How to connect two machines?

Hi...

I have two machines - one running Vista Ultimate and the other Win 7 Pro.

Recently, I connected the Vista machine to the home network wirelessly. It works fine and can read files on the Win 7 machine. But I cannot read the files on the Vista machine from the Win 7 machine.

The Win 7 machine detects the network and the devices on the network (including the Vista machine). When I double-click on the Vista machine which appears on the network map on the Win 7 machine, I am prompted for a password.

I don't remember assigning a password to the Vista machine which has recently had its OS reinstalled. I have tried all the passwords that I have but none work. Interestingly, when trying to access the Win 7 machine from the Vista machine, I am not prompted for a password.

How can I set up the machines such that both can read and work on files on each other?

Thanks

 

Use your login password, or if you don't have one, just leave it blank and press Enter.

You can also shut off the password thing in Vista, in Network and Sharing Center control panel, although this means anyone on the network can access files.

 

Thanks. I tried all that but it still does not work. Should I just delete the connection on the Vista machine and redo the network connection?

Cheers!

Edit: Swarmer, when you say enter "your login password", you mean the username and pw of the Win 7 machine right?

 

To make things simpler I use same login/pass combination in all my computers. No empty passwords*. If you have multiple users everyone can have their own login. You just need the login/pass combo to exist in the target computer, you do not need to be logged in.

That way the computer you are connecting to knows who you are and allows you to access files.

*Blank password means to computer that you have two users with same login name but they could be different users, so you don't get access.

 

So, how do I take care of the problem?

Thanks

 

Redo the network connection for both machines assignining passwords for both.

 

Apparently I forgot to press submit button when I typed in the reply


Make sure you have same login/password combination existing in both computers. If not, create one and log in once.

After that, try the shared files again as you did first.

 

Well...ok...I'll try it. Thanks. But there is one related question. The Vista machine has a different login/password combo than the Win 7 machine. Yet, while the Vista machine is able to access shared folders on the Win 7 machine, the Win 7 machine cannot. It is always prompted for a login/password combo. When I enter the Vista machine's login/password, it reports a failed attempt. How can this be possible?

Edit: On thinking about it, do you think I have posted this in the wrong forum? Should I have posted this in the Networking forum? Mods, if yes, please feel free to move this thread. Thanks.

Thanks

 

Do both the machines have to have the same login/password? If yes, then how is the Vista machine reading the shared folders in the Win 7 machine while the Win 7 machine cannot read the corresponding folders in the Vista machine?

You see what I mean?

Now, when you say "redo the network connection for both machines", are you suggesting that I redo how the two machines connect to the wireless router? If so, I have already done this. No joy.

Or, are you suggesting that I first delete and then redo how the two machines connect with each other? If this is so, then can you tell me how to do this? I thought this happened by default, which is what happened when I brought the Vista machine onto the connection between the Win 7 machine and the wireless router. Sorry, I am a n00b at this.

All this began with me trying to find a wireless storage device to host common files for both (and soon to be joined by a third) laptops.

That's a bit of a background for you. Btw, love the avatar! Where did you get the image from?

 

They don't have to have. But if they do, the users are instantly trusted and allowed to access shared resources without too much tinkering. You still need to share the files.

Now you have a situation where Vista machine does not trust your user in Win7 but it works the other way. This does not happen if you have same user accounts in both computer. They do not need to be active, just exist on both computers.

For the storage, get a wired NAS box and stick it into your router.

 

I wasn't talking about the router.I was suggesting that you use the same password.Also are you sure that you haven't disabled sharing in the Vista machine?
Thank you for the avatar .Look your PM's.

 

I am pretty sure I have not disabled sharing on the Vista machine. But I'll check again. Anyways, I have reinstall the OS again on the Vista machine.

Thanks (and thanks also for the PM).

Cheers!

 

Check that you don't have Password Protected Sharing turned on. I don't have Vista installed anymore but it should be similar to W7.

To turn off password protected sharing
1.Open Network and Sharing Center by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Network and Internet, and then clicking Network and Sharing Center.

2.Under Change Advanced Sharing Settings, Click Turn off password protected sharing, and then click Apply. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.