i made a networki'm really new at networkingi actually made it todaythis is my firstso i don't really know what im doingbut i got the printer to workso i could print from all three computersbuton my vista laptopi could see my 2 xp pro computers shared filesbut on my xp computers i can't see my vista shared file

First thing to check is that the workgroup names match between the XP boxen, and the Vista box (by default, XP uses the workgroup name of MSHOME; Vista uses WORKGROUP.)On one of the XP machines, open a command prompt (start > run > cmd > <enter> .) Note the workgroup name.Now, on the Vista machine, open system properties (<windows> + <pause/break>, or, start > right-click Computer > properties.) In the section titled "computer name, domain, and workgroup settings," you'll see the workgroup name listed. If it doesn't match the workgroup name of the XP machines, click 'change settings', OK the UAC prompt, and change the workgroup name to match. Hit OK; however, decline the restart request. Close system properties.Now, open Network and Sharing Center (type network into the Start menu's search box...), and check the following items (and, their recommended settings for a home network):Network type (Private)Network discovery (on)File sharing (on)Public folder sharing (on) Printer sharing (your choice)Media sharing (your choice.)Change settings here as necessary.Reboot. Check functionality, post back with results.

ya i did everything,actually it was just as u said iti did that already

What version of Vista?When you say "I can't see the shared folder," do you mean that it doesn't show up in My Network Places, or that you can't open the share?Does the Vista PC's share(s)show up in Network Places? If not, does the Vista PC show up when you click 'show workgroup computers'? If so, what happens when you try to open the Vista PC there?What happens if you try to directly open the shared folder(s) (on the Vista machine) from an XP box, by typing \\computername\sharename into an Explorer window's address bar? If an error is displayed, what is the exact text of the error?Are you trying to share out \Public, or a folder within your user profile (e.g. \you\documents)?

Maybe you didn't enable the file sharing correctly in Vista, take a look on this simple file sharing and password protected file sharing in Vista articles, see whether can help you..

i have vista home premium when i say i can't see the shared folderi mean that it doesn't even show up on my network places on my xp computerhow do i figure out your second quesiton"Does the Vista PC's share(s)show up in Network Places? If not, does the Vista PC show up when you click 'show workgroup computers'? If so, what happens when you try to open the Vista PC there?"in my xp computerwhen i type in \\COMPUTERNAMEa window pop openedand said to enter username and passwordso i typed in my username and passwordand my vista computer showed upthe file also shows up in my network places after i typed in my username and passwordi'm not sharing my \public folderjust other filesif i did type in my username and passworddo i have to do it all the time

The solutions to the problem of needing to enter username\password to connect to a share:-The account on the client PC (the one that you're in front of) that is being used at the time should match the account on the server PC (the one that you're connecting to) that 'owns' the directories in question. Or,-You can allow the Everyone group the level of access that you're comfortable with (either full control (which nets you read/write/delete), or a custom level that you choose.)To do this: Right-click the share (on the Vista PC) > properties > Sharing tab > click Share. In teh dialog box that comes up, add Everyone, and set the permission level that you want (Reader allows read/traverse/execute rights; Contributor adds 'modify' and 'create' to that set; Co-Owner allows full control (includes delete rights.)Question: in Network and Sharing Center, was password-protected sharing set to ON or OFF?