How to "see" other computers/shared folders on New Vista Laptop

I have a new HP tx2500 notebook on Vista OS. My home network pcs and shared folders are all on Xp machines using a LInksys Wirtg router and see each other correctly. Have connected to the internet, but cant "see" the other pcs and their shared content on my new Vista Notebook i file explorer/Networks. Since Im new to Vista, Im stumped. Tried the help screen and so on, but......... Im swamped. Would appreciate any input.
Thanks

 

Hey,

Try this: Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Map
If the network is set-up right and set to Private on the vista pc you should see the other pc's there.

72oo

 

Thanks, tried that, made it private,but still cant see other shared files. I do get my media player libray from my main pc, but dont see the shared files either on my main or new vista machine. I assume its the new thing, but then my wifes new Mac found the shared files just fine. Go figure.
Thanks much. Think I need to go slow on this.

 

First thing is to make sure that on your Vista machine you have the 'Workgroup' named the same as on your other machines, otherwise your Vista machine cannot join.

Start>Right click Computer>Properties
Take a look under your 'Computer name, domain and workgroup settings'.
The Workgroup name must be exactly the same name as on your XP computers. Change if you need to.

I edited to add this also:
If your Workgroup name is the same and it still doesn't work the next thing to quickly check is your AntiVirus / Internet Security program if you have one installed. Usually AntiVirus programs have to be configured to add your network into a trusted zone. You can quickly check to see if this is the problem by exiting your AntiVirus program (turning it off) and see if you can now access the network.

 

Wasnt in right Workgroup, however changing it on the vista pc to correct workgroup(same as othe xp machines) still didnt "see" other pc's shared folders after restart. It does see the media player on the main pc, but not the shared folder like one would expect. Nortons network page mirrored the same visible folder/pc's as the vista file explorer did. Cant figure how to turn off NOrtons to rule that out as the culprit. This is why I hate new things. Yes, im over 50!
Anyway, slowly I hope to get used to and this configured right. Personally I dont like NOrtons, have used Avast for years on all my pc's, but so many have had a lot of trouble uninstalling Nortons, I may just leave it and pay the subscription price. Much as it galls me.
Anyway, thanks much. Ill keep plugging at it.

 

Don't pay for Norton there's loads of free alternatives: AVG etc.

Actually have a look here. http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=206289 For the a list of the best free software available as compiled my NBR users.

 

I agree. I've been using Avast for 5 years or so and have been very satisified. The issue is trying to uninstlall Nortons security suites frequently results in incomplete and irritating errors and messages requiring extensive time to clear up , if at all. Ill wait till the new wears off this unit, and reconsider. PRobably aourne the time the free subscription runs out
Thanks

 

I think the default for XP is workgroup name MSHOME Odds are if you change your network name on your vista machine to MSHOME it will probably start working.

 

Well, I am over 60 so there's hope

I hate the resource load that Norton puts on a computer. I haven't used Norton for 3-4 years now. You used to be able to turn off Norton just by right clicking on the icon in the sys tray and exiting it. Norton should turn itself back on when you reboot or by going to Start>programs> and click on the Norton executable in the Norton or Symantecs program folder.

Another thing you can check is 'Control Panel>Network and Sharing Center' then check that 'Network Discovery' is turned ON in the 'Sharing and Discovery' section. Norton can have an influence on this setting and it may be set to Custom. Try turning it on.

 

Norton understands that removal of their product is difficult so they provided a removal tool to help. It does a very good job (at least it did for me).
The tool is version specific so download the correct version for your product should you ever decide to uninstall it.
http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

 

They make it very difficult to do this as there is no right click and turn off available, and no version available to make decision which removal tool to download. all deliberate attempts in my opinion to intimidate attempts to remove. The program is Norton Protection center, but which version or is that the version and what tool do I download as Protection center isnt listed in the removal tools? All the more reasons to use another program, besides its incredible invasive in the OS. Geez

 

Well, Notron Protection Center is just the front end interface to the actual program. Clicking on it should put you into your Norton (Symantec) program, either Norton Internet Security 2008, 2009, or Norton 360.

You can disregard what I am about to say, but I will say it anyway. You should find something in Control Panel>Programs and Features about either Norton or Symantec's installed products and can uninstall the basic programs. You can look if you want but need do nothing, read the next paragraph.

If, or when, you really want to remove your Norton product (you have one of the versions I mentioned two paragraphs back, I'm sure) just download the Removal Tool for a 2008 or 2009 product, they both download the same program, I downloaded them to verify. Just download and follow the on line instructions.

P.S. Bob, about your Network issue, did you check if your 'Network Discovery' is turned ON in the 'Sharing and Discovery' section I mentioned a couple of posts back?

 

sorry bout the delay responding. I never realized you had to run the new network tool with each pc you have. Ive pictured a network as a stand alone entity on the router you hooked up to. apparently each pc is a network?? Not sure how to conceptualize things. Oh, whatever. I ran the tool and now can see my other pcs shared folders/drives. However, they cannot see my new pc shared stuff!. LOL At least Ive gotten some functionality. I appreciate all the input and advice. Still not clear which Norton Ive got but it was installed in 2008. Thanks again, Ill keep in touch with time on my prgress. Interesting, Nortons dosent tell the price of continuing the subscription without starting the enrollment process. Tacky.

 

New issue, LOL. Now my shared folders dont show up, but their media does in WMP?? Not clear what changed or how. Is there a toggle for this? I'd rather see my files and media in a file tree so I can see at a glance where it is. (Like I did initially once I figured out I had to run the network connection wiz). There a learning curve here and IM on the up slope.
Thanks again.

 

I didn't have to do that, but stranger things have happened

Sorry, which computer(s) are you having trouble seeing the shared folders on? i.e. Can you see the shared folders for a Vista machine on another Vista machine, or, are you having trouble seeing shared folders on your Vista machines from your XP machines (or vis-versa).

I was going to wait to post this but might as well do it now. Make sure on your Vista machine you have the permissions set properly or even if the folders are shared they cannot be seen on other computers. Vista has a stronger set of sharing parameters than XP did. For my home network I set the permissions to "Everyone" as that seems to cause less problems.

Read from the following post someone made before, I saved it but can't remember who made it. This also may pretain to your issue.

"Vista uses a special Network protocol called Link-Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) to "map" the network items, and then displays this information in the special network map under Network settings. The problem is XP doesn't come with LLTD, so you have to download it onto each of the XP machines in order for Vista to recognize them. Here's a link that describes it in detail and a place to download the LLTD: http://www.home-network-help.com/vista-network-map.html
That Article fixes only the graphical view so the map displays correctly (which is nice) but the XP computers if all is configured correctly will show up when viewing the Network as either a list or icons".

I had to do this for my XP machines to graphically display correctly.

 

My new machine is Vista, desktop and other pcs are xp. After I ran the network wiz on my new machine I was able to see my shared files an older on my older xp machines. After a reboot/power up next day on teh vista, now all IM "seeing" is the media player from all my machines, xp and new vista. Even though the new vista saw the files and folders for a while. Something jogged everything ot the medial players which are visible across all platforms. Geez, think I need the geek squad!
If I double click the icons in networks, medial playery starts up and displays the media files from other xp machines. Kind of aggravatiing!

 

Go through a few of these “network vista to xp” vid's you should pick up what you're not understanding by chat here.

 

Well, you may be right about the geek squad. Sometimes it is hard to diagnose what someone else has done without hands on intervention.

One last stab here, if I were you I would change the sharing of media files between your XP computers and the Vista computer using Media Player and see what happens.

In Media Player under Tools>Options>Library you can Configure Sharing of media files between other computers (you probably know this) but until you get your other shares working between all PC's I would remove your Vista computer from the shared media files since you are having problems.

You may need to delete your current Network setup on your Vista PC and start over setting up a new Network. I don't need to tell you that you have hosed something up. Good Luck.

 

Hi there, not sure if this has been answered or not because I'm too tired to go read through everyone's suggestions. But have you enabled network discovery? If network discovery is on, you should be able to atleast see all the other computers on your network. Then you might have to work on the permissions through NORTON or whatever firewall you have.

 

"I don't need to tell you that you have hosed something up. Good Luck."
LOL, got that right. When I get home, ILl double chaeck a few more settings. Starting over was something I was considering. Locking out the media players is another thing I was thinking of doing, just to baseline th issues since I want to share files and folders. Teh media player thing is a bit confusing at htisw point, but then Im not doing so hot with teh new OS either!
thanks
btw, I didnt mean to use my name as user, and I cant find a way to change/remove and start over? Just password.

 

You may want to send a "private message" to one of the moderators and ask if they can make the change for you. You can't do it yourself. The moderators are listed on the bottom of the page that all the posts are displayed on. Click on a mod's name and you will see "Contact Info" where you can send a private message.

 

That one I do have on. I have a feeling its just settings I need to get, and with Nortons its compounded. Never hurts to recheck though. I really dont like using media player to share media. Kind of bugs me, but then I dont like change either

 

Okay, had to download an LLC prog to make my xp machines visible to vista. I put the first install on my other tablet, and was able to see my desktop xp pc on my new vista right away! Why that one and not hte one I installed the prog too?? However, couldnt see the machine I installed the llc to! Weird. So now my new laptop/tablet can see my main xp machine, but the main xp machine cant see my new vista machine. Okay half solved. Teh vista machine I have to think is a setting thing in one of the public private etc in netwrokd and hsaring, or NOrtons. This like an Easter egg hunt. A little more patience and who knows, it may work like it should.

 

To date, Ive been able to see my main pc on my new vista machine after installing LLC prog on my xp tablet! Go figure. I still cant sse the xp tablet on vista but it enabled my main pc somehow. However, while my vista machine can see my main pc, my main pc cant see Vista nor can my tablet see vista shared folders, even thought shared folders is enabled in vista. to further add to the confusion Norton's adds another layer and doubles the variables in getting this fixed.
In "Network and sharing" the file sharing button is enabled, but in teh drop down menu everything is greyed out and I cant turn it off???
And I uninstalled Nortons this am, so we'll see what happens this eve when I get home. Figers crossed!

 

Problem solved! I removed Nortons, not a small project and was able to "see" the network cross all platforms at home. So, Nortons was the culprit, and or my ignorance. I have to say that as I get older this increasing complexity of usage is not consumer friendly. You can make things so secure, they don't work, or at least confuse the heck out of th users. The old KISS principle still applies. Especially as you get older.
Thanks to all who shepherded me thru this initiation.

 

Glad to see you got everything working and your userid changed

Getting a network working properly can be a challenge but it usually goes smooth. I have found the two most common problems people have are making sure their Workgroups have the same name and with AV programs allowing access (Ahem, as I mentioned in my first post). Now you can have fun.