I am in the process of replacing an ageing laptop computer. At present, my local area network includes the following devices: Huawei EchoLife HG520b wireless ADSL router. Wireless protocols 802.11b and 802.11g. IP address 192.168.1.1. I have configured the router's DHCP server to allocate fixed IP addresses to my computers and LAN drive. Desktop Computer. Windows XP 32-bit Home Edition (SP3). IP address 192.168.1.14. Computer Name "DESKTOP". Workgroup name WORKGROUP". No domain. User Name "Bob Lxxxx". User account is not password protected. Guest User account disabled. Computer connects to the router with a wired Ethernet connection. File and printer sharing enabled. Avast Antivirus. Zone Alarm free firewall. The firewall is configured so that the IP addresses of the other specified computers and LAN drive are in the trusted zone. HP LaserJet LJ1018 printer. USB connection to the desktop computer. Printer sharing enabled. LAN Network storage drive. Host Name "NAS". IP address "192.168.1.253" Group name "WORKGROUP". No domain. SMB Server enabled (Read & Write). User Name "Guest". SMB password = null. Documents saved in "PUBLIC" folder. Connected to the router with a wired Ethernet connection. (Old) Laptop computer. Windows XP 32-bit Professional Edition (SP3). IP address 192.168.1.11. Computer Name "HP-LAPTOP". Workgroup name "WORKGROUP". No domain. User Name "Bob Lxxxx". User account is password protected. Wi-Fi connection to the router. File sharing enabled. Avast Antivirus. Zone Alarm free firewall. The firewall is configured so that the IP addresses of the other specified devices are in the trusted zone. I am trying to configure my new laptop computer: (New) Laptop computer. Windows 7, 64-bit Professional Edition (SP1). IP address 192.168.1.12. Computer Name "SAMSUNG-LAPTOP". Workgroup name "WORKGROUP". No domain. Network type is "Work". ( However, I have also experimented with "Home" - without a Windows 7 Homegroup - which made no difference.) User Name "Bob Lxxxx". User account is password protected (same name and password as on the HP-LAPTOP and on the SAMSUNG-LAPTOP). Avast Antivirus. Windows firewall. The advanced sharing settings of the SAMSUNG-LAPTOP are: Network discovery - on File and printer sharing - on Public folder sharing - on Media streaming - on File sharing for devices that use 40 or 56 bit encryption - on Password protected sharing - off Allow windows to manage homegroup connections - on (but not applicable) The DESKTOP and HP-LAPTOP computers have full access to shared files on every computer (including the SAMSUNG-LAPTOP). They also have full access to files in the SMB server of the NAS drive. The HP-LAPTOP prints wirelessly to the HP laser printer (via the DESKTOP computer's USB connection). However, I am experiencing great difficulty accessing other parts of the network from the Windows 7 SAMSUNG-LAPTOP. The situation is as follows: When I configured the Windows 7 computer, Network Discover identified the other devices - and I was able to access files on the DESKTOP computer. I installed the HP LaserJet as a network computer and I was also able to map four shared drives that reside on the DESKTOP computer. Everything seemed to work OK. However, the SAMSUNG-LAPTOP has never succeeded in accessing shared files on the HP-LAPTOP or the NAS drive. More recently, the SAMSUNG-LAPTOP can no longer access shared files on the DESKTOP. Furthermore, if I open the Network & Sharing Center and click on "See full map", the menu reports that Windows cannot discover any computer or device. However, the Network section of Windows Explorer still lists: DESKTOP HP-LAPTOP NAS SAMSUNG-LAPTOP If I select any of the external devices, the Windows security pop-up asks for the following information: Enter Network Password - Enter your password to connect to: DESKTOP (or HP-LAPTOP or NAS) The next field, which is labelled SAMSUNG-LAPTOP\Bob L..., asks for a password. I have never created a "Network Password" and it makes no difference whether I leave the field blank (for the DESKTOP) or enter the correct user password for the HP-LAPTOP or NAS drive. The error message reads "Logon failure. unknown user name or bad password." However, clicking on "View/Refresh" sometimes overcomes part of the problem - and allows the SAMSUNG-LAPTOP to access shared files and the network printer via the DESKTOP computer. I have Googled the situation - and it seems I am not alone with this problem. Consequently, I have tried the following suggestions: In Local Security Policy/Security Options - Accounts: Limit local use of blank passwords to console logon only - changed to "disabled" Network security: LAN Manager authentication level - changed to "LM and LTLM - use NTLMv2 session security if negotiated" I have not changed: Domain controller: LDAP server signing requirements (not defined) Microsoft network client: Send unencrypted password to third-party SMB servers (Disabled) Network access: Sharing and security model for local accounts (Classic - local users authenticate as themselves) I have also experimented, by disabling the anti-virus and Zone Alarm firewall on the XP computers (on a temporary basis). Unfortunately, none of these suggestions has made any difference. The Windows XP computers have always had access to shared files and printers on the other devices. The Windows XP computers can also access shared files on the new Windows 7 computer. This problem only seems to affect outward networking from the Windows 7 64-bit computer. I am at my wits end, and shall appreciate some help and advice, please.

Hi BobTroll From your description, the source of your problem may be in your SAMSUNG-LAPTOP, here are some opinion of main. First, try to ping your XP computer on your SAMSUNG-LAPTOP for test. Judging whether it can access to XP computers. If not, the problem must be with the network. If ok, try to check the network discovery status. Second, checking whether your home group is off, if not, please closing your homegroup. Second, try to uninstall your Antivirus Software and close your firewall, then restart your computer. After that, try to access your XP shared folder. In addition, try to reset your SAMSUNG-LAPTOP advanced sharing settings .

Hi Roger lu I have followed your step by step instructions. I pinged 192.168.1.13 from my SAMSUNG-LAPTOP. Four ping responses were normal, which suggests that the network is OK. The Win XP computers can also access every shared device on the network. I have checked network discovery status (in advanced sharing settings). Network discovery is ON. However, when I clicked on "See full map" (in Network and Sharing Center), the map did not discover the DESKTOP, HP-LAPTOP or the NAS drive. I opened Windows Explorer and selected "Network". Initially, "SAMSUNG-LAPTOP" was listed as the only network item. Then, I clicked on View/ Refresh. The list of items expanded immediately to: DESKTOP HP-LAPTOP NAS SAMSUNG-LAPTOP When I selected DESKTOP, the complete list of the shared files and printers appeared. However, a test print from the network printer failed - and when I tried to open one of the shared files, the SAMSUNG -LAPTOP asked me to enter a Network password. It would not accept any password. I noticed also that the password window shows the domain as SAMSUNG-LAPTOP. I don't know whether this is significant. However, The SAMSUNG-LAPTOP computer is not part of a domain. Furthermore, I have never created a domain on this network and none of my computers has joined a domain. The workgroup name is the same on every device Turning to your other suggestions: Homegroup is OFF I uninstalled Avast antivirus and rebooted. I also disabled the Windows firewall. Then, I tried to reset my SAMSUNG-LAPTOP advanced sharing settings. The "save" option was not available, until I turned off network discovery and saved the change. Then, I turned on network discovery again and saved the settings. Unfortunately, none of these steps has resolved the problem. I do not like working without anti-virus protection, so I have installed Microsoft Security Essentials. I have also re-started the Windows Firewall.

Hi Roger lu Having responded to your previous post, I have discovered that without changing any of the settings, I am able to access the shared printer and the shared files on DESKTOP from SAMSUNG-LAPTOP. HP-LAPTOP and NAS are still unavailable. This is par for the course. Sometimes it works. At other times it doesn't. And networking from SAMSUNG-LAPTOP always fails, following a re-boot. I don't understand the reason. I wonder whether Windows 7 is failing to remember some of the settings.