Win 7 networking is driving me crazy

Ok I had some issues before trying to access files from one laptop to another...one running win 7 ult 32 and another with xp...I kept getting this access denied with password even though both computers were visible under 'network'. Funny enough access of the win 7 machine via the xp machine worked but not the other way around. I did a lot of googling, set username/pass same on both computers, etc...no dice. I gave up.


I recently set up a nettop pc (zotac mag) running win 7 ultimate 32 and have since that first incident gotten another laptop win 7 hp 64. So I setup a homegroup on the nettop - got to the password stage and everything.

Then when I tried to access it from my laptop, I can't even try to connect to the homegroup...it keeps telling me to set my network to 'home', which it already is. tcpip v6 is enabled, network discovery is on, etc- i followed and double checked every guide online.

I can see the htpc and laptop on both machines from network, but can't access either from either computer. Both demand a pw/user and the account credentials don't work!! For either computer. Considering I had the same problem running win7 on the previous laptop...whats going on here??

I refuse to believe I simply can't do this on windows 7...what am I doing wrong?

 

did you turn off password protect sharing?

Control Panel>All Control Panel Items>Network and Sharing Center>Advanced sharing settings

 

I find that anything you put in your Public Folder will always be shared no problems. (As long as you have it enabled ofc)

 

This is the first thing that occurred to me too.