In reply to a post by WatchMan:

To use the password or not to use it, that is the question. In other places I have read that password protection should be disabled.

This only applies to the public folder sharing (option in network + sharing center) - badly described on MS' part admittedly.

In reply to a post by WatchMan:

I have the 'My Documents' folder icon displaying a hand beneath it in XP. To me that indicates that it is a shared folder, yet I cannot access it from my Windows 7 PC. My Windows 7 PC can see the XP machine but I am refused access to it, therefore denying access to shared folders.

Create identical user accounts (that is, the names are the same when lookiing at C:\Documents and Settings\<name>, and C:\Users\<name>), and identical passwords. Try again, should work.

Ensure file encryption is set to lower setting (not 128bit)

There are numerous ways to do it but this might be simple for you short term.

Or, shove everything into the public folder.

Ensure network profile on Win7 is home.

Hi Black,
I'm not sure I'm with you on this ... where in Windows 7 is the option to create a new group? And when you say you use the "everybody" group because it's there ... where? The same questions apply if you meant to perform this in Windows XP.

OK, I follow you as far as XP is concerned ... put everything I need to share on my Windows 7 PC into the Public folder and it can be accessed from Windows XP. However, obversely this doesn't work because when I want to access folders on my XP PC from Windows 7 I am denied access. Am I dumb or something ... no, don't answer that!
Incidentally, not quite the answer but I have found that by using TeamViewer I can interact with any PC in my home. At least it's a start and I can copy files into the 'calling' PC's folder.

Make sure you haven't created a HOME GROUP on the w7 PC.. If you have them dis-able it... Then to share folders, when selecting sharing.. Use ADVANCE OPTIONS...
If you can't see the XP folders on W7..
Then check the permissions options on the folder is question and if possible select EVERYONE option...
That should solve it

To add to the "everyone" group in win7 right click the folder/drive you want to share and click properties / sharing tab / advanced sharing / tick the box "share this folder / permissions / add / advanced (near the bottom) / find now / scroll down and double click "everyone" / ok / select desired permissions here if you want (full , change ,read / ok / ok /
Important is that you then repeat the above steps in the security tab going through "edit" then "add.
that should get it working if you follow exactly.

Edited by Black (Tue 05-Jul-11 22:13:04)

Does the XP PC have a user with the same name as the user you are logged into on Win 7? I think it is something to do with that.

I am now having the same problem with Vista seeing XP; there is no problem with XP seeing Vista (after completing a login to Vista). The funny thing is Vista to XP worked when I 1st set it up (and did not even require a login to XP), but sometime later it stopped working.

On XP my user name is "Owner" (courtesy of HP) with visible alias of "MyName". On Vista both of these are the same "MyName". Once they gelled; now they don't.

Thanks to your help I have finally managed to see the files I need to access from Windows XP but I still cannot access the XP computer from Windows 7. The icon is in view but when I double click on this icon the 'Open Folder' message box returns this:- "\\NAME-2 is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The account is not authorised to log in from this station."
All appropriate folders on my XP machine have been set to share with other home users.

Homegroup is disabled but this makes no difference. I still can't access files on my XP machine from Windows 7 even with the 'everyone' option selected.

Not sure why this option should make any difference. Surely if password protection is disabled it makes the other computers more accessible?