Sharing between Windows 7 and XP

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  1. Posts : 135
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
       #1

    Sharing between Windows 7 and XP


    I have a Windows 7 machine, and an XP machine, and I'm trying to set up sharing of folders between the two systems. And I'm experiencing two problems.
    1. Though the shared drives show up on both systems, I can access the drives on the XP system from the Windows 7 system, but cannot access the drives on the Windows 7 system from the XP system. Any quick ideas as to the cause of this?
    2. There is one exception to the above. One of the drives on the XP system, though it shows up on the Windows 7 system is not accessible. When I try to access it, I get a long busy indicator, then a box that says it is not accessible. I have a hunch what the problem may be, but it is just a hunch, and if I'm right, I still don't know how to fix it. The hunch has to do with the fact that the drive on the XP system is formatted FAT16. I have one small drive on the XP system formatted FAT16 to hold a couple of old DOS games. Would that fact prevent it from being accessed, and if so, is there a fix for it (short of reformatting the drive)?
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  2. Posts : 265
    Windows 7 Pro
       #2

    You need to create a workgroup (not homegroup) in order to connect with XP. The FAT is not an issue.
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  3. Posts : 135
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    doctore said:
    You need to create a workgroup (not homegroup) in order to connect with XP. The FAT is not an issue.
    Doctore--

    Thanks. I do have a workgroup created (and both computers are using the Workgroup name WORKGROUP). And except for the one drive on the XP system that is formatted FAT, I can access the rest of the XP drives and folders I have enabled Sharing on. But I can't access the shared folders on the Win 7 machine from the XP machine. They do show up on the XP machine under the Network in Windows Explorer, it is just that when I click on one, I get an error message that it's not accessible. I've double checked that I have sharing enabled on the Win 7 system, and that the permissions are set to FULL and Everyone. Any other ideas what could be causing these two perplexing problems?

    The problem with the FAT drive isn't a serious one, since I can live without having access to it from the Win 7 system--it's just it perplexes me why the other drives are accessible, and this one is not. The problem of not being able to access the Win 7 shared drives from the XP system, however is a serious problem. Any input is welcome.

    I'm a bit hampered by the fact that I have more or less identical setups (two computers, one with Win 7 and one with XP) in two separate locations. So trying to check one set that is working right against the other set that is having problems is a slow process, since I have to travel to a different location to work on it.
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  4. Posts : 135
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
    Thread Starter
       #4

    doctore said:
    You need to create a workgroup (not homegroup) in order to connect with XP. The FAT is not an issue.
    Doctore--

    A further input (may or may not be helpful). I spent most of the morning trying to figure out what was wrong. As I mentioned, the two computers I'm trying to get to communicate with each other are at a different location. After giving up for the time being, on my way home, it occurred to me that the problem with the XP computer not being able to access the Win 7 computer may be the Norton Firewall that is running on the Win 7 computer (since I get "not accessible" for the entire system). I'll explore that in more depth when I go back (probably tomorrow), though any additional ideas are welcome.

    What is really perplexing, however is the other problem. The XP computer has 5 drives that I have tried to share (not including the C drive). One of the five is an external USB drive. The other 4 are all internal hard drives. Three of them, I can access with no problem. But the external drive, and one of the internal drives is not accessible. And it turns out that the problem I thought I had (the drive being formatted as a FAT drive) is not correct. I do have a FAT drive, but it is one of the three I can access with no problem. The external drive is formatted, as I recall, as a FAT 32 drive, and the other drive I can't access is formatted as an NTFS drive. Can you (or anyone else) think of what could be making three drives accessible, and the other two inaccessible?
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  5. Posts : 265
    Windows 7 Pro
       #5

    How are you connecting the computers, if they are at different locations? Do you do it over the internet?

    It's best to start from scratch, follow this guide: Networking home computers running different versions of Windows - Windows Help

    At the bottom of that page there is also a list of ports that you need to open with your firewalls.
    It's best to have the network between the two computers working, before you deal with the 2 drives problem, which could well disappear when the computers have working workgroup.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 135
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
    Thread Starter
       #6

    doctore said:
    How are you connecting the computers, if they are at different locations? Do you do it over the internet?

    It's best to start from scratch, follow this guide: Networking home computers running different versions of Windows - Windows Help

    At the bottom of that page there is also a list of ports that you need to open with your firewalls.
    It's best to have the network between the two computers working, before you deal with the 2 drives problem, which could well disappear when the computers have working workgroup.
    Doctore--

    First, thanks for your help. I do appreciate it. Also, sorry if I confused you. I'm not using the internet to connect the computers. I have two SETS of computers, (4 computers total). Two are at one location, and two are at a different location. Each set has a Win 7 computer, and an XP computer. One set, which I have had operating for some time is working normally. The only reason I mention it is that because the two sets are in different locations, I can not easily compare all the settings on the set that is working fine, with the set that is giving me problems. Bottom line, I'm only having problems with one set of computer, and they are both connected to a router by a network cable. The internet access works fine on both computers, and (except for the two drives mentioned earlier), the Win 7 computer can access the XP computer. So I don't think that there is a problem with the network adapter, or with the router.

    I did print off and scanned the instructions from the link you provided. I also downloaded the file to install the LLTD feature that was referenced in the link. Once I have a chance to get back to the problem computers, I'll go over the article in detail, and check out the details of the firewall, and will get back to you with a report of what happened, whether or not it is successful. Thanks again for your help and patience.
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  7. Posts : 457
    Microsoft Windows 10 Home Build 15036
       #7

    I think opening the ports in the firewall on your 7 system will provide the solution. I take it that the XP system has no firewall running?
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  8. Posts : 135
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
    Thread Starter
       #8

    PeaB4YouGo said:
    I think opening the ports in the firewall on your 7 system will provide the solution. I take it that the XP system has no firewall running?
    PeaB4YouGo,

    The Windows XP system does have a firewall running, but it is the built in Windows Firewall. When I enable sharing on a folder in XP, it says at the bottom of the box, something to the effect "Your firewall is configured to allow access to this folder."

    Haven't got back to the Win 7 system yet to check out the firewall settings. Will post back when I get some results

    Thanks for your input. I managed to get my other Win 7/XP configuration working, but that was several years ago, and my recall of the details are, to say the very least, dim. Any and all input is welcome.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 265
    Windows 7 Pro
       #9

    Something to try:

    On the XP machine, open "My Network Places" and on the left menu there will be a link "View Workgroup Computers". Does the Windows 7 show when you click on it? If yes, double click on the Win7 and log in with your Win7 credentials. The go back to My Network Places and see if the drives are showing.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 135
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
    Thread Starter
       #10

    doctore said:
    Something to try:

    On the XP machine, open "My Network Places" and on the left menu there will be a link "View Workgroup Computers". Does the Windows 7 show when you click on it? If yes, double click on the Win7 and log in with your Win7 credentials. The go back to My Network Places and see if the drives are showing.
    Doctore--


    Will check that out as soon as I get back to the other location. In the meantime, I have some info to report.

    1. The Norton Firewall is not the problem (or at least, is not the ONLY problem). I tried turning the firewall off completely, and still cannot access the Win 7 computer from the XP computer.

    2. The message I get when I click on the Win 7 computer in Windows Explorer is "(Computer Name) is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the Administrator of the server to find out if you have access permission." Then below that, is the statement: "Logon Failure. User Account restriction. Possible reasons are blank password not allowed, logon hour restrictions, or a policy restriction has been applied."

    3. I've also been comparing the set of computers with the problem with my other set that is working fine. And I notice the following. On the XP computer with the problem, if I open Windows Explorer, and click the plus next to My Network Places, it shows Entire Network. If I click that, then it shows three items, Microsoft Terminal Services, Microsoft Networks, and Web Client Networks. If I click the Microsoft Networks item, it shows Workgroup. If I click Workgroup, it shows both computer (by computer name). If I click the name of the Windows 7 computer, that's when I get the above error message. HOWEVER, on the set of the two computers that are working fine, if I open Windows Explorer, and click on the plus next to My Network Places, I get, as on the other system, Entire Network. BUT, I also get (without having to go any deeper) all the shared drives/folders on both machines. If I DO go on down to the Workgroup item, I get both computer listed, but accessible.

    Does any of this ring a bell as to what the problem may be? Once again, thanks for both your help and your patience.
      My Computer


 
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