Vista not seeing other computers on Network

Question

I'm trying to get my new Vista Home Premium PC to hook up to a printer on our office's windows 2000 network. The system, however, is not seeing any other computers or devices on the network. I had the same problem at home where it wouldn't see my Windows XP SP2 machines either. So far, Windows Help has been useless. Vista can't find Windows Help on its own and I've been unable to locate pertinent issue on the Microsoft Website.

Anyone else running into this problem?

rapier993 · Answer

Thanks.. I looked at that before and tried the suggestions.. still no luck seeing any other machines on the network! :-(

Rebel9 · Answer

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx

Mary G · Answer

The workgroup needs to be the same name and in Vista the default name is WORKGROUP while in XP it's MSHOME--you need to change that so both are the same. I'm not sure about Win2K. You then need to open Network & Sharing Center on the Vista computer and enable the items under Sharing and Discovery--such as Network Discovery, File and Printer Sharing, etc.

Polecatt · Answer

can you find it with an IP address or ping it?

Don't forget to allow sharing in the windows firewall-you have to check it as it is blocked by default I believe.

Message Edited by Polecatt on 03-20-2007 09:06 PM

Nigie · Answer

I had exactly the same problem with Vista Home Premium, and XP SP2 Pcs and printer on the same network. Then, one day I left the network screen on, and after about an hour, low and behold, the other PCs and printer appeared, and access between all was fine.   I have this issue every time I boot up. I keep refreshing the network screen, and after about 20 - 30 refreshes, and the green progress bar moving slowly across the screen, the other PCs become accessible.   So Im one step closer than you are, in that eventually I get connectivity between all PCs/printers, but I have to have all PCs on for what seems ages before they decide they can see eachother!   Have you given it a long time before checking your connectivity ? It puzzles me, but with the other Vista issues I have had, Im thankful that at least I get some connectivity at all.   Nigel

finbarr10 · Answer

I had a similar problem. Vista machine unable to see XP SP2 machine on network.

Found this link to microsoft community forum. Several discussions on your problem here.

Forum at http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.mspx

One suggestion was to download this software, which apparently should be installed on all non vista machines for vista to recognise them on a network

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4f01a31d-ee46-481e-ba11-37f485fa34ea&DisplayLang=ensorrystill

It worked for me. Vista machine could now see xp machine. I couldn't actually access it, but thats another problem!! I eventually gave up and downloaded Network magic from here http://www.networkmagic.com/download/

Set up an operational network with no difficulties and its free.

Hope this is some help

Polecatt · Answer

Windows Vista=Windows Siesta

rapier993 · Answer

Thanks. I will try your suggestions. Yesterday, for some odd reason, Vista started seeing the network. Still haven't figured out what (if anything) I did to make that happen. Have one more Vista machine to hook in so fingers crossed!

Windows General

Vista not seeing other computers on Network

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