Windows 7: Windows 7 (desktop) does not recognize laptop (windows xp)

The DESKTOP running on Windows 7 is setup connecting to the wirelessly through a LINSKYS ROUTER used with a cable modem. The LAPTOP (Windows XP) is connected wireless through the router.

I have set up the wireless network as described in the link below.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-7/share-files-and-printers-between-windows-7-and-xp/


The desktop computer is set up with NAME: AngusHP and WORKGROUP: WORKGROUP. The LAPTOP is set up as NAME : HPLAPTOP and WORKGROUP: WORKGROUP. The network name is angusmdmclean

As such when I view workgroup computers on the LAPTOP (running on Windows XP) I see ICONS for DESKTOP (Angus-hp) and LAPTOP (Hplaptop). When I double click on DESKTOP (Angus-hp) ICON then the shared files resident on the DESKTOP appear and can be accessed from the LAPTOP . The LAPTOP acts as a terminal for the DESKTOP, but you can now save the DESKTOP document to the LAPTOP or print it to the printer (USB connected to the LAPTOP).

When I view the DESKTOP computer (Windows 7) under the Heading Network I do see both ICONS for the DESKTOP (Angus-hp) and LAPTOP (Hplaptop). When I click on HPLAPTOP I get the message "Windows cannot access the\\ LAPTOP. Windows can communicate with the name resolution server but cannot find the host name."

Please can anyone comment on this lack of access? Should I be able to do this? If "yes" any suggestion for resolution? I wonder what they mean by host name? The name of the laptop on the home network is HPLAPTOP

ANGUS

host name is the name in "human" language for exaple angus-hp and the resolution is translation to computer IP address.. ipv4 32bit number example in decimal 192.0.2.235
can you connect using ip of the host?
type \\ip instead of \\name.
you can find your ip addres by runing ipconfig comand in command prompt.
open command prompt type ipconfig and press enter in given information find IPv4 address there should be numbers seperated by points something like this 168.192.10.5.. then from other pc in windows explorer address bar type \\168.192.10.5 <replace this with the value you got.

I would like too add that if there is nothing "Shared" on the XP laptop it wont nessaserly notice that it had anything, I had this trouble back in the Day. Try sharing a Random folder. (make a folder then share it)

You may have a permissions issue.

Check this tutorial: Sharing and Permissions

This may be of help too.

File Sharing - Between XP and W7 (and vice versa)

Vaidas 3: Thank you for the reply, but I do not fully understand your directions. I am new to Networking. I have identifed the IP addresses (IpV4) of the desktop (192.168.1.101) and Laptop (192.168.1.102). I have succesfully pinged between the DESKTOP to LAPTOP and also in the direction LAPTOP to DESKTOP.
My interest is in the direction DEKTOP to LAPTOP, since there is no file sharing of LAPTOP computer files.

Please can you provide more step by step details for a nwcomer to networking like me.

You want me to go the the DESKTOP (Windows 7) computer and ..............................


Angus

VAIDAS : On the desktop when in Explorer I enter the desktop IP address (192.168.1.101) then it brings up the desktop Network information. Now when I enter the laptop address (198.168.1.102) in the desktop it does not pull up the laptop infpormation. Whenin Explorer in the laptop (XP) I enter the desktop IP then it pulls up the laptop information.

Angus

on desktop pc try to open any explorer window (computer, documents etc.)
in address bar type \\192.168.1.102 dont forget the \\
does it opens your laptop share?
by the way i hope you have something shared on your laptop with right permissions.

to eliminate name resolution problem you could also try to ping other pc using not ip but name for example ping Hplaptop does it work?

I tried below on desktop using an Explorer window, but it did not get me connected to laptop. Both laptop and desktop are now as of this morning password protected.

type \\192.168.1.102 on desktop dont forget the \\

Alos tried to ping from lapto to desktop using the names instead of ip addresses and it worked. But from desk to laptop it did not work when using names.

I have docs with sharing permissions.

try to change your laptop name..

also can you post ipconfig /all from both pcs

are you using any firewall? what antivirus do you use?

I did already change the laptop name. I can display ipconfig/ALL, but I canot figure out how to copy and paste this information. comment? How do you do that?

I notethat the netbios is enabled on desktop for Ip4.

Iam using Norton on the laptop and the desktop. I disabled Norton this morning on the lapttop but there was no change in thb lack of information appearance on the desktop for laptop.