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General discussion

Networking XP and Vista

Nov 28, 2010 11:51PM PST

Had my Vista wireless and my XP (hardwired) networked just fine, but now my computers, out of the blue, quit file sharing? I use my wireless to watch movies on my TV in the living room, but all of my movie files are on my XP computer. Please help!

Discussion is locked

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With all those automatic updates.
Nov 29, 2010 12:09AM PST

And with antivirus suites that update, expire and more, tell the forum if you unshared the folder and repeated the networking setup steps.
Bob

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set up steps
Nov 29, 2010 3:27PM PST

I have disconnected and reconnected I have unshared the files and reshared (not a word) them. I have another XP computer that will share the files, but my Vista computer doesn't even see the other computers on my network. Everything seems to be correct. Can't figure it out? I do have Norton on all of my computers. I can find the wireless computer when I look for the workgroup computers, but it won't let me access it???

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That helped.
Nov 30, 2010 12:53AM PST

I can't tell which applies but there are a few reasons we don't see another machine that has a share. Let's cover those.

1. Firewall. Many block file sharing unless we add an exception.
2. Workgroup name. Be sure it's the same.

Bob

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Really confused
Dec 7, 2010 3:34AM PST

Now I am really confused! The laptop, out of the blue, found the (Home) PC, but now it again will not find it? I didn't change anything (that I know of)? Checked Norton's firewall setting, but I don't know what I'm looking for or where I should be looking? The workgroup name is the same on both computers?

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Sorry
Dec 7, 2010 3:38AM PST

But Symantec continues to be a problem item. ASK THEM how to configure their products.

All I know is that when their product expires I see folk complain of web and file access problems yet their software does not report "Your Norton subscription has expired and network features have been reduced."

As they change the interface over the years I no longer know how to configure their product (we don't use it anymore.)
Bob

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Still no help
Dec 8, 2010 3:40AM PST

I contacted Norton and they went as far as to uninstall Norton. They could not figure it out and I still can't file share?

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Without Norton.
Dec 8, 2010 3:51AM PST

The setup rules are pretty simple.

1. I have "myaccount" on both machines.
2. I share a folder while I'm on myaccount on one machine.
3. I go to the other machine and connect to the share.

I've skipped all the steps you might see but you should be able to answer the ones about enabling file sharing or allowing the share through the firewalls.

But updates do happen and we have to check over every step and firewall.
Bob

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Working again??
Dec 11, 2010 4:25AM PST

I checked it today and it is working again??? Is there a possibility that my router might be causing the problem?

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Yes.
Dec 11, 2010 5:38AM PST

I'm running into routers that have firewalls. It's a shame the makers offer this without the tutorial on what it can break. Folk run to turn it on then won't turn it off when it interferes.
Bob

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Any fix?
Dec 11, 2010 10:37AM PST

Can this be fixed?

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No.
Dec 11, 2010 10:43AM PST

If folk insist on leaving firewalls on (many are scared to turn them off) then we have to wait for them to catch up on the technology.

Again, it's a shame the makers don't offer much of a tutorial and that I can't condense it to less than a chapter in a book.
Bob