Mixed Network XP & Vista

My main computer, the one that runs the network and the printer, runs on
Vista. Two of my laptops are XP and one is Vista. A while back I had the
GeekSquad come to configure my laptops to run on my Vista network. One is
still working fine, but the other's harddrive crashed and now I'm back to
square one. I do not want to call GeekSquad back to reconfigure my other
laptop. However, my XP laptop cannot find my home network. I have changed the
settings for the firewall and read through all the Technet stuff. If anyone
can recommend some further reading or things to do it would be helpful. I was
not here, my father was, when GeekSquad configured everything but he said
that they had to go in and change a good bit of stuff. Thanks for any help
you can give.

Start with the basics first...make sure the workgroup name in the "new" XP
laptop matches that of the other PCs.

tim

"Lauren" <Lauren@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6FE92A70-8372-48C2-84A1-DB394321BEEC@microsoft.com...
> My main computer, the one that runs the network and the printer, runs on
> Vista. Two of my laptops are XP and one is Vista. A while back I had the
> GeekSquad come to configure my laptops to run on my Vista network. One is
> still working fine, but the other's harddrive crashed and now I'm back to
> square one. I do not want to call GeekSquad back to reconfigure my other
> laptop. However, my XP laptop cannot find my home network. I have changed
> the
> settings for the firewall and read through all the Technet stuff. If
> anyone
> can recommend some further reading or things to do it would be helpful. I
> was
> not here, my father was, when GeekSquad configured everything but he said
> that they had to go in and change a good bit of stuff. Thanks for any help
> you can give.

On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:43:01 -0700, Lauren <Lauren@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>My main computer, the one that runs the network and the printer, runs on
>Vista. Two of my laptops are XP and one is Vista. A while back I had the
>GeekSquad come to configure my laptops to run on my Vista network. One is
>still working fine, but the other's harddrive crashed and now I'm back to
>square one. I do not want to call GeekSquad back to reconfigure my other
>laptop. However, my XP laptop cannot find my home network. I have changed the
>settings for the firewall and read through all the Technet stuff. If anyone
>can recommend some further reading or things to do it would be helpful. I was
>not here, my father was, when GeekSquad configured everything but he said
>that they had to go in and change a good bit of stuff. Thanks for any help
>you can give.

As Tim say, check workgroup names first.

Then check the NetBT setting, and all personal firewalls and other security
components.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/07/advanced-windows-networking-using.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/0...ing-using.html

And check other Vista related issues.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/12/windows-xp-and-vista-on-lan-together.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/1...-together.html

And check other Windows Networking problems in general.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...ghborhood.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

[edthec]

MY NETWORK:
Desktop: Running XP and connected by wire to a Linksys wireless router.
Printer: Connected to the desktop via USB.
Laptop: Running Vista Home Premium with a wireless connection to the router.

I can access files on my desktop from my laptop.
I see my desktop from my laptop when I open "Network".
I can see my desktop, Drive C, and my printer from my desktop when I open "My Network Places".
I can see the laptop, desktop, router, and internet connection in my McAfee program.

PROBLEM:
1. I do not see my laptop from my desktop when I open "My Network Places".
2. I do not see my printer when I open "Network" on my laptop.
3. I cannot print to my printer from my laptop.
4. I cannot add a "Network Place" identified as "laptop" to "My Network Places" on my desktop and receive a message saying I "need a share".

ACTIONS:
I have both the desktop and laptop in a workgroup called "MSHOME".
I have enabled file sharing on both the laptop and desktop.
I have enabled

Any help would be appreciated.

"edthec" <edthec.3k9wbc@DoNotSpam.com> wrote in message
news:edthec.3k9wbc@DoNotSpam.com...
>
> MY NETWORK:
> Desktop: Running XP and connected by wire to a Linksys wireless
> router.
> Printer: Connected to the desktop via USB.
> Laptop: Running Vista Home Premium with a wireless connection to the
> router.
>
> I can access files on my desktop from my laptop.
> I see my desktop from my laptop when I open "Network".
> I can see my desktop, Drive C, and my printer from my desktop when I
> open "My Network Places".
> I can see the laptop, desktop, router, and internet connection in my
> McAfee program.
>
> PROBLEM:
> 1. I do not see my laptop from my desktop when I open "My Network
> Places".
> 2. I do not see my printer when I open "Network" on my laptop.


Have you a) shared the Printer and b) installed the same printer as a
network printer on the laptop?

--
Asking a question?
Please tell us the version of the application you are asking about,
your OS, Service Pack level
and the FULL contents of any error message(s)

[edthec]

Originally Posted by Gordon

"edthec" <edthec.3k9wbc@DoNotSpam.com> wrote in message
news:edthec.3k9wbc@DoNotSpam.com...
>
> MY NETWORK:
> Desktop: Running XP and connected by wire to a Linksys wireless
> router.
> Printer: Connected to the desktop via USB.
> Laptop: Running Vista Home Premium with a wireless connection to the
> router.
>
> I can access files on my desktop from my laptop.
> I see my desktop from my laptop when I open "Network".
> I can see my desktop, Drive C, and my printer from my desktop when I
> open "My Network Places".
> I can see the laptop, desktop, router, and internet connection in my
> McAfee program.
>
> PROBLEM:
> 1. I do not see my laptop from my desktop when I open "My Network
> Places".
> 2. I do not see my printer when I open "Network" on my laptop.


Have you a) shared the Printer and b) installed the same printer as a
network printer on the laptop?

--
Asking a question?
Please tell us the version of the application you are asking about,
your OS, Service Pack level
and the FULL contents of any error message(s)

Gordon,
I have the printer installed, marked as shared, and can see a green checkmark on it when looking at Printers on my Laptop in Control Panel. When I try to print to it I get a "Printing Error" and it tells me the correct printer driver is not installed. Question is, should I try to install the Vista driver or the XP driver?