File sharing between win7 64 bit desktop & vista 32bit laptop

I think I figured out what owner-pc is, I just hooked up with the free WIFI here trying it out, I am still hooked up to WIFI with my cable company, so yesterday I switched WIFI's to see if that made a difference, it didn't. Even tho I turned off the passwords I can't get into owner-pc as it's on the other domain. I restarted both pc's & for a brief min I saw both pc's on the laptop and got into win 7 then again poof it was gone. What is preventing this from both pc's seeing each other?

Still no luck, changed the workgroup name on both pc's to see if that made a difference.

Any suggestions? anyone? I'm at a loss beginning to wonder if it can be done. What would be blocking the 2 pc's from seeing each other?

Maybe there's a misunderstanding here. At least for me :)

Roderunner said:

are any of your pc connected to a router?

PinkRose said:

yes the win7 desktop is connected to my D-Link router

Are both machines on the same side of the router?

Only the win7 is connected to the router, the laptop is not. My son hooked up the win7, said he didn't need the cd that came with the router( the router was hooked up to old pc before) I can't find anything on the win7 that says it's hooked up so maybe it's not? Since both pc's have a wireless connection is must be possible to do this with just the wireless connection? as at times I've seen both pc's together but only for a few min then poof it's back to neither pc seeing each other. I've checked for everything even doing a disk clean up and virus scan on both pc's, checked for any programs that might interfere. what else could be causing this?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it would be helpful for the forum users to know how your network is set up. The router is there not only to allow your multiple computers to access your ISP with one account, but to help protect you from anonymous internet attacks. Both computers should be connected to the same side of your router. If it's a wireless router, you can have both wired and wireless computers connected to it, and still be considered as being connected to the same side. The other side of the router is what connects to you ISP for internet access.

As long as all of your computers are connected to the same side of the router, your little private network is set up to allow each of your computers to communicate with each other. Now you just got to get the operating systems/computers to cooperate.

Just talked to my son who doesn't live here & found out he disconnected the router from the win 7 but didn't unplug it from the wall, so since I saw the lights on I thought it was connected to the pc but couldn't find it anywhere on the pc. That's not the problem. The free WIFI I'm using has a connection box right outside my apt & I'm told it's private for this complex only. What else could be causing this?

Since I'm just trying the free WIFI I still can connect to my cable company WIFI, I just did that & so far both pc's are seeing each other, will watch it for a while & see if it stays.

PinkRose said:

Since I'm just trying the free WIFI I still can connect to my cable company WIFI, I just did that & so far both pc's are seeing each other, will watch it for a while & see if it stays.

If you did what I think you did, I think you're okay now. As long as your machines are connected (whether wired or wireless) to the same router you have your little network set up and they should be able to easily see each other, and the router helps to protect your computers from internet nasties.

Since you appear to have a wireless router (and especially considering the fact that you're in an apartment) you should ensure that its wireless capability is set up securely. You don't want neighbors accidentally/intentionally connecting to your network without your knowledge, right?

PinkRose said:

I still can connect to my cable company WIFI, I just did that...

In my previous post I'm assuming that "my cable company WIFI" that you mention is referring to a little box that your cable company installed inside your apartment for your personal use, right?