Can't connect with XP machines

I have a home network with 7 or 8 XP machines. All are on the same workgroup. All share EVERYTHING. All have passwords. All are logged in with an ADMINISTRATOR account. All can see each other on the network. They all talk to each other just fine. All the GUEST accounts are turned ON.

I loaded Windows 7 on a machine, and turned on sharing for drive C: I gave everyone ALL permissions. I also went into the Network and Sharing Center. I had no idea what a "HomeGroup" was, so I went a few more menus deep and found the Workgroup setting. I set that up with the name of my workgroup.

From the Windows 7 machine, I can see all the XP machines on the network, and they can see the Windows 7 machine. But when I try to view anything (drive C:\ , for example), I get the "you might not have permission to view this network resource....". I get the same thing when I try to log on to the Windows 7 machine from the XP machines.

Since I can't log on to my XP machines, I also can't connect to, and use the printers attached to them.

I basically want a big, open, flat network. No security at all between machines. What do I need to do?

I actually have the opposite problem. Though I have only three machines total, one of which is running Windows 7, both of my XP machines cannot access the main drive on the Windows 7 machine, though my Windows 7 machine can access everything on my XP machines.

My workgroup name is the same for all machines and all machines can see each other. My XP machines can access the Homegroup directories or any directories I create within the homegroup, but when I try and put my Windows 7's C:\ drive into the homegroup, I am still unable to access the C:\ drive.

I fiddled around with things but still can't get my network to work the way I want it to. All this is not a pressing need, currently, but I'd still like to get it to work.

To allow my Windows 7 machine complete access to my XP machines, I don't recall doing anything special. Maybe your issue is a driver issue?


Alan

OK unlike some problems all the machines can see each other.
This looks like Firewall / AV settings might be inhibiting access.
For testing disable AV software and switch off firewalls. If you are paranoia disconnect from Internet as well.
Now see if you can connect.

Another solution is to re-set all the share options on ALL the machines and then permit share on a USER basis (select the disk / folder you want to share, right mouse click, properties, sharing, advanced permissions, add -- then add your user id and the privileges you want).

On the Windows XP machines as well as the above re-run the Network setup wizard from the control panel. re-boot.

You should be able to access all the folders you want.
Now re-enable firewalls and re-start AV software.

Cheers
jimbo

OK, I'll try this. But please note that I have all firewalls turned off, and am running NO A/V software. I have a Linux machine between the internet and my home network. It does a good job of keeping the bad stuff out.

Originally Posted by jimbo45

OK unlike some problems all the machines can see each other.
This looks like Firewall / AV settings might be inhibiting access.
For testing disable AV software and switch off firewalls. If you are paranoia disconnect from Internet as well.
Now see if you can connect.

Another solution is to re-set all the share options on ALL the machines and then permit share on a USER basis (select the disk / folder you want to share, right mouse click, properties, sharing, advanced permissions, add -- then add your user id and the privileges you want).

On the Windows XP machines as well as the above re-run the Network setup wizard from the control panel. re-boot.

You should be able to access all the folders you want.
Now re-enable firewalls and re-start AV software.

Cheers
jimbo

I run a router only with no firewall. Also, adding a user ID is something I've tried. I can't recall if I've run the network setup dealie or not. Maybe I'll try that. Still, do things have to be this convoluted just to get a simple home network fully functional?

To your first point about the firewall and probably point two too, accessing this so-called homegroup is no problem. It's just when I try to add an entire drive to the homegroup that I run into problems. This obviously means that having a firewall is not an issue.

I had the same problem with Vista but ended up fixing it, after going through as many steps as it takes to get to the observation deck of the Empire State Builiding. It's one of the things that annoyed me about Vista, and apparently-- at least when it comes to networking-- Win 7 is no different.


Alan

Yes, very much shades of Vista, I never did get access to my vista machine from my xp machine. Although both Vista and Win7 find the xp machine, and access the files, no problem at all. I might spend some time with Win7 and see if I can't figure it out. Although the network center seems to have changed a fair bit, with many more options and controls. It would be nice to have a stripped down network manager. I run a double hardware firewall (Linux Based Router and DSL modem) so have the firewall on all computers shut off at the moment. Although I still have my AV and Spyware software running on both.

Ian

no luck here either.
one machine running XP home another that had been running XP home (until my Win7 install)
both were part of a home network with shared printers and drives and tra la la la la, everything was wonderful.
now with the WIN7 im stuck with all sorts of permission issues where programs cant seem to modify files on non os hard drives and my machines cant even see each other let alone share a printer or folders.
is there a way to use traditional networking rather than "homegroups" etc...

Okay, so once i get home i will mess with some things, i have windows 7 one machine and the xp on my other machines i am pretty good with OSs and networking, i well attempt to fix this dilema. i have yet to try to share anything with other machines, so i will give it a go......will let you know of any possible ways around this problem.....

I havent tryed networking my 6 pcs yet, however in all of the reading about problems with this makes me think that theres different properties between "homegroup" & "workgroup". Workgroup was easy enough for even amatuers, however, MS seems to have wanted to add yet another dumbed down psuedo wizard called homegroup.
Do you remember how it was to connect a wireless card to Windows 98. All of the channels, bindings, and other configurations had to be manually put in. This was almost the same way with workgroup. But with Homegroup, I'm not sure all of these advanced configurations are compatible with workgroup.
I also think that since ip v6 is wreaking havoc with my router, then its very well possible it could be conflicting with the default ip v4 settings that XP runs.

just my 2 cents

Windows networking fixed!!(w7 to xp) FIXED!