I have not seen this issue in any of the forums and wonder whether someone might be able to help?I have successfully networked two Desktop machines and one Laptop at home. All of "My Documents" are on my Desktop machine which is running Windows XP SP 2 and I'm trying to read these from my Laptop which is running Windows Vista Home Premium. From my Laptop, I can see and play the music files on my Desktop which show up within Windows Media Player 11 . I cannot however see more use "My Documents" on my Desktop machine from my Laptop. I have enabled sharing for "My Documents" on my Desktop machine. The Desktop machine is visible within the network view on the Laptop machine but clicking on its icon only takes me to Windows Media Player.Is this because I have enabled sharing in Windows Media Player (which I did so that I can access media files on my Laptop) and if so, does Windows Media Player11 somehow take precedence over file sharing. How can I get to my Desktop files as well as my music through my Laptop?

Hi, Please confirm if all the files that you would like to share are stored in My Documents folder on the Desktop machine and you have shared My Documents folder. Meanwhile, to better understand the issue, please collect the following information: 1. Export all resources being shared on the Desktop computer:=============================1) On the Desktop computer (Windows XP), open a Command Prompt (cmd.exe), type net share > share.txt and press Enter.2) In the Command Prompt, type share.txt to open the file and copy the content in this thread. 2. Try to access the share folder using UNC path:============================1) On the Laptop (the Windows Vista machine), click Start, type \\Ip_Address_of_the_Desktop_Computer\My Documents and press Enter.2) Please confirm if you can access the My Documents folder on the Desktop computer. If there is any error received, please let me know the exact wording of the error message. 3. Screenshot of the network view on the Laptop machine:============================On the Laptop, click Start, click Network, and capture a screenshot for me. In addition, here are some articles regarding the file sharing in Windows Vista and Windows XP: How to configure file sharing in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040/en-us File and Printer Sharing in Windows Vista http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx Hope it helps.

Dear JosonMany thanks for your efforts.1)I confirm that all the files that I would like to share are stored in My Documents folder on the Desktop machine and I have shared My Documents folder.2) The Share Text is as follows:Share name Resource Remark-------------------------------------------------------------------------------print$ C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers Printer Drivers IPC$ Remote IPC Alan's BACKUP (H) H:\ Alan's Pictures C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures iplayer_live C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Videos\My Deliveries\iplayer_live My Deliveries C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Videos\My Deliveries My Documents C:\Documents and Settings\Alan\My Documents My Music C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music\My Music My Playlists C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music\My Playlists Shared Music C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music Shared Video C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Videos SharedDocs C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ALL USERS\DOCUMENTS thumbnails C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Videos\My Deliveries\iplayer_live\thumbnails tmpcache C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Videos\My Deliveries\iplayer_live\tmpcache Printer DocuCom PDF Port: Spooled ScanSoft PDF Create! Printer11 XPSPort: Spooled Microsoft XPS Document Writer Printer2 IcePortCR: Spooled PaperPort Color Image Printer3 IcePortMR: Spooled PaperPort Black & White Image Printer4 DOT4_001 Spooled hp officejet 7100 series fax Printer5 DOT4_001 Spooled hp officejet 7100 series Printer7 HPColorLaserJet2600n Spooled HP Color LaserJet 2600n The command completed successfully.3)I typed the IP address of the Laptop and got this reply:" \\ 192.168.1.103\MyDocumentsWindows cannot access \\192.168.1.103\MyDocuments Check the spelling of the name. Otherwise , there might be a problem with your network. To try to identify and resolve network problems, click Diagnose.Error code: 0x80070043The network name cannot be found. "Clicking Diagnose gives " Windows confirmed that the server "192.168.1.103" exists but cannot find "MyDocuments" then...>"The following locations have names that are similar: My Documents". Make sure that you typed the path correctly or try connecting to one of the other locations. Click here to close this dialogue box."Putting the space in to "My Documents" brought up the My Documents folder from the Desktop on my Laptop screen!!!!4) I've done Start Network on the laptop but don't know how to capture a screenshot. However, the five icons are :alan-vaiolaptop This has a right-facing white arrow in a green circleALAN-VAIOLAPTOP:Alan This has a blue music note icon and right clicking on Properties gives a description of it as Windows Media Player SharingALAN-VAIOLAPTOP LINKSYS WAG54GS Router andALAN-SONYDESK:Alan-Sony This also has a blue music note icon and right clicking on Properties gives a description of it as Windows Media Player SharingAt least we know that my Laptop can see the Desktop PC, thank you but is there an easier way to route the Laptop to My Documents on the Desktop PC without going via Start then \\IP etc?Many thanks Alan Woods

Hi Alan, You can map a network drive for the share folder: 1. On the Windows Vista machine, click Start, type \\192.168.1.103 in the Start Search box and press OK. 2. After that, you should see all the share folders on the Windows XP computer. Then, right click the shard folder My Document, select Map Network Drive and click Finish. 3. Now, on the Windows Vista machine, click Start, and click Computer. You will see a Z drive, which is the share folder My Document on the Windows XP machine. Hope it helps.

JosonOK , I've done that.Many thanks for your help; it's much appreciated.I presume that having enabled Windows Media Playing sharing on the Desktop PC, on the Network that PC is "associated" with WMP such that other files aren't accessible from the PC's icon on the Network Map? Interesting.Presumably , when my Router refreshes Network addresses next time and depending what Pcs are "on " at that moment , I may have to remap?Anyway, I've got the basics now so thanks again