Vista and XP drop connection

I have an unusual problem that I have not seen in any postings here.

Computer 1 is my home desktop running Vista Premium SP1. It is on the
'workgroup' workgroup.
Computer 2 is my work laptop (on docking station) running XP Pro SP2. It is
on a domain called 'amer'.
There is an HP LaserJet 2100 connected to the Vista machine. It is shared.
This is a wired network with D-Link router.

At first I thought it was a sharing issue when I could not print from the XP
machine to the printer on the Vista machine. But then I realized it is a
network issue because if I try to browse the Vista machine from the XP
machine I get the 'no access, you may not have permission', etc. message.
To make it work, I :

1. start the XP machine (assuming the Vista machine is already running)
2. wait about 15 minutes for the Vista machine to see that the XP machine is
there.
3. Browse to and open the XP machine from the Vista machine
4. Go to the XP machine, open its workgroup (amer) and then open the XP
machine
5. Wait a minute or so, then while still on the XP machine, navigate to
Vista machine's workgroup ('workgroup') and open the workgroup. If the Vista
machine appears, then I am good to go. I don't need to browse it, it just
needs
to appear.

If I don't go through these steps, I get the 'no access etc' message when I
try to open the Vista machine workgroup from the XP machine and the Vista
machine does not show up. (although I can ping it successfully).
Now here's the rub. This wouldn't be so bad if I only had to do it once
then it's ok until I re-start or something. But after a couple of minutes,
the connection goes away and I have to go back to step 4. again.

I know that is my printing issue because if I try and print something when
the connection is not working, it will not print and then as soon as I do
step 5 it starts printing the document on its own.

I realize that they should ideally be in the same workgroup, but the XP
machine is on a domain, and once when I put the Vista machine on a workgroup
with the same name (amer) and opened the XP domain, it started finding every
computer on that domain in my company all over the world. . . thousands.
I don't really know how a workgroup and domain work together, if someone
wants to enlighten me, I would appreciate it.

Again, when the connection is not working, I can ping the Vista machine from
the XP machine, so I guess it is some kind of authentication issue. My
McAfee firewall is turned off Windows Firewall is on ( I've tried it with it
off, no difference).
Ideally I would like to not have to go thru all of those steps, but if I
could just get the connection
to stay up I would be happy.

Sorry this is so long but it seems a little odd, and I wanted to include as
much info as possible instead of this being one of those 'my stuff doesn't
work, what am I doing wrong' posts with no information!

Thanks to anyone who can help!

15 minutes may be the key here, which is could be computer browser issue.
Also many Vista printer issue could be fixed by adding it as local printer
and then mapping it as network printer.

Vista Print IssuesMay 27, 2007 ... 2. Many Vista printer issues are solved
by installing the printer as a Local Printer. Check this post:. Vista:
Cannot connect to the . ...
www.chicagotech.net/vista/vistaprint.htm


--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"msnews.microsoft.com" <jgspam@carolina.rr.com> wrote in message
news:eTA%23seyfJHA.3668@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>I have an unusual problem that I have not seen in any postings here.
>
> Computer 1 is my home desktop running Vista Premium SP1. It is on the
> 'workgroup' workgroup.
> Computer 2 is my work laptop (on docking station) running XP Pro SP2. It
> is
> on a domain called 'amer'.
> There is an HP LaserJet 2100 connected to the Vista machine. It is
> shared.
> This is a wired network with D-Link router.
>
> At first I thought it was a sharing issue when I could not print from the
> XP
> machine to the printer on the Vista machine. But then I realized it is a
> network issue because if I try to browse the Vista machine from the XP
> machine I get the 'no access, you may not have permission', etc. message.
> To make it work, I :
>
> 1. start the XP machine (assuming the Vista machine is already running)
> 2. wait about 15 minutes for the Vista machine to see that the XP machine
> is
> there.
> 3. Browse to and open the XP machine from the Vista machine
> 4. Go to the XP machine, open its workgroup (amer) and then open the XP
> machine
> 5. Wait a minute or so, then while still on the XP machine, navigate to
> Vista machine's workgroup ('workgroup') and open the workgroup. If the
> Vista
> machine appears, then I am good to go. I don't need to browse it, it just
> needs
> to appear.
>
> If I don't go through these steps, I get the 'no access etc' message when
> I
> try to open the Vista machine workgroup from the XP machine and the Vista
> machine does not show up. (although I can ping it successfully).
> Now here's the rub. This wouldn't be so bad if I only had to do it once
> then it's ok until I re-start or something. But after a couple of
> minutes,
> the connection goes away and I have to go back to step 4. again.
>
> I know that is my printing issue because if I try and print something when
> the connection is not working, it will not print and then as soon as I do
> step 5 it starts printing the document on its own.
>
> I realize that they should ideally be in the same workgroup, but the XP
> machine is on a domain, and once when I put the Vista machine on a
> workgroup
> with the same name (amer) and opened the XP domain, it started finding
> every
> computer on that domain in my company all over the world. . . thousands.
> I don't really know how a workgroup and domain work together, if someone
> wants to enlighten me, I would appreciate it.
>
> Again, when the connection is not working, I can ping the Vista machine
> from
> the XP machine, so I guess it is some kind of authentication issue. My
> McAfee firewall is turned off Windows Firewall is on ( I've tried it with
> it
> off, no difference).
> Ideally I would like to not have to go thru all of those steps, but if I
> could just get the connection
> to stay up I would be happy.
>
> Sorry this is so long but it seems a little odd, and I wanted to include
> as
> much info as possible instead of this being one of those 'my stuff doesn't
> work, what am I doing wrong' posts with no information!
>
> Thanks to anyone who can help!
>
>
>