Adding New Laptop with Vista to Desktop with XP

I'm read and tried many methods and must be doing something wrong.

My goal was simply to get my new Acer Laptop with Windows VISTA to print to my two printers (Epson CX5400 and HP 8250) which are connect to my Gateway desktop running Windows XP. I was able do this with my previous Gateway laptop running XP, but just can't get anything to work with the Vista laptop.

For starters, I guess technically I can't even get the laptop to see the desktop as part of a network. When I look at my network map all I see is my laptop, an icon that looks like my linksys router, and then the internet (world icon). When I go to the start menu and go to "network" I see my laptop (that is explorable) and then another icon label laptop (but if I click it it just opens media sharing) and one more similar icon that says orb-desktop (and just opens media sharing).

Can anyone just help me get past step one being - Help me make my Vista laptop at least see my XP desktop as part of the network.

Thanks.

 

Disable the firewalls on both computers. Warning: you may wish to disconnect from the internet first, and make sure you remember to re-activate them later.

With both firewalls disabled, you should be able to see both the computers.

Ensure that they are both members of the same workgroup as well.

As a quick test, you can always type the name of your computer in the Run box, i.e. \\yourcomputername.

If you get them to work initially, then try playing with your firewalls until they allow this kind of network resource sharing.

Hope you get it working...

 

Thanks, I'll try that once my wife gets off the desktop computer and will report back when I have done so.

 

Still having problems. Turned both firewalls off. Verified that the "Workgroup" on both computers is "MSHOME." The name of the laptop running Vista is "laptop" and the name of the desktop running XP is was "Nau-desktop" but then I thought it may be better to change it to just "desktop."

Well, I guess I've made progress but I'm still stuck. What I mean is I now see 4 things in my network on the Vista laptop:

(1) Laptop;
(2) Desktop;
(3) Nau-Desktop; and
(4) Orb: Nau-Desktop

I verified and my desktop currently is "Nau-Desktop" with workgroup "MSHOME" and my Vista Laptop is "Laptop" with workgroup "MSHOME."

When I double click on "Desktop" is quickly says "Windows cannot access \\Desktop

When I double click on "Nau-Desktop" it says the same as above.

The details say "Network path not found."

So, I guess I'm getting closer since I do at least see two icons referencing my desktop. But, I must have something else wrong. I'm worn out but will try again tomorrow. Thanks for your help.

 

Alright, I've tried all of the following from Vista help:

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Troubleshoot problems with computers not appearing on the network map

The network map is a graphical view of the computers and devices on your network, showing how they are connected. Sometimes Windows can't detect all of the computers on a network, or can't place all of the computers in the right location on the map. Here are some reasons for network map problems and related solutions.

Your computer is running Windows Vista and network discovery is turned off.
To turn on network discovery, follow these steps:

Click to open Network and Sharing Center.

If network discovery is off, click the arrow button to expand the section, click Turn on network discovery (recommended), and then click Apply. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

For more information about network discovery, see What is network discovery?

Your computer is running Windows Vista and the Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) protocol is disabled on the network adapter.
Windows uses the LLTD protocol to map computers and devices on a network. To enable LLTD, follow these steps:

Click to open Network Connections.

Right-click the network adapter icon, and then click Properties.

Select the Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper I/O Driver and Link-Layer Topology Discovery Responder check boxes, and then click OK.

Your computer is running Windows Vista and is connected to a network that is assigned to the "Public place" network location.
Windows cannot create the network map on your computer if you are connected to a network that is assigned to the "Public place" network location. If you turn on network discovery on your computer, other people on the network can see your computer at the bottom of the network map in a section for computers that could not be placed on the map correctly. For more information about network discovery, see What is network discovery? For more information about network locations, see Choosing a network location.

Your computer is running Windows XP and the LLTD protocol is not installed.
Before a computer running Windows XP can be detected and appear on the network map, you need to install the LLTD protocol on that computer. For more information about how to display computers running Windows XP on the network map, go to the Network and Sharing Center Operations Guide on the Microsoft website.

Your computer is running Windows XP and your firewall settings are preventing Windows from detecting it.
Check the firewall settings and make sure that file and printer sharing is enabled. If you are using Windows Firewall, see Understanding Windows Firewall settings. If you are using another firewall, check the information that came with your firewall.

Your device doesn't support the required protocols.
Check the information that came with the device. To appear on the network map, the device needs to support UPnP technology or Web Services for Devices for Windows. For more information, go to the Discovery, Plug and Play Integration, and Web Services for Network Connected Devices website.

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Network sharing is on.
I installed LLTD on the Desktop and made sure the settings were checked on both the desktop and laptop.
I don't appear to have any public networks.
I'll turned off Windows firewall on the Vista laptop (don't have another firewall on the laptop) and turned off Zone Alarm on the desktop (and Window firewall is still off there too).

I really think this issue with with my desktop because we recently had to do a clean install of XP.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated (I won't be able to try them until this evening however).

 

Try turning off IP6 on Vista, it's know to cause problems.

 

I actually took the laptop back because it would all of a sudden get a black screen while working on it and would require a complete restart. It's a known issue I discovered after I got it.

Hence, when I get the next Vista laptop (I have a credit now) I will try your solution should I not be able to network again.

Thanks.