Won't discover other computers

[brossyg]

I have a problem many people seem to have and I have spent many hours/days trying to fix it unsuccessfully. I have one Win-7 SP1 64-bit computer and several other Win-XP SP-3 32-bit computers on a gigabit home network with a Linksys RVS 4000 router.

• All computers have the same workgroup.
• All computers have internet access.
• All XP computers CAN ping the other XP computers and the XP computers CAN browse to the other XP computers by entering the IP address: \\192.168.blah.blah.
• The Win-7 computer CAN ping the XP computers and CAN browse to the XP computers by entering the IP address: \\192.168.blah.blah.
• The XP computers CANNOT ping the Win-7 computer and CANNOT browse to the Win-7 computer by entering the IP address: \\192.168.blah.blah.
• IP6 is DISABLED on the Win-7 machine.
• Netbios is ENABLED on all machines.
• Win-7 computer is set to Home Network and all Advanced Sharing Settings permissions are ON; Network Discovery, ON; File and Printer Sharing, ON; Public Folder Sharing, ON.
• Win-7 computer shows HomeGroup as Joined and will not let me leave the HomeGroup.
• Windows firewall on XP computers is disabled. Norton firewall is up, but it has always been up and I have tried disabling it with no change. Win-7 computer does not have Norton yet and I have not fooled with Security Essentials.

I don't know exactly when it started happening, but:

• The computers do not show each other on the Windows Explorer Network page, In the Win-XP computers, only the folders that were added manually do show up. But there is no AUTOMATIC discovery.
• The XP computers all get an error if I try to access the workgroup from Network Neighborhood by exploring for computers, saying the Workgroup server is not available or I don't have access.
• The Win-7 network screen only shows the Win-7 computer itself and none of the XP computers. It also shows other network devices as it should, however.
• At times, although I can't replicate it right now, the XP computers will show the others, but won't show the Win-7 computer, if I go through the network connection set up wizard in IE8. If i reboot, the access seems to go away...but I cannot make them show up now.
• At times, but not now, I have been able to see all network computers on the Win-7 computer.

I have tried everything I can find, including changing one networking key in the registry on the XP machines from an 8 to a 1. This worked for other people, but didn't change anything for me.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[DocBrown]

Welcome brossyg



You are using a Business type network (WorkGroup) right ? Not the new win7 Homegroup ? Have you gone over the settings in the win7 computer. Here is mine:

 

[brossyg]

My Network is set to Home network and my Advanced Sharing Settings are all the same as yours, except for media streaming (mine is on). I tried changing it to a Work Network and refreshed the computer list (also rebooted) and nothing changed. Also, this wouldn't account for the lack of discovery on the XP machines.

 

[DocBrown]

8 of the above computers are XP, 5 are win7. On the win7 computers I have to set sharing on the individual folders I want shared. Share with Specific people, then Add Everyone , then save with the Share button at the bottom.

 

[brossyg]

DocBrown,

Yes...this is how I did it as well. Howver, this is folder specific and shouldn't effect how the Network discovery works....should it? My problem is that Network discovery is being blocked somehow. I have no problem sharing files once I navigate to another computer via the IP, but in the Network Neighbor hood, the computers are not displayed automatically as they should be.

 

[kegobeer]

Instead of disabling Norton, remove it and reboot. Configure the XP (and Windows 7) firewall to default settings. See what happens.

Also, on the Windows 7 computer, hit the Windows key and type "homegroup", then press enter. Do you get a message saying there is currently no homegroup on the network, or do you get a different message?

 

[brossyg]

Will try uninstalling Norton, but when I type homegroup in, it says "This Computer belongs to a homegroup." and then goes on to say that i haven't shared any libraries with your home group."

 

[DocBrown]

Sounds like your win7 computer is still setup as the New win7 Homegroup. This won't share with XP computers.

Try this tutorial :ar: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43980-homegroup-leave.html

Then set up you network as a Work Network

 

[brossyg]

OK...

I completely uninstalled Norton on one of the XP computers. I can now ping the Win-7 computer using the IP address from the XP computer, but if I try to view the workgroup in the network part of in Windows Explorer, it still tells me I don't have access and that "A list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available."

Also, I have tried and tried to leave the homegroup on the Win-7 conmputer and I get "Windows couldn't remove your computer from the homegroup." no matter what I try.

 

[kegobeer]

Some people have had success fixing this problem by running the home group troubleshooter. Some have had a firewall config problem that, when corrected, allowed the Windows 7 computer to leave the home group. Give that a shot.