Ravik:

Thanks for the reply.

I'm not sure I completely understand. On the desktop, I did right click "My Documents," then Properties, and then the "Sharing" tab. Then I checked "Share this folder on the Network." But the laptop still can't access this folder on the desktop computer. Is there something I should be doing on the laptop in addition to what I have already done?

Thanks again for your help.

                      Bob

Windows XP cannot share any folder under Documents and Settings folder except the Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents folder, which is shared by default as the Shared Documents folder.  See if you can access the Shared Documents folder from another computer.   Similarly, Windows will not share anything under the C:\Windows folder and under the C:\Program Files folder.  Any other folder can be shared so try sharing a folder outside of these folders and see if you can access them from another computer.

Steve

Steve:

I see your point and will try a different folder. But on the laptop, when I select the desktop computer and click on shared documents, I get the shared documents on the laptop and not the ones on the desktop. When I first read the directions, none of this seemed too hard, but it sure seems to be getting confusing fast. Then again, my 56 year old mind ain't what it used to be!

Thanks again to all for your help. I'll let you know how it goes.

                                   Bob

Steve:

I tried using a folder outside of the XP excluded ones you mentioned earlier. Still no dice on the laptop. When I click on the desktop computer in the workgroup on the laptop, nothing from the desktop shared folders shows up. I just get the shared folders from the laptop. Did I set up the workgroup wrong for this network? If I want to start over, aside from messing with the router settings since the internet connections for both desktop and laptop are working fine, how do I do that? And what about the printers? Same thing happens. When I try to see what printers from the desktop are shared, all I get is the thing listed on the laptop. I must be a big dolt. Am I even doing the process right in terms of trying to access the desktop shared folders from the laptop? I know the eventual solution will be easy and one of those "Kick me I should have thought of that right away" type of things, but right now it sure is frustrating!

Are both computers in the same workgroup?  Are you sure file and printer sharing are enabled on the desktop?  Is the Windows firewall still running?  If it is, make sure that File and Printer Sharing is checked off on the exceptions tab of the Windows firewall.

Steve

Steve:

Yes to everything: windows firewall is disabled, file and printer sharing is enabled, and both computers are in the same workgroup. Still nothing.

                              Bob

Ravik:

Yes, I do have Norton Antivirus. Actually, I have Norton Internet Security 2005, which, as you know, includes Norton Firewall and Antivirus. Up to now, I have only been shutting off the Norton Firewall. Later today or this evening, I will try shutting off both the firewall and antivirus and see what happens. If that doesn't work, do you think I should try to create a new workgroup with these two computers using the wizard and starting with the desktop first? How do I get rid of the old workgroup that I set up that now does not work properly?

Thanks again for your help. I learn more from these forums than from any of the knowledge articles, which, ironically, I usually don't fully understand!

                         Bob