Sharing: XP can see 7, but 7 can’t see XP wirelessly, 7 wired sees XP

[caliskier]

Sharing: XP can see 7, but 7 can’t see XP wirelessly, 7 wired sees XP

I beat my head against the wall 2 hours last night surfing for this answer so I thought today on my lunch break that I would let this bird fly… thanks for any help.

My XP computer is wired to the router, the 7 laptop is wireless. Both can surf the web today, no problem. However, XP can see 7 but 7 cannot see XP for file sharing. This is not true when 7 is wired to the router, it can see XP then. Does not work when 7 is wireless.

Background: This worked 3 weeks ago, had same workgroup names etc and I could share files across both computers. But only was using one router.

What changed: After Christmas I got a second router to setup as a wireless access point. I did this, made the old router a dummy, a wireless access point and put the new router (that the XP computer is plugged into) as the router that runs all the “Routing”. Both Routers are the same make and model, Linksys WRT54GS, different versions. Both routers work fine, my laptop can use either to get on the web, my iphone sees both and has a strong signal throughout the house. All internet connectivity is fine except that 7 can’t see XP unless wired to the router.

I am guessing router configuration is what caused this problem, but do not understand why it would work when wired and not when wireless.

Any help would be appreciated

 

[Ztruker]

Sounds more like your Firewall or Antivirus is blocking the wireless connection and not the ethernet connection. Try disabling them one at a time and see if it works. If yes then need to figure out how to allow the wireless connection.

 

[caliskier]

Sounds more like your Firewall or Antivirus is blocking the wireless connection and not the ethernet connection. Try disabling them one at a time and see if it works. If yes then need to figure out how to allow the wireless connection.

Firewall on the router or on the XP computer or on the 7 laptop?

Why would it have worked before, perhaps it is a firewall on the router?

 

[Ztruker]

After re-reading your post, I think your initial idea is right. Must be something to do with the new router (WAP) setup.

What happens if you restore the old single router configuration? Does it work?

Are you bridging the two wireless routers so you have a better signal at other locations in the house?

 

[caliskier]

After re-reading your post, I think your initial idea is right. Must be something to do with the new router (WAP) setup.

What happens if you restore the old single router configuration? Does it work?

Are you bridging the two wireless routers so you have a better signal at other locations in the house?

I will try going back to one device when I get home...

On your second question, yes, I have a long house and do not get a good signal on one side as the router location is on the far other side. I have shut off everything in it, can't remember exactly what, but followed detaild directions on the web to do it right, and it does work. The one thing that does not work is that the laptop will not disconnect from one and link to the other if I move about the house. I have to turn off the wireless radio and back on again to get it to work with the closer router. SSIDs are the same.

 

[Ztruker]

Are they both broadcasting on the same channel? Maybe that is why it's not picking up the signal from the other router when you move. Since the SSID does not change, it has no reason to look on a different channel.

SO, make sure thay both use the same one.