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Can't see network computers on a mixed XP Vista network

 
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Have you had a problem with Norton Firewall?
Yes
100%
 100%  [ 1 ]
No
0%
 0%  [ 0 ]
Total Votes : 1

Author Message
dog20aol




Joined: Mar 15, 2008
Posts: 1



(Msg. 1) Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:49 am
Post subject: Can't see network computers on a mixed XP Vista network

I just bought a HP laptop with Windows Vista Home Premium and spent six hours trying to figure out how to get my Vista computer and 3 XP computers to see each other on the network. I've had lots of experience setting up small networks for myself and my friends and years of experience working as a tech support representative for three different companies including HP. However, I am so new with Vista, that I had significant problems diagnosing this one. After searching several online documents, I ended up with lists of things to try. All the Windows settings on my new computer were set correctly, file sharing turned on, the correct workgroup listed, I could see the router, and get online. I had network discovery turned on, but I still could not see the computers on the network. The only thing I could see was a media share device on my primary computer. Clicking on it only opened my Windows Media Player, and that only listed my sample music on my new laptop. I installed the new Link-Layer Topology Discovery Finder and Mapper protocols on every XP machine in my house as per a Microsoft Help File. I then added TCP/IP version 6 on all the computers that were not already running it. I then installed all the network protocols, services, and network devices I could find. Still no go. I could map network drives if I typed in the address of the network drives manually, but the network still would not show the other computers. Finally I went for the firewall, I had checked the Windows firewall before to verify that it was letting these features through, but this time I noticed that it was the Norton Security Suite was running it's firewall and that the Windows firewall was actually disabled. I tried to change the settings on the firewall to allow communications but there was very limited interface with the program. I changed the status of the computers to fully trust in Norton, and still no go. So then I uninstalled the entire Norton Suite and like magic, everything is suddenly working perfectly... Apparently Norton is not capable of managing a firewall properly and it should not be used, sure it gives you good security, but at what cost? The Windows firewall is specifically designed to allow Windows protocols through, I have never had a conflict with it not letting me do what I was trying to do. I hope this helps at least one person not waste six hours diagnosing a simple incompatibility.
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