Vista cannot discover XP hosts

Usually this is a networking and firewall problem. Is the computer that is physically connected to the printer set to allow sharing the printer? Have you set the name of the printer to be exactly the same on all three computers? If you are using a better firewall than the basic one in Windows XP, have you set that to accept network traffic from the other computers in your home network? (This has to be done on all of the computers on the network so that they are in the same Workgroup.) Check that you allow bidirectional network traffic.

This is a usuall problem when connecting Vista and XP, specially when your vista is a 64-bit and your XP is 32-bit. What you need to do is to manually map the folders on the vista by opening windows explorer and then clicking on Map network drive, you need to put in the exact folder location. Next thing is you need to add user not only activationg the allow access, you need to add the user on the shared folder, you are only using workgroups, unlike domain networks, you just have to give them permission.

If have a problem with Vista and XP workgroup networking.I suggest you find the answer from this website:www.adapterlist.com,It's very cool.

1.How are you attaching to the network printer from your daughters computer? IP address, or by the name of the printer...Also make sure you check you are attaching to the network printer, and not local printer.

2. Install the Microsoft TCP/IP version 6 protocol on both computers by clicking install on your LAN properties, then restart PC. This should work!

I had the same problem in Windows XP and I just created a workgroup to share files on the network. Follow these steps if anyone is still having this problem. My gf has vista and must do it automatically but it's just a matter of remembering to establish a workgroup.

To summarize:
- Enable sharing on WMP 11 --> This should adjust windows firewall automatically but be sure to unblock ports for other firewalls, if need be.
- Create a workgroup --> Start...Control Panel....Network setup wizard.
Follow the steps, if you're connectnig through a router, select "this computer connects through a residentail gateway", apply this to any other computers that want to share files on this network, if necessary.
Restart computer to let the workgroup settings take effect and voila...your computer will now be detected.

Are they both under the same network? Can the pc find the laptop under network connections and vice versa? If not, then right-click my computer, go to properties, go to the tab 'Computer Name' click on the button change, and make it part of a workgroup of your choice of name. Do this for both making them part of the SAME workgroup.
Then, make your printer shared under that workgroup.

set up file sharing and make sure the laptop is set to "private" not "public" in the Networking and Sharing Center.

Dear This is the step You can get a complete home network up and running in 10 easy steps. Here's a summary of what's involved: Take stock of your existing hardware. If you wish to share an Internet connection using Internet Connection Sharing (ICS), choose which computer will be your ICS host. Decide what type of network technology you wish to use. Make a list of the hardware you need for each computer. Install the network adaptors and install your modem on the ICS host computer. Physically cable the computers together. Switch on all computers, printers and other peripherals. Make sure the ICS host is connected to the Internet. Run the Network Setup Wizard on the ICS host. Run the Network Setup Wizard on the other computers on the network. Let's take that step by step. 1. Take stock of your hardware Note each computer's location and its hardware, including peripherals such as printers and modems. 2. Choose your ICS host If you wish to share an Internet connection between your computers using Internet Connection Sharing (ICS), choose which computer will be your ICS host. The ICS host has a direct connection, either by dial-up modem or high-speed link, to the Internet and provides access to the Internet for other computers on the network. Ideally, the host should be a computer running Windows XP. I'll assume you have made this choice in the following steps. Apart from XP's easy handling of ICS, by using an XP computer as your ICS host you get the benefits of using the Internet Connection Firewall. 3. Choose a network technology The most common choices are Ethernet and wireless LANs. For an Ethernet LAN you will need to install a network interface card, or NIC, in each computer and run cabling between the computers. If you don't like the idea of opening your computer to install a network card, look for a USB adaptor instead. Depending on the size of your network, you may also need a network hub or router to provide interconnection between PCs on the LAN. Two PCs can get by using an RJ-45 crossover cable; three or more computers require a hub or multi-speed hub (called a switch). If you have a high-speed Internet connection, a high-speed router is a good option. The Network Setup Wizard includes links to detailed advice about configuring your network, including help on designing a network layout to suit your home. If you opt for a wireless LAN, you'll also need a NIC for each PC (there are versions which use USB adaptors as well). The big benefit for home environments is that a wireless LAN does away with the need for cabling. On the down side, though, wireless LANs tend to be slower, less robust and appreciably more expensive than traditional Ethernet LANs. In particular, wireless LANs do not always live up to their stated working range, and you may find factors such as your home's construction and design, plus interference from other devices affect your wireless LAN's performance. You may need to add an expensive Access Point to extend the range of the LAN and, even so, it may not be sufficient. The bottom line is, if you decide to go the wireless route, make sure the store will refund your money if the LAN will not provide reliable performance within the specified range. 4. Make a list of hardware needed Make a list of the hardware you need for each computer, not forgetting any cabling, and buy it. If you're a little dazzled by the choices and configurations, consider purchasing a networking kit. These kits contain all you need to set up a two- or three-PC network. If possible, look for hardware which features the Windows XP Logo, indicating it is fully compatible with XP. 5. Install the adaptors Install the network adaptors and install your modem on the ICS host computer (you can also let the computers connect to the Internet independently by installing modems on each). 6. Cable the computers Physically cable the computers (and hubs or routers) together. Of course, you won't need to do this if you've chosen to go the wireless route. If you're installing an Ethernet network and have a lot of cabling work to do, you may prefer to get a professional to come in and do this work for you. It won't be cheap, but you can be sure you get the job done correctly and hopefully with minimal damage done to walls, ceilings and floors. 7. Switch it on Switch on all computers, printers and other peripherals. 8. Connect the ICS host Go to the ICS host computer and make sure it is connected to the Internet. 9. Run the Network Setup Wizard on the ICS host To run the Network Setup Wizard on the ICS host, click Start -> Control Panel -> Network And Internet Connections -> Setup Or Change Your Home Or Small Office Network. Follow the instructions in each screen and press Next to continue. XP's Network Setup Wizard takes much of the pain out of setting up a home network. The Network Setup Wizard will guide you through: Configuring your network adaptors (NICs). Configuring your computers to share a single Internet connection. Naming each computer. (Each computer requires a name to identify it on the network.) Sharing the Shared Files folder. Any files in this folder will be accessible to all computers on the network. Sharing printers. Installing the Internet Connection Firewall to guard you from online attacks. 10. Run the Network Setup Wizard on all computers To do so: Insert the Windows XP CD in the first computer's drive. When the XP Welcome Menu appears, click Perform Additional Tasks. Click Setup Home Or Small Office Networking and follow the prompts. Repeat steps 1 to 3 for each computer on your network. Make sure you maintain an active Internet connection on your host computer as you proceed through this process. geekgirl.tip If you don't have a CD-ROM drive on one of the network computers, you can run the Network Setup Wizard from a floppy disk: While running the Network Setup Wizard on the ICS host computer, select the option to copy the Network Setup Wizard to a floppy disk. Once you've completed setup on the ICS host, take the floppy to the next computer and insert it in the drive. Double-click My Computer. Double-click 3½ Floppy (A:). Double-click netsetup.exe. The quickie XP network If you want a really easy networking experience and you have the hardware to support it, consider clean installing Windows XP on two or more computers. First install your network hardware (network interface cards, cabling, et cetera), then perform a new installation of Windows XP. During installation, XP will sense your hardware setup, ask for a name for each computer, and then ask which type of setup you wish to create. Select Typical Settings For A Default Network Configuration. That's it. Provided your hardware is XP-compatible, XP will create a LAN using the workgroup name MSHOME. Using your network Once you have your network up and running, you can easily access other computers on the network via My Network Places (click Start -> My Network Places). The Task Pane in My Network Places lets you access computers on your network and adjust settings. The Task Pane in My Network Places lets you view your network connections and view each of the computers in your workgroup (the workgroup consists of all computers on a network which share the same workgroup name ? by default, XP gives all computers on your home network the workgroup name MSHOME, although you can change this if you wish). When you initially open My Network Places, you'll see icons for the Shared Files folder of each of the active network computers. Sharing a printer With your home network installed, your PC suddenly gains all the advantages of the other PC's on the network. If you've been lusting after your sister's colour photo printer, you can now print directly to it from your own machine. Provided, that is, your sister decides to share her printer. (You might offer to let her share your laser printer in return as an inducement ? sharing works both ways.) To share a printer, on the computer which is directly connected to the printer: Click Start -> Control Panel -> Printers And Other Hardware -> Printers And Faxes. (Note: These steps will be a little different if you're sharing a printer on a PC running a version of Windows other than XP. For example, under Windows Me, you click Start -> Settings -> Printers.) Click the printer you wish to share. Click Share This Printer in the Task Pane. In the printer's Properties dialog, click the Sharing tab. Click Share Name and OK. Make a printer accessible to others on the network by sharing it. Once a printer has been shared you can access it from other computers on the network. To do so: Click Start -> Control Panel -> Printers And Other Hardware. Click Add A Printer. In the Add New Printer wizard, when asked whether the printer is a local or network printer, select the latter. In the next screen, select the option to Browse For A Printer and click Next. Select the appropriate printer from the list and continue with the wizard. Sharing files and folders Sharing a folder is even easier than sharing a printer: Open a folder (such as My Documents), click Make A New Folder in the Task Pane and name your new folder. With the new folder highlighted, click Share This Folder. In the Sharing tab of the Properties dialog box, select Share This Folder On The Network. Provide a descriptive name for the folder. This name should make it easy for others on the network to recognise the folder; it doesn't have to be the same as the folder name you selected in step 1. You can let other people on the network view and edit your files or view them only. If you want to protect your files from tampering, remove the tick from Allow Other Users To Change My Files. There are a variety of ways to access a shared folder. Here's one way: Click Start -> My Network Places -> View Workgroup Computers. Click the computer whose files you wish to access and then click the shared folder. You can create shortcuts to shared folders to make them easier to gdfgf