PC's see each other, but cannot connect

I've got the same problems going on with my home and office network. I have to reformat every month, for the windows 7 lap tops just stop connecting to the xp machines and win servers after that period of time. On the last two reforms, I completely went without Anti-virus software and the problems still happened. Once it happened after an employee switched the date one an xp machine (which is a know issue). Switching it back failed to fix the problem. I've tried all the above and still can't stop this very annoying problem. My win 7 machines can always see and connect.

Any other ideas?
 

My Computer My Computer

OS
Win 7 64 bit
I'm building courage to do a fresh install...
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
...me
OS
win 7 64
CPU
Intel Core2Quad Q9550
Motherboard
Asus P5Q DELUXE
Memory
8GB Corsair XMS2
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon 4890 1GB
Sound Card
built-in
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster 226bw
Screen Resolution
1680 X 1050
Hard Drives
3 X 500, 3 X 1000, 1 X 1.5
PSU
Corsair TX750
Case
Coolermaster Stacker 830 Black
Cooling
Zalman 9700 LED
Keyboard
Microsoft Wired
Mouse
Microsoft Laser 8000
Internet Speed
24kbps (in theory) usually up to 8kbps
I don't know as I don't have two Windows 7 PCs, but when I had two Vista machines running together, I ran into the same problem. I found out that if one of the machines has Guest user account on, then that particular pc could not be connected to from the other. Maybe it's the same for Windows 7...?
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Rig 1
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition @ 3.4GHz (AM2+)
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P (AM2+)
Memory
Corsair CM2X4096-8500C5 (4 X 2GB)
Graphics Card(s)
XFX Radeon HD 5770 / Diamond Radeon HD 5770 CrossFireX
Sound Card
Asus Xonar DS (PCI)
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster 932bw+ (3)
Screen Resolution
4320x900
Hard Drives
OCZ Vertex 2 80 GB - Windows 7 System --
WD Caviar Black 1TB - Music, Movies, Vids, Pics --
WD Caviar Black 640GB - User Profiles & Games --
WD My Book 320GB external
PSU
Corsair CMPSU-750TX
Case
Cooler Master HAF 932
Cooling
Corsair Hydro Series H50
Keyboard
Logitech Desktop Wave
Mouse
Logitech LX8 Laser
Internet Speed
20 down / 2 up
Other Info
LG GGC-H20L Blu-Ray / HDDVD combo --
Hauppauge HVR-1250 --
Silverstone MFP-51 --
Logitech Webcam C600
If it were me the fresh install would have occured a week ago, takes 15 minutes on this machine.
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home built
OS
Windows 7 Ult, Windows 8.1 Pro,
CPU
Q9650-4.275GHz, E8600 4.5GHz, E6750-3.8GHz
Motherboard
Evga 780i FTW
Memory
G.Skill PC2 9600 1200Mhz 5 5 5 15 2T
Graphics Card(s)
GTX480
Sound Card
Asus Xonar D2
Monitor(s) Displays
HannsG
Screen Resolution
1680X1050
Hard Drives
GSkill Phoenix Pro 120GB SSD
PSU
ThermalTake Toughpower 1000Watt modular
Case
ThermalTake XaserV
Cooling
Xigmatek S1283
Keyboard
Logitech G15
Mouse
Logitech G9
Internet Speed
T1
True, but what about all the other programs that need to be installed afterwards??? :p
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
...me
OS
win 7 64
CPU
Intel Core2Quad Q9550
Motherboard
Asus P5Q DELUXE
Memory
8GB Corsair XMS2
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon 4890 1GB
Sound Card
built-in
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster 226bw
Screen Resolution
1680 X 1050
Hard Drives
3 X 500, 3 X 1000, 1 X 1.5
PSU
Corsair TX750
Case
Coolermaster Stacker 830 Black
Cooling
Zalman 9700 LED
Keyboard
Microsoft Wired
Mouse
Microsoft Laser 8000
Internet Speed
24kbps (in theory) usually up to 8kbps
hi im back again.

The networking issues are mostly related due to firewall. If you have 2 different firewalls/security software on 2 or more of your computers or if you have same firewall/security software on 2 or more of your computers. it can also cause the conflict between connection on both ends. the first step to cure the conflict/any kind of error regarding permissions/denails is to disable firewall. if not then uninstall the firewall, disable windows default as well, since the default one gets activated automatically, when you uninstall the firewall that you have puchased or comes with your security suite, after that restart your computer and try accessing the networks. (ALSO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE SHARED THE APPROPRIATE FOLDERS ON THE NETWORK & YOUR ALL COMPUTERS ARE ON THE SAME WORKGROUP) If it still fails, let the firewall be disabled. Disable the password for your windows login accounts, make sure you have administrator rights (most of the time password also is an issue for sharing files). if it still fails, follow the third step that i mentioned in this post on page 1. this will definetly rectify the problem. once done, install your firewall/security software & try again. I use to work in a big company as a computer mechanic, so we use to receive alot of these kind of issues 7 hacked/virus/spyware computers. cant say the brand name sorry.

Security software which most of the time conflict with network/sharing, according to my personal experience are as follows.

1. Kaspersky.
2. bitdefender.
3. norton 360 & norton endpoint.
4. eset/nod32.
5. mcafee sometimes.
6. trend micro sometimes.
7. Webroot rarely.

For my computers to be secured wht i do is, i use microsoft security essentials antivirus(the best free avaialable) and windows firewall for my desktop, on laptop i use avg basic edition (avg free edition will also do), which comes without firewall and use windows default firewall. Also i use the following software on my both the computers along with microsoft security essentials) for additional secuirty which doesnt comes with all the free security softwares available at the moment, such as malwarebytes (the best free one antispyware) to protect against spyware/trojan/malware threats, for windows vista and 7 only. if you have windows xp, use trojan remover(have to purchase) along with the free security software that i use, i save huge amount of money. I also scan my entire computer everyweekends and sop those threats fromm growing into my computer. (MANUAL PROTECTION IS ALWAYS BETTER THEN AUTOMATIC AND IS VERY FLEXIBLE IF YOU KNOW IT).
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Asus
OS
Windows 7 32 bit
CPU
E 7200
Motherboard
Asus
Memory
4 GB
Graphics Card(s)
512 MB NVIDIA (rocks)
Sound Card
Realtek High definetion audio (on board)
Monitor(s) Displays
17 Inch stupid (HP)
Screen Resolution
1280 x 1024 (60Hz)
Hard Drives
500 GB Seagate, 140 GB Samsung.
PSU
Dont know but its the best/expensive one i could find.
Case
Local
Cooling
Air Cooling Fans
Keyboard
iball multimedia keyboard
Mouse
iball optical mouse
Internet Speed
512 kbs
Actually i had same problems and i followed what streetglow saind on point 3 and now everything is ok.

I took some screens,hope it solves your problem as well.

Good luck.

Edit : On Laptop i could see shared folders of my pc which has Avira Premium Security Suite.
From Pc i couldn't see the laptop shared files which has Kaspersky.
I went to kaspersky firewall settings,and changed my internet connection from public one to trusted one and now i can access from both sides.
Phewww

OMFG, Thank you!! FINALLY! Man I feel like a ra-tard. I have spent countless hours trying to find the solution to this issue, and this is it. I can't believe I hadn't stumbled upon that by now. Thanks!!!!
 

My Computer My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit
Have you tried looking at the network adapter settings
ControlPanel -> Network and Sharing -> then click on your adapter->properties button.

make sure Client for Microsoft Networks is installed and Ticked
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Lenovo
OS
windows 7 professional 64bit
CPU
i7
Motherboard
na
Memory
16gb
Graphics Card(s)
intel
Antivirus
panda
Browser
firefox
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