...but I digress).
    Naturally, I would like my OWN laptop to also see the entire workgroup as
    well. But try as I might, I cannot get it to see the Win XP desktop. It can
    get on the Internet just fine, but it cannot see the WinXP machine for file
    and printer sharing purposes.

    Interestingly, when I type \\STUXP at the RUN prompt, I DO see the shared
    folders and the printer on my dad's desktop. But I cannot get it to show up
    in the View Other Computers In The Workgroup folder.

    Please help.

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    Chuck [MVP] Guest

    Re: Cannot see WinXP computer in workgroup

    On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:58:03 -0700, Jim Speiser
    <JimSpeiser@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

    >I have just configured two laptops to be on our network workgroup, HOUSE
    >(network name changed to protect the innocent). Both laptops are Sony Vaios,
    >one running Windows Vista Basic Business, and the other (this one) running
    >Vista Home. The one desktop in the house belongs to my father, and runs Win
    >XP, and is going to stay that way - the man's 84 years old, and he's not
    >about to change his ways. Anyway, I had no trouble setting up the Vista
    >Business laptop to see the network and the workgroup HOUSE. But that one
    >belongs to his girlfriend (who is 5 years my junior...but I digress).
    >Naturally, I would like my OWN laptop to also see the entire workgroup as
    >well. But try as I might, I cannot get it to see the Win XP desktop. It can
    >get on the Internet just fine, but it cannot see the WinXP machine for file
    >and printer sharing purposes.
    >
    >Interestingly, when I type \\STUXP at the RUN prompt, I DO see the shared
    >folders and the printer on my dad's desktop. But I cannot get it to show up
    >in the View Other Computers In The Workgroup folder.
    >
    >Please help.


    This will generally be a personal firewall or NetBT issue.
    <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html>
    http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/0...ing-using.html

    You might look at logs from "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all", from each
    computer, and diagnose the problem. Read this article, and linked articles, and
    follow instructions precisely (download browstat!):
    <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
    http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...#AskingForHelp

    --
    Cheers,
    Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
    http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
    Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
    My email is AT DOT
    actual address pchuck mvps org.

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Jim Speiser Guest

    Re: Cannot see WinXP computer in workgroup

    Well, you won't believe it, but this problem was resolved by turning ON a
    firewall. The new Vista Home laptop had Norton running with a firewall, and
    Windows Firewall turned off. I turned off the Norton Firewall, so that I had
    NO firewalls running, and nothing happened. Then I turned ON the Windows
    Firewall, making sure the settings would allow discovery and file and printer
    sharing, and voila! The XP computer became visible.

    I do not pretend to understand this (I haven't actually understood operating
    systems since DOS 6.0) but I won't argue with it.

    OK, maybe...could it have anything to do with "browsing", an old NT term I
    remember? I seem to recall it sometimes taking up to 15 minutes to show a
    newly-turned-on computer in the network map?

    In any case, thanks for everyone's help.

    ==JJS==

    "Chuck [MVP]" wrote:

    > On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:58:03 -0700, Jim Speiser
    > <JimSpeiser@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
    >
    > >I have just configured two laptops to be on our network workgroup, HOUSE
    > >(network name changed to protect the innocent). Both laptops are Sony Vaios,
    > >one running Windows Vista Basic Business, and the other (this one) running
    > >Vista Home. The one desktop in the house belongs to my father, and runs Win
    > >XP, and is going to stay that way - the man's 84 years old, and he's not
    > >about to change his ways. Anyway, I had no trouble setting up the Vista
    > >Business laptop to see the network and the workgroup HOUSE. But that one
    > >belongs to his girlfriend (who is 5 years my junior...but I digress).
    > >Naturally, I would like my OWN laptop to also see the entire workgroup as
    > >well. But try as I might, I cannot get it to see the Win XP desktop. It can
    > >get on the Internet just fine, but it cannot see the WinXP machine for file
    > >and printer sharing purposes.
    > >
    > >Interestingly, when I type \\STUXP at the RUN prompt, I DO see the shared
    > >folders and the printer on my dad's desktop. But I cannot get it to show up
    > >in the View Other Computers In The Workgroup folder.
    > >
    > >Please help.

    >
    > This will generally be a personal firewall or NetBT issue.
    > <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html>
    > http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/0...ing-using.html
    >
    > You might look at logs from "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all", from each
    > computer, and diagnose the problem. Read this article, and linked articles, and
    > follow instructions precisely (download browstat!):
    > <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
    > http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...#AskingForHelp
    >
    > --
    > Cheers,
    > Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
    > http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
    > Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
    > My email is AT DOT
    > actual address pchuck mvps org.
    >


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    ...winston Guest

    Re: Cannot see WinXP computer in workgroup

    Windows Firewall by default allows outbound connections. Norton, your prior personal firewall, does not provide that same global approach.
    Norton usually requires an exception rule(s) to allow communication to the networked XP unit(s)
    Turning off the Norton Firewall may not free up outbound to other XP units on the network.

    Chuck's links included a link to this handy explanation of personal firewall issues/requirements.
    http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...ther-help.html

    ....winston
    MS-MVP WLM

    "Jim Speiser" <JimSpeiser@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:E61C3040-CD5D-4FFA-A7E1-DAA152941EB2@microsoft.com...
    : Well, you won't believe it, but this problem was resolved by turning ON a
    : firewall. The new Vista Home laptop had Norton running with a firewall, and
    : Windows Firewall turned off. I turned off the Norton Firewall, so that I had
    : NO firewalls running, and nothing happened. Then I turned ON the Windows
    : Firewall, making sure the settings would allow discovery and file and printer
    : sharing, and voila! The XP computer became visible.
    :
    : I do not pretend to understand this (I haven't actually understood operating
    : systems since DOS 6.0) but I won't argue with it.
    :
    : OK, maybe...could it have anything to do with "browsing", an old NT term I
    : remember? I seem to recall it sometimes taking up to 15 minutes to show a
    : newly-turned-on computer in the network map?
    :
    : In any case, thanks for everyone's help.
    :
    : ==JJS==
    :
    : "Chuck [MVP]" wrote:
    :
    : > On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:58:03 -0700, Jim Speiser
    : > <JimSpeiser@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
    : >
    : > >I have just configured two laptops to be on our network workgroup, HOUSE
    : > >(network name changed to protect the innocent). Both laptops are Sony Vaios,
    : > >one running Windows Vista Basic Business, and the other (this one) running
    : > >Vista Home. The one desktop in the house belongs to my father, and runs Win
    : > >XP, and is going to stay that way - the man's 84 years old, and he's not
    : > >about to change his ways. Anyway, I had no trouble setting up the Vista
    : > >Business laptop to see the network and the workgroup HOUSE. But that one
    : > >belongs to his girlfriend (who is 5 years my junior...but I digress).
    : > >Naturally, I would like my OWN laptop to also see the entire workgroup as
    : > >well. But try as I might, I cannot get it to see the Win XP desktop. It can
    : > >get on the Internet just fine, but it cannot see the WinXP machine for file
    : > >and printer sharing purposes.
    : > >
    : > >Interestingly, when I type \\STUXP at the RUN prompt, I DO see the shared
    : > >folders and the printer on my dad's desktop. But I cannot get it to show up
    : > >in the View Other Computers In The Workgroup folder.
    : > >
    : > >Please help.
    : >
    : > This will generally be a personal firewall or NetBT issue.
    : > <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html>
    : > http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/0...ing-using.html
    : >
    : > You might look at logs from "browstat status" and "ipconfig /all", from each
    : > computer, and diagnose the problem. Read this article, and linked articles, and
    : > follow instructions precisely (download browstat!):
    : > <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
    : > http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...#AskingForHelp
    : >
    : > --
    : > Cheers,
    : > Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
    : > http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
    : > Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
    : > My email is AT DOT
    : > actual address pchuck mvps org.
    : >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

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