How can I access an external drive and a printer loaded on a Vista system on the network from an Xp pro pc? I keep getting access denied even after I gave the external drive full access rights

How to Start

To enable file sharing, do the following:

1. In the Sharing and Discovery section of the Network and Sharing Center window, click the down arrow next to File sharing.
   
2. Within the File sharing settings, click Turn on file sharing, and then click Apply.
   

1. In the Sharing and Discovery section of the Network and Sharing Center window, click the down arrow next to Public folder sharing.
   
2. Within the Public folder sharing settings, click one of the following:
   
   • If you want to share the public folder so that other computers on the network can access the Public share to open files, but not create or change files, click Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can open files. This is the default setting.
     
   • If you want to share the public folder so that other computers on the network can access the Public share to open files and also create or change files, click Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can open, change, and create files.
     
   • Click Apply.
     

• Open Windows Live OneCare
• Change OneCare Setting
• Firewall connection tool
• Tick relevant options (Network discovery, file and print settings,etc)
  
• Click OK
• Go to Advanced Settings
  
• Change file sharing from 'Do not share files and printers"
  
• Click Ok twice...
  

• Go to the file explorer (Windows Key + E).
• Right click on the hard drive (or partition) and then choose to share ...
• In the new window click the Security tab.
• Click on the Edit button.
• Click the Add button.
• Type "guest" (without quotes) where the cursor blinks.
• Validate by clicking on the OK button.
• If you need to write on this disk from the network, check the "amendment" in the permits.
• Then confirm by clicking the OK button.
• Please wait while Windows change the permissions.
• Click on the Sharing tab.
• Click on the Advanced Sharing button.
• In the new window, check Share this folder.
• Click on the Permissions button.
• Type "guest" (without quotes) where the cursor blinks.Or you can use Everyone.
  
• Validate by clicking on OK.
• If you need to write on this disk from the network, check the change in permits.
• Then confirm by clicking the OK button.
• Please wait while Windows change all permissions (several minutes if you share a lot of files).

1. On the Sharing tab, click Advanced Sharing.
   
2. Select the Share this Folder check box.
   
   Use advanced settings to create or modify a network share
3. Accept or change the proposed share name. Or give a new one if you have used that or if you are no satisfied with that
   
4. Type a description of the folder’s contents in the Comments box.
   
5. To limit the number of users who can connect to the shared folder concurrently, specify a number in the Limit the number of simultaneous users to box.
   
6. You can set caching also.
7. Click Permissions.
8. Change settings appropriately. (Everyone is the network users so you can use that. Or you can map a specific user)
9. You can also give full access and then set the ntfs permission to restrict Object based actions.
10. Remember without the Wizard you cannot share files and multiple objects simultaneously.
11. Click Ok.
12. The go to folder properties and security tab.
13. Set the permission. You can use authenticated users as the users (Recommended). Otherwise if you ignore setting ntfs permissions you will not be allowed to do anything to objects.
    
14. Click Ok.

Hi

make sure the client computer you have logged into is been logged in with administrator rights.

Hope this solves the issue, if not revert back.