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System: an XP PC and a PC recently upgraded from XP to Windows 7. I had no problem connecting the two (went kind of automagically, to be honest), and also could share folders both ways.
This morning, however, the Win7 PC no longer sees the XP machine, and while the XP PC still shows the other one in its workgroup it can no longer access it. I didn't change any networking settings(!). Both PCs are still member of the same workgroup.

Question: how can I set up communication between an XP and Win7 PC?

edit
Seems I was a bit too quick with my reboot comment. The connection was lost again, and this time didn't restore upon rebooting. I can ping the other computer, though. Annoying! Any help will be greatly appreciated with upvotes and possibly accepting answer :-)

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  • "solved" by rebooting. I still have the feeling that this is not the proper answer, nor a proper solution.
    – stevenvh
    Nov 8, 2011 at 15:07
  • Something to try if it happens again, see if they communicate if you type the IP address directly into the explorer address bar? (ie on machine 2 type machine 1's IP address \\192.168.0.1)
    – HaydnWVN
    Nov 8, 2011 at 16:06
  • @HaydnWVN - typing the IP address directly in the explorer address bar results in a timeout error (cannot connect). I can ping the other PC, though.
    – stevenvh
    Nov 8, 2011 at 18:21
  • Are the machine names the same? Are they on the same subnet? And same subnet mask? And to confirm - you have files/folders shared on the Windows 7 PC?
    – HaydnWVN
    Nov 9, 2011 at 10:09
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    @HaydnWVN - They have different names. They're on the same subnet (192.168.1.*), and have the same subnet mask (255.255.255.0). I have folders shared with "full control" to "everyone", but that's of little use if the other PC doesn't show on the network in the first place :-(. I might have thought there's something basic missing, but it did work after installation, and I didn't change any of the network settings. Thanks for your thoughts.
    – stevenvh
    Nov 9, 2011 at 10:23

2 Answers 2

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You will need to add the username+password used on the XP PC to the Users list on the Windows 7 PC for it to be able to access any of its resources (files, printer etc).

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  • 1
    @stevenvh did your firewall get turned on after a windows update? I have had this happen before. Nov 8, 2011 at 14:25
  • Saw a similar 'issue' here when phasing out old XP machines and replacing with new Windows 7 where we had to flush the DNS on the Ubuntu (+samba) fileserver for the couple of machines which where using the same IP's (We don't run DHCP). Replacing old Windows 2000's we had no problem.
    – HaydnWVN
    Nov 8, 2011 at 16:08
  • @HaydnWVN - +1 for your help and for being close; see my answer. Thanks.
    – stevenvh
    Nov 9, 2011 at 11:22
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I think that I found the culprit. Under

crumbs

there's

Homegroup connections option

I set it to the current settings, but when I checked it had changed to the (default?) "homegroup" option. I'm absolutely, positively, certain that I did not reset it (getting slightly excited :-)). It reminds me of the Windows 2000 days, when settings could also change without any reason.
I hope it stays the way it is now. At least I know where to look, if the connection fails again. Have others also experienced unwanted changes to system settings in Windows 7? Or know of system or application software which makes these changes?

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  • 404 for me on those images, but glad you've at least tracked down where the problem is occuring! Thanks for the +1 and well done for solving it yourself! :)
    – HaydnWVN
    Nov 9, 2011 at 11:54
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    @HaydnWVN - The image server seems to have suffered from hickups, but it should be solved
    – stevenvh
    Nov 9, 2011 at 12:01

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