Seems there are a number of people having problems sharing files between their XP and Vista machines. Me included. So after some research and playing around, I have finally worked out how to share my Vista files so that XP users can access them. (That Public share directory on Vista is stupid. No one uses it!)
First things first
With the release of Vista, the default workgroup is MSHOME, not WORKGROUP like it is in XP. So make sure both PC’s are on the same workgroup before attempting to share files between XP and Vista.
In XP, go to Control Panel > System. Then on the “Computer Name” tab, click the change button, and edit the workgroup to be the same as Vista (MSHOME).
On the Vista machine
First go to the Network and Sharing Centre and make sure you have file sharing turned on. Having your network set to “Private” also helps.
Then go to the folder you want to share and Right-click > Properties > Sharing. Click on Advanced Sharing.
Click the “Share this folder” check box, and then click Permissions.
The Permission window should open. Click on “add” to add a user. Then type in guest in the textbox that says “Enter the object names to select“. Click Check Names which should then find Vista’s guest account and prefix your PC’s name in this format: YourComputerNameguest. Click Ok to go back to the Permissions window.
You should now have the Guest account under group or users names. Highlight the guest account and give it the relevant permissions. (Full control, Change or Read)
Click Ok and your done! This is how simple file sharing worked between XP machines, and now you can have it enabled for Vista too!
For those more experienced users – it’s the guest account that needs to be enabled to allow simple file sharing between XP and Vista.
Hi there..
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I have been able to network my XP Professional laptop with my Windows Vista Ultipate x64 laptop but with a problem…
The XP computer can access files on the Vista but the Vista is being asked for username and password while trying to access XP.
There are no passwords in place on the XP machine.
Any clues?
Thanks,
Jitesh
you need to set up a start up password and login name for xp then punch in that stuff when it asks you for the user and pass
I have the same problem as Jitesh. I can see my Vista Laptop files from my XP desktop, but not my XP desktop files from my Vista Laptop – I get the same box asking for a username and password. Hopefully someone knows how to remedy this.
ok i did everything like u said, the only different part is that i’m trying to share the files from the XP to the Vista, i get how to share the files on vista now, but i dont know how to share the files on the XP
hi all
me to frendos, im trying to share files from xp to vista, i can see the drive on vista but have no access to it.on xp when trying to set a permission i cant find the vista user to
really really need it to work
best regards, thanks in advance
not sobad
Says i dont have permission from xp.. wtf
this is good, but i dont understand how to get the XP machine to ‘discover’ the folder i have just shared. Where do I go on the XP machine to see the files/folder I have just shared on the Vista machine? If you could please email me the answer I would sure appreciate it. I have been working for hours on this. thanks
I followed the instructions but I cannot see the XP computer from the Vista. When I try to search for the XP it finds nothing. It was easy to search for new network places on XP but I cannot figure out how to on Vista.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Hello,
It’s been metioned that if I want to share files between Windows XP and Vista guest account must be enabled on XP machine. I did not enabled any guest account on XP laptop (I work on administrator account). At the begining I couldn’t see Vista on XP for some reason, but few reboots helped.
Um ok, I did all that, now where do I go to find the files on the Vista from my XP.
Go to ‘My Network Places’. You should see all folders shared on Vista machine
Sorry, I thought you mean XP. Go to ‘Network’ to see all computers in your home network
This was a good article, thank you very much! FYI: once I shared my Vista files, I still couldn’t see them on the XP machine until I went to My Network Places and took off the Folders view in the left pane. The option to view workgroup computers was there and when I clicked on that, I saw the Vista computer. When I clicked on the Vista computer, it asked me for the Vista name & password (I chose password protected sharing on Vista). Once I put that in, I was in.