Networking a Windows 7 laptop with and XP machine

Exfso (Peter) · #1 29-12-2009, 08:25 PM

I have just purchased a Toshiba laptop with windows 7 installed and I am having a real hard time getting it to network with my other XP computers. I am not using wireless, but hard wire for the networking. I used to have a XP laptop which this has replaced. Just wondered if anyone else has tried to do this, and if so any ideas as to what I may need to do to achieve this. I have followed the instructions for supposedly connecting the Win 7 machine to an existing network, but none of my XP machines can see the Win7 machine and vise versa.
Any help much appreciated.

mithrandir (Andrew) · #2 29-12-2009, 09:26 PM

Google's first suggestion: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windo...dows-7-and-xp/

Exfso (Peter) · #3 29-12-2009, 11:59 PM

Thanks Andrew, have seen this page before, it is of some help. I can see and access my XP computer from the Windows 7 computer, but I cannot see the Windows 7 computer from the XP computer. If I click on show work groups it shows up, but I am not allowed access to folders on the Windows 7 computer. This computer does not show up if I click on my network places in XP. Both workgroups are the same, so this is where I am stuck at present.

Octane (Humayun) · #4 30-12-2009, 02:37 AM

Pete (is it?),

Does your XP machine have an account that also exists on the Windows 7 machine?

Regards,
Humayun

supernova1965 (Warren) · #5 30-12-2009, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exfso

Thanks Andrew, have seen this page before, it is of some help. I can see and access my XP computer from the Windows 7 computer, but I cannot see the Windows 7 computer from the XP computer. If I click on show work groups it shows up, but I am not allowed access to folders on the Windows 7 computer. This computer does not show up if I click on my network places in XP. Both workgroups are the same, so this is where I am stuck at present.

What exactly do you want to achieve if you just want access to the files on the Win7 machine just share the drive on the Win7 and map a network drive on the XP machine

Exfso (Peter) · #6 30-12-2009, 11:20 PM

Thanks people, yep it is Peter, I want to be able to transfer and access files between both machines, at present I can only access my XP computer from the Windows 7 laptop. I have been told by the local computer guru, supposedly, that this is a common problem between Windows 7 and XP, no worries the 7 machine seeing the XP, but the other way round, is a real problem. I added my other XP machine into the mix today and that is having the same problems, but it can be seen from the Win 7 machine. Bill Gates should be hung, drawn and quartered.....Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrr

mill (Martin) · #7 30-12-2009, 11:28 PM

Remote desktop connection should work and this way you can transfer files too.
I am controlling my lappy with win7 on it this way with my desktop xp puter.

mithrandir (Andrew) · #8 30-12-2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supernova1965

What exactly do you want to achieve if you just want access to the files on the Win7 machine just share the drive on the Win7 and map a network drive on the XP machine

You might find it easier to share the files from the XP box.

I can see I'm going to have to build a Win7 VM to test this myself.
OK - done.

Win 7 Prof.
Enabled Sharing.
Made the local network the "Work" network.
All the XP boxes appeared.
Some of the Linux ones won't connect. It depends on the version of Samba.
-----
I can see the Win7 shares from XP but:
Your Win7 userid MUST have a password.
It looks like default shares (e.g. C$) don't work. You have to create explicit shares, and grant the appropriate access rights.

Exfso (Peter) · #9 31-12-2009, 11:15 PM

Yeah Andrew, it is all getting a bit complicated, and I must admit networking gets me confused at the best of times. What you see is what is happening to me. I have downloaded a heap of E books on Windows 7 and will see what I can come up with from these. Appreciate your help though.

mithrandir (Andrew) · #10 01-01-2010, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exfso

Yeah Andrew, it is all getting a bit complicated, and I must admit networking gets me confused at the best of times. What you see is what is happening to me. I have downloaded a heap of E books on Windows 7 and will see what I can come up with from these. Appreciate your help though.

What version of Win7 are you using? I chose Professional because I understand XP Pro and refuse to have Home editions in the house.

M$ seem to have gone out of their way to make sharing harder with everything other than Win7 and Server 2008, probably in the name of "security". [Hmmm - M$ and security in the one sentence.

] This is called "security by obscurity" and is an epic failure.

I sorted the Samba problem by upgrading the version on that box. Now everything can see the Win7 shares, and Win7 can see all the XP and Linux shares.

And a Happy AEST New Year to all.

supernova1965 (Warren) · #11 01-01-2010, 02:38 AM

I have had no problems with sharing between Win 7 and XP in both directions. I have even been able to Remote desktop from an XP machine to a Win 7 machine in the same way as you do for 2 XP machines the process for sharing Folders or Whole drives was the same just share the drive set permissions for everyone and go to the XP box and map the network drive using your account on the Win 7 machine

Exfso (Peter) · #12 02-01-2010, 03:12 AM

Andrew, Windows 7 Home premium is what was installed on the Tosh.

Warren, I got a good tute on google which looked as though it would do the trick for me. I followed it to the T and voila, Zip happened. It really has me stumped. According to me all permissions have been granted for the 7 machine to be seen by others, but it just aint happening. Tempted to take win 7 off the new machine and install XP.. then I know it will all work....

supernova1965 (Warren) · #13 02-01-2010, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exfso

Andrew, Windows 7 Home premium is what was installed on the Tosh.

Warren, I got a good tute on google which looked as though it would do the trick for me. I followed it to the T and voila, Zip happened. It really has me stumped. According to me all permissions have been granted for the 7 machine to be seen by others, but it just aint happening. Tempted to take win 7 off the new machine and install XP.. then I know it will all work....

you might have trouble getting all the drivers for XP so check that first meanwhile I will research your trouble and try to put together instructions I will do the same as you want to from and to my XP box so is it just sharing you want or do you want remote desktop and from which box