Trying to network Vista SP1 and XP SP3

General Topics
1

Right, i hope that someone might be able to help, i have a laptop that i recently purchased that i want to be able to network up to my main desktop.

Vista SP1 on the lappy and XP SP3 on the desky. Now i have always had problems networking, it just confuses me to no end.

I have both the machiens on the same work group with files shared on both the machines and i have checked the web for a few solutions and they havent helped much.

I have also had issues in the past with AVAST and networking, and i have had to disable avast in order to network the needed pcs, and as such have had to disconnect from the net or other open networks to avoid contamination.

Also, i am using a netgear network hub to connect the two pc’s and to connect to the network where i am.

Would anyone be able to lend a hand at all? I’d be most appreciative.

2

Which firewall do you use in your network?

3

I am just using the standard avast one that comes wiht the AV, hasnt failed me yet, other than that no specific firewall per say

4

avast doesn’t have a firewall ???

The Network Shield isn’t a firewall.

5

avast shouldn’t block any access to network as it is not a firewall.
Are you sure that just disabling avast and you get access?
Sorry, I’m not an expert on network access…

6

Whelp, the network sheild has done be good so far, and yeah, i have tried to network with other pc’s. failed, and then disabled avast and it worked.

Though i know that Vista and XP are kinda like the rival siblings, don’t talk to eachother much and when they do it usualy is about mom.

7

See if this helps you:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=19387.msg235016#msg235016

8

Just in case you havent already installed Link-Layer Topology Discovery on your XP PCs

9

Can you ping the machines from each other?

Example open a command prompt on the XP machine and try to ping the vista machine. If it fails you can trace the connection with the tracert command.

tracert x.x.x.x

where x.x.x.x is the IP address of the other machine.

Also it would help to know more about the network layout. You say you are connected to a hub and the hub connects to another network? Where is this other network? At work? Is it a Domain environment?

I thought this was included in XP SP3?

10

I hope it is but I’m not sure. I haven’t yet “SP3ed” any XP PCs that are networked with Vista PCs.

11

I tried installing that Link layer thing, and it just kept telling me that the installation i was tryign to do was out of date and didnt need to be installed.

Will have a look at the other forum link and see what that does.

12

That is most likely because its already included with Service Pack 3 :wink:

13

I was reading this topic and realized that since I had tried networking my machines using Microsoft XP’s Networking wizard, I finally gave up, because I couldn’t get it to work correctly.
I now have two XP SP3 machines and one Vista Home Premium and downloaded Net Magic (recommended by Bob) to network them perfectly. They are connected wirelessly through a broadband cable connection. I also have Avast working on all 3 machines.
[i] http://www.networkmagic.com/[/i]
When I had problems with sharing printers, it gave me the exact instructions to enable print sharing even though I was using Firewalls.(Comodo on the two XP machines, and the Vista outbound and inbound on the Vista Machine)
Net Magic downloads as a 7 day trial, but after that many of the services it provides are free, and if you want all the bells and whistles you can pay for it; although, they aren’t necessary for me.
RoRo 8) 8)

14

Sorry I didn’t mean to post this twice.
:-\

15

Wel i’m glad its working for you, at least the thread has had some effect. However on my end, network magic is, while working, refusing to allow me to add folders to the network share in the program, the button just refusts to work! No matter how many times i click on it.

On my xp machine, i can see the vista laptop, however the laptop still is a snooty nosed popstart and refusts to acknowlege anything below it sstandard!

This is getting rather frustrating to the point where i might as well just buy an external hard drive and transfer folders and files through that!

It also refuses to let me add a shared printer to the network.

I have enabled shared folders in the network manager though i do not have any printers it doesnt matter.

Unfortunately the support website seems to be permanently offline (though that could just be my uber rubbish college firewall throwing a hissy fit)

I don’t doubt the program works, just my laptop is being a stubborn mule! Any suggestions or help on the above topics?

Also, when i try and share the folder i want from a specific location and i get the window with what users i want to allow to share the folder, i am confused as anything. Obviously my desktop machein is not there and i am just confused as to the next step to take.

16

At this point, it’s probably best to get rid of all of the networks you’ve set up.
Confusion happens when you set up multiple networks because you didn’t understand or follow the instructions.

Start again from scratch. If that still doesn’t work, ask for assistance from a friend who is familiar with setting up a network
or, seek professional advice.