Connecting Windows XP computer to Windows 7 computer

Question

Me and my friend are trying to connect 3 computers together: 2 using XP and one Windows 7. We have successfully connected the XP computer that is connected to the router directly with cable and the Windows 7 computer but the other Windows XP computer doesn't show in any workgroup that we've created. What might be the problem?

Answer 1

Ensure the workstation and browser services are started on the XP machine that is not appearing.

Answer 2

Check that the firewall on the 2^nd XP machine is configured to let local network traffic through in both directions.

Answer 3

• In XP's Firewall (firewall.cpl) enable the "File and Printer Sharing" exception;

  (if you use a third-party firewall, allow TCP 139, TCP 445, UDP 137, UDP 138 and ICMP Echo)

• Use Wireshark to watch for browsing traffic (display filter smb || nbss || nbns || netbios || browser)

• In 7, try nbtstat -a <HOSTNAME> and nbtstat -A <IPADDRESS> (where <HOSTNAME> and <IPADDRESS> are the XP computer's name and IP address respectively); also check if they return the correct workgroup name.

• Try restaring the "Computer Browser" service in all computers