Can see shared files but can't access them Laptop on network

I know this has probably been covered previously but I haven't fixed my problem yet.

On my original setup the Desktop PC (Windows 7) talks to the old Laptop (Windows XP) perfectly OK.

I've just bought a new laptop with Windows 7, configured the Network to MSHOME (same as on existing Desktop), set up partitions to share & given access to everybody.

The Windows 7 laptop can see the Desktop & XP Laptop and view/exchange shared files - so the new laptop must be connected to the network.

The problem is that I can't access any shared files on the new laptop from either the Desktop PC or the old laptop - states that I don't have permissions.

If I view a shared files on the Desktop, it shows this as a shared file at the bottom of Windows Explorer whereas on the new laptop it doesn't.

I'm using KIS 2010 on the Desktop & new Laptop - NIS 2003 on the old laptop. However, disabling the firewall on the new laptop makes no difference.

Attached image shows the 'Shared' icon on the Desktop which is missing from the new laptop.

I've tried everything but still can't access the new laptop on any partitions that I've set up to share except public folders that is ticked under the settings in Network & Sharing.

Any ideas - I must be doing something wrong.

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Update
I've just booted up from my 2nd hard drive (Windows7 Home Premium) &, I don't believe it, I can access the new laptop.

Rebooting on the 1st hard drive (Windows 7 Ultimate), I still can't access the new Laptop.

There must be a clue here but I blowed if I can fathom it out.

Any suggestions (apart from use the Home Edition HD - old laptop still can't see the new laptop) greatly appreciated.

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Further Update
The reason why I could access the new laptop was because I'd set up a Homegroup - having left the Homegroup, I can no longer view the shared files on the new laptop.

Do you have other partitions on either HDD? Do you have your share on the Ultimate system setup as the "C" drive? Give me a layout of your partitions and what each contains.

Originally Posted by oneextraid

Do you have other partitions on either HDD? Do you have your share on the Ultimate system setup as the "C" drive? Give me a layout of your partitions and what each contains.

I've created separate partitions for things like Images, Data, Downloads which I've setup as shared on both the Desktop & Laptop.

Can you give me a layout? Each HDD and what it contains and how the drive letters match when booted into Ultimate.

The hard disk is partitioned as follows:

Recovery Partition - 11.72G
System Reserved Partition - 100M
C - 231.8G Windows 7 operating system
D - 9.77G Data (shared)
E - 9.77G Downloads (shared)
F - 48.83 Camera Images (shared)
G - 48.83 Archive (shared)
H - 104.98 Ghost Images

Wight:
Probably something you don't want to hear, but I would suggest uninstalling (not disabling, not turning off) all third party software suites that may impact networking (ZoneAlarm, Comodo, Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky, AVG, etc) just uninstall them and see if that has any impact on your issue. You can always reinstall them later, for now just eliminate them as a potential source of the problem while you're trying to resolve issues with your internal network. Let us know if this made any difference at all.

After you booted into Ultimate, you said that the laptop could see the shares but could not access them. What are your settings, in W7, for Network & Sharing Center? Also, do the systems have the same workgroup?

I have Network Sharing settings for file sharing encryption set to 40 bit and Password Protection turned off. Also, be sure that each system in your network has a unique name.

Originally Posted by oneextraid

After you booted into Ultimate, you said that the laptop could see the shares but could not access them. What are your settings, in W7, for Network & Sharing Center? Also, do the systems have the same workgroup?

No. My problem is that the Desktop can see the Laptop but is denied access to the 'Shared Partitions'.

The new Laptop can both see & read/write to the Desktop.

Originally Posted by oneextraid

I have Network Sharing settings for file sharing encryption set to 40 bit and Password Protection turned off. Also, be sure that each system in your network has a unique name.

File encrytpion set to 128bit & Password Protection turned off - all network devices have a unique name - the workgroup is MSHOME on all devices.

Originally Posted by Trouble

Wight:
Probably something you don't want to hear, but I would suggest uninstalling (not disabling, not turning off) all third party software suites that may impact networking (ZoneAlarm, Comodo, Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky, AVG, etc) just uninstall them and see if that has any impact on your issue. You can always reinstall them later, for now just eliminate them as a potential source of the problem while you're trying to resolve issues with your internal network. Let us know if this made any difference at all.

I'll give it a try - I have disables KIS 2010 which made no difference.

Obviously, something is preventing access to the shared partitions on the new Laptop.

On the Desktop, if I click on a shared file, it shows an Icon with 2 people side by side with the status as 'Shared'.

I don't see this on the new Laptop - solve this & I'm sure I'll solve my problem.