Windows 7: win xp cannot see win 7 on network places

I have been round in circles checking settings, and cannot figure this out.

I have wireless network set up at home, and file sharing.

I have 1 win 7 computer and 2 XP computers. I have no prob from Windows 7 getting into XP shared files on network and sharing printer, etc.

My prob lies when I try from my XP computers to see the Windows 7 computer in the network places. It is not there. I can see it in workgroup computers, but can't do anything with it. I try to add it in network places, but it cannot find it by browse or direct typing.

On Windows 7 computer I have it marked to share, have passwords turned off, I have tried to create a homegroup and have removed the homegroup, cause I cannot figure it out.

I am able to access Windows 7 shared files from PS3, so don't understand why I can't from XP. help?

Pjs; Welcome to Windows 7 Forums, we are glad you are here. I have felt your pain and frustration!

Based on your statement here quoted, you need to know that "HomeGroup" only applies to Windows 7 Computers. XP cannot join a HomeGroup. However, you can still network your XP computers with your 7 computer using the "Workgroup". Be sure all computers have the same "Workgroup" name.



Post back if this helps.

Robert

Thank you, I was really excited to try this out, and have to say am very lucky that this seems to be my only issue so far.

Yes, I knew that about homegroup, thanks. I did it out of desperation. ( Yes, all computers have same workgroup name as well. I am able to access my XP files from Windows 7, but not other way around. I have turned off password protection, and still no luck. The only place I can see Windows 7 computer is in the workgroup computers. It is not listed on my network places. If I go into workgroup computers and click on the Windows 7 computer it will bring up user/password box, which nothing works with that either. If I try to add the Windows 7 on network places, it will give error. Very frustrated. I see others who had the opposite prob as me. Any ideas would be great! ) This is the only thing keeping me from installing Windows 7 on 1 of my other computers, as I need to be able to have all computers able to share/access files, but cannot upgrade all of them to Windows 7, as 1 has too many issues pop up during upgrade advisor scan.

Just a few things to check

on the Windows 7 machine make sure you use the Advanced Sharing option on the properties tab rather than either the Share option or the right click share with ...

I have known the simple share options on Windows 7 to be not recognized in mixed OS networks

One other thing that may be worthwhile is under advanced sharing options in Network and sharing centre check that the option to let homegroup manage sharing is not set

check and check. I had done that earlier when I came acrossed it. I was really hoping that would be the fix, and still no change happened.

PJs; I have 7, XP, w2k, w98, and linux computers on my home network at one time or another and can see them all. Look at these Advanced settigs and compare with yours:





and let me know if there are any differences?

Robert

There were 2 differences. I had it set "turn on network discovery" and also "Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in Public folders". The rest of those settings are all the same. I changed all to match, logged off and back on both Windows 7 and XP, and XP computer still does not show Windows 7 computer in network places. I had to turn back on the "turn on network discovery" because when I changed it to off, like you showed me on top of your list of settings, I then could no longer see my other computers on my network on my Windows 7 computer. Once I turned it back on, all my network computers showed back up on my Windows 7 computer. So technically I only changed the 1 setting of "Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in Public folders".

When I went to Windows 7 public documents folder it shows state on bottom as shared. When I click properties and then on sharing tab it shows "documents shared, network path \\name of computer\documents. But then if I then click "share" I then only see administrators and also my login name on the list. If I use drop down menu and click on everyone, then click share, it then says "Your folder can't be shared." ???

I then went back to XP computer network places and clicked on 'add network place', if I put above path, it would deny. So then I went and put \\computername\users and it brought up sign in box. I then put in name of computer\my login name and then windows password and then it added folder "user on that Windows 7 computer". I now can see the documents from Windows 7 computer on XP. If I log off, I have to do that sign in box again when I click on that folder in network places on XP list. Why is it doing this? I have that option turned off on Windows 7. ??? I am happy I can atleast access it now though! Funny thing is, it is not the shared folder from Win 7, but the regular documents folder, contacts, favorites, desktop, downloads, links, my music, my pics, my videos, saved games, and searches folders. Hmmm? So technically not what I was going for.


UPDATE: Right after I posted the above, I went into Windows 7 computer and right-clicked on regular "my documents" folder, (not shared). I then went to properties and clicked on sharing tab and clicked advanced sharing. I then checked box to share this folder, and clicked on permissions, and set everyone to have allowed on all 3 boxes and clicked add and ok. I the went to my XP computer and now that folder is listed on my XP network places list. Yipee!!! I have no idea why the actual 'public documents' folder would not work though. Crazy, but I am very happy! Thank you for all your help in this crazy adventure. It only took me all day! LOL!!! Now the contemplation of trying it on another computer LOL!

UPDATE2: When I logged off the XP computer and logged back on and went back to the network places, Windows 7 file was still there, but when I clicked on it, I once again had login box and had to put Windows 7 computername/winlogin user name and windows password to be able to open it.

I think that the problem with the public folders not showing up may be that the default settings in Windows 7 for sharing these are set to use the simple sharing which I know XP sometimes has issues with - you could try manually sharing the public folders using the advanced sharing option.

As for the need for password, that would suggest to me that the user name you are using in XP is different to the one on Windows 7 you have to have identical user names with passwords set (passwords can be different) to allow seamless sharing

Good to see you're progressing though

Based on my research, even though I have turned on network discovery, windows turns it off because of the other settings I use. Doesn't interfere with my network access.
Public Folders is a new feature in 7 connected to the "Libraries" feature. These are files and folders 7 believes you will want to share with other 7 computers. I have this feature turned off and manually share the folders I choose.
Yes, this is the way I share folders on my 7 computers with the rest of the network.
You are most welcome! Thanks for letting us know how you came to your solution. I am very glad you have it working now! This is a learning experience for all of us. What fun, huh?!

Robert

So you are saying that my Windows 7 computer and my XP computers need to all have the same windows login user name and passwords, then it will not popup the login box when I click on the network places folder in XP computer anymore?

hmmm, will have to give that a try. I find it odd that it does not do it the other way around, Windows 7 to XP...no popup box. This must just be a Windows 7 thing....cause my XP computers have different passwords, yet I have never had the pop up box for them.

Thanks! I will keep my fingers crossed and let you know! The nice thing I know is that my struggles and solution will help someone else who may google the same issue and come across this board like I did!

UPDATE: That was it! thank you!!!