transfering files over network

i've been trying to transfer a bunch of files over my wireless network, but can't get it going. I set it all up and it didn't work, so i've been trying multiple tutorials i've found but it still isn't working, whenever i go to connect through run(\\computer\folder) i get a message saying it can't access that folder. I'm trying to transfer the files from my vista laptop, to my xp desktop. the desktop is wired and the laptop wireless N.

 

The way I do it is just with AIM or Windows Live Messenger. It's much more basic but simple enough.

 

both computers are in the same workgroup but neither of them can see each other.

 

Make sure your wireless network in Vista is set to Home, and the right permissions are set, like so:



And then, go into the Properties of the folder you're trying to share, and click on Advanced Sharing and then enable sharing for the Everyone group over the network.

After that, try to go through the Network Neighborhood - that's "My Network Places" in XP, then click Workgroup computers on the sidebar, or just "Network" in Vista from the start menu.

 

already did all that, tried again but still nothing, i keep getting an error saying Windows cannot access \\HOME-PC\(folder). i've tried turning off all firewalls/ AV software

under My Network Places a folder shows up, but i still get that error message.

i've tried Run: \\same comp IP on both computers, the desktop one goes to the shared folder, but the laptop/vista still gives me that windows cannot access error.

 

Try both on the wired network? Some routers don't let wired/wireless talk to each other.

 

i was just trying that now, but it still won't work.

the desktop's ip is 192.168.0.197, but when i go to connect i always get a "Windows cannot access \\192.168.0.197" even if i use the ip assigned to my laptop. it does this with both the wireless and wired connection.

i'm gonna try an ad hoc connection and see how that goes.

 

Is the XP machine running XP SP3, or SP2?

 

Do you have a password on the Vista computer? I have to have one setup for my xp computer to access it.

 

Desktop is running SP2.

i can't get the Vista computer to see the desktop, the desktop sees the SharedDocs folder but won't let me access it.

 

Here's a start...download THIS on the XP Machine.

 

Bingo. Makaveli72 beat me to it - that's what I was angling at when I asked about the service pack your XP was running - XP SP3 has the utility Makaveli72 pointed you to built in, so you wouldn't have needed it if you'd had XP SP3; basically, that utility is necessary because _Vista uses a different protocol for "seeing" its local network, and cannot "see" XP machines unless they have that utility installed.

 

thanks for the help, but it is now working fine. i looked at my router settings again and had to enable netbios, thought i did before but maybe i didn't save.