Need help with network sharing problem

Goof

Goof

Goof

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Any time I've ever had to do anything with Windows networking in the last 10 years I've been amazed how awful it generally is! :rolleyes:

Current problem - got a central machine I've set a shared folder on, that I want all my other machines to be able to access. This machine is XP and is plugged into a switch, which is plugged into the router.

The other 2 machines I use on the network have Win7 and one is Vista ( :o ). I had them all on the same workgroup but couldn't get them to see the shared drive (even tried mapping the drive). Eventually, on the Win7 machine I clicked the 'leave the homegroup' button somewhere in the sharing centre (but still had the 'workgroup' name set the same in the Computer Name section) and magically this managed to get it to see the shared directory.

Problem is the Vista still won't see it. It can see all the other machines plugged into the router, but not the XP machine/shared folder. Other than the System Properties>Computer Name tab that shows the (same) workgroup name, I can't find any similar setting in Vista that will let me leave the 'homegroup'.

Ideas? I've also got to network a couple of printers through this switch, which I ain't looking forward to :rolleyes:
 
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You're going to struggle finding HomeGroup settings in Vista as they were introduced with Windows 7.

Typing 'vista network xp' into Google finds more Windows networking guides than any one person could sensibly ever read. Have you tried any of them, and if so at what stage did you come unstuck?

One thing that can cause unexpected issues is third-party antivirus and firewall software.
 
Thanks Bremen - I've spent about 4 hours reading everything I can find but still not there. The machine is now showing in the Vista network Map and I can ping it, but it's not showing in the 'network' folder and I can't click on it in the map. I've also confirmed that the XP machine sees the Vista machine in it's workgroup.

Things I've tried:
Installed SP2 on XP machine and turned off firewall
Installed LLTD on XP
Modified a WaitForNetwork key in the registry
Turned off firewall on Vista machine
Added 'Client for Microsoft Windows' on XP machine
 
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