File sharing wirelessly

Hi,

I am trying to connect my Vista laptop to my XP desktop to file share. I share a wireless connection with 3 other computers (2 mine 3 my sister's).
On my laptop when I go to Start and click on Network I can see all them. I can access all of them except my desktop. When I click on it, it says "Connecting to XXXX and asks for user name and password--which I don't know because it's been 3 years since I set up the desktop.

On my desktop when I click on my network places I can see all the computers except my laptop.

On the desktop I have Windows firewall turned off and I am using Norton 360 which I have set to full trust. 360 on the laptop you don't have this option.

What am I missing? What do I need to do?

If anyone has a solution please give it to me in step by step baby talk because I'm 1 level above idiot when it comes to the computer.

TIA

 

Maybe those computers are running norton personal firewall, i had problems with this it takes some work in the firewall but its a little too hard for me to explain how to do it in a pose

 

Oh Tia, THIS is what u need...in order for XP and Vista to see each other on a network. It's a must! You will need to download and install it on the XP machines.

And the password issue...u will need to know it. Basically, u will enter a username and password of a user account that is on the computer that you're trying to connect to.

You also need to have file and printer sharing enabled and excluded from any firewall that you have on the computers. So skim through ur antivrus/firewall programs and look for similar words such as "file and printer sharing" and allow them. You said u have windows firewall off so that shouldn't cause any issues. But nevertheless i've attached some prt screens as reference for it...It will serve as extra knowledge in the future!

Go to the network connections folder on the XP machines, and on the network interface card that each XP machine is using to connect to the network.. [I guess in the laptop's case that would be via the wireless adapters] right click and choose properties and confirm that file and printer sharing is enabled.

For the Vista machine, there i'm guessing u know how to enable the network file/sharing feature...it's on the main network map screen.

Good Luck!

 

Thanks for the help Makaveli! I'll d/l asap.

As far as the password/user name issue can I access them ( or reset them) somewhere in the bios? Or can I just create a new user account just for sharing if so what kind of priviledges does it need?

Thanks ever so much for the help!

 

I believe a regular user account should be fine w/ no special privileges; if u decide to create new user accounts.

You can reset the password for user accounts that are there currently..no need for the BIOS. On XP u would right click on 'My Computer' on the start menu or desktop and select 'Manage' then expand 'System Tools' and 'Local users and Groups'. Click 'Users', right click the user u want to reset the password for and select 'Set Password' to reset it. You will get a prompt, just click proceed to continue the reset process. [Another way to get into computer management. Click Start-->Run and type compmgmt.msc and hit enter]

 

Thanks again! I'm off to try it.

HAGD