I got a computer using windows xp, a laptop using windows vista and an
external ethernet harddrive(Lacie ethernet disc mini) all connected to the
same switch.
From the xp machine I find my laptop and the harddrive on the network
without any problems.
But the Vista machine can't find the harddrive or the xp machine. Sometimes
I've found them but then they disappered again after a couple of minutes.

It seems very odd to me but is it my settings on my laptop or something with
the xp machine and the harddrive?

can you ping they by IP? Or it could be a security software issue. These
links may help.

Vista cannot access othersMy vista laptop came with Norton antivirus and
internet securities 2007…
http://www.chicagotech.net/netforums...opic.php?t=718 ...
www.chicagotech.net/vista/vistaaccess1.htm


--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com


"Emil" wrote in message
...
I got a computer using windows xp, a laptop using windows vista and an
external ethernet harddrive(Lacie ethernet disc mini) all connected to the
same switch.
From the xp machine I find my laptop and the harddrive on the network
without any problems.
But the Vista machine can't find the harddrive or the xp machine.
Sometimes
I've found them but then they disappered again after a couple of minutes.

It seems very odd to me but is it my settings on my laptop or something
with
the xp machine and the harddrive?

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../bb727037.aspx

Have a read of the above link re Vista File and Printer Sharing.
How to give Permissions are there, too.
If you are running Norton, etc’s Firewall, check its settings.

1st thing to do is make sure that the Workgroup Name of ALL the computers is
the SAME.

In Vista Network and Sharing:

Network Discovery: ON (So it can see the other computers)

Network set to Private (Public is for hotspots, airports, etc)

File Sharing: ON

Public Folder Sharing: ON (Vista’s Public Folder is the same as XP’s Shared
Docs)

Password Protected: OFF (unless you want to set up identical usernames and
passwords on ALL computers in your Network) If you have it ON, you will be
asked for a username and password when you try to access a Vista computer
from an XP computer.

Also, run the XP’s Home Network File and Printer sharing Wizard.


"Emil" wrote:

I got a computer using windows xp, a laptop using windows vista and an
external ethernet harddrive(Lacie ethernet disc mini) all connected to the
same switch.
From the xp machine I find my laptop and the harddrive on the network
without any problems.
But the Vista machine can't find the harddrive or the xp machine. Sometimes
I've found them but then they disappered again after a couple of minutes.

It seems very odd to me but is it my settings on my laptop or something with
the xp machine and the harddrive?