Unable to share folders on network desktop

Question

I have Vista Home Basic on my laptop and Vista Home Premium on my Desktop both Dell. I am unable to share folders on my laptop with the desktop (only public folders). I am able to share folders on the laptop with the desktop.

All settings are same across both Computers. I have walked thru all recommended settings a dozen times or more and even checked knowledge base step by step tasks.

I am able to share printer on desktop.

The replaced Desktop had XP and I was able to share the XP folders from my Vista laptop. I have tried every recommendation I could find but nothing has helped.

Jim B

Mary G · Answer

Some folders cannot be shared--system and program folders, for instance. Look at your firewall settings on the desktop and make sure your network is recognized and allowed. Make sure File sharing is allowed in Network and Sharing Center. Check all the other settings there, too.

mombodog · Answer

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/how-to-share-a-folder-the-xp-way-in-windows-vista/   Also, Be sure file and print sharing is enabled in the firewall settings of the Vista PC.

pcssajim · Answer

I have no problem with print sharing only file sharing and all settings are proper.??

pcssajim · Answer

All the items you mentioned have been done. I even turned Firewall off to test that. Only looking to share document folders.

Mary G · Answer

Then look at the settings on the other computers. You must be in the same Workgroup on XP computers and the default workgroup name is different on Vista computers. XP has MSHOME while vista used WORKGROUP. Run the 'Set up a Home Network' utility on the vista computer again. Make sure you are not trying to share the Desktop Document folder. You have to drill down to the one under your name that's under C:\Users to share. Right click on that one and pick Sharing.

pcssajim · Answer

Settings are same on both Vista computers. Workgroups are same. Reran setting up a home network. Drilling to proper document folders.

Results the same. Guess I'll just load up the public folders on the Desktop so I can access from laptop. It's just strange that the desktop can see the laptop shared folders but the laptop can't see the desktop shared folders.

Jim B

Windows General

Unable to share folders on network desktop

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