I purchased 2 identical IBM Thinkpad T61p laptops with Vista Ultimate pre-installed. I did a normal default setup and created a private workgroup network with my XP desktop PC. I shared my documents directory on all 3 computers and they could all see each other and transfer files with no problem for about 2 months. Then one day, one of the Thinkpads (A) was not visible on the network. It could see and access the other computers but they couldnt see or access it. Here are the steps I took to try and resolve the problem. 1) I checked the firewall on (A) and all settings where the default and the same as Thinkpad (B). 2) I ran ipconfig /all, all Ethernet LAN settings were normal. 3) I ran a port scanning utility on Thinkpad (A) and found port 445 was NOT open. 4) I checked the Network and Sharing Centre on (A) and all items in Sharing and Discovery where turned on except Password Protected Sharing and Media Sharing. 5) I selected View Status and in the Local Area Connection Status dialog box, I selected Properties and File and Print Sharing for Microsoft Networks was NOT checked. I checked the item and closed the dialog box. Port 445 was now open and all computers could now see and access Thinkpad (A). The problem is File and Print Sharing for Microsoft Networks is NOT checked after any boot up and has to be manually checked to make Thinkpad (A) visible on the network. My question is how can File and Print Sharing for Microsoft Networks not be checked when the Network and Sharing Centre says file and print sharing are turned on? Could local Group Policy settings be affecting something? I checked both Thinkpads and they have the same identical default group policy settings. Could a registry setting be out of whack? Where do you start looking for that in the new expanded Vista registry? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hello Rocky, This may be specific to Thinkpads rather than Windows Vista. If you haven't already, please check your laptop for any software that maybe overriding the Windows Settings. Please see the followinglink for more details. File and Printer sharing turned off on reboot http://www.chicagotech.net/netforums/viewtopic.php?p=4329#4329 -- Eric Cross Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Thank you very much Eric! Your suggestion FIXED my problem ... finally. I should have known that ThinkVantage was screwing things up. It has since I bought the laptops. They are great laptops but I just wish I could get rid of ALL that ThinkVantage software. It causes the laptop to take up to 20 minutes just to boot. Because their software is so intricately entwined with Vista, Im afraid to delete it for fear of destroying the OS. Its hard enough braking in a new OS, but to add all that crapware on top geeeesh! I called Lenova several times about this problem but their support staff was less than useless. All they suggested was to re-install some or all of the CrapVantage software. IBM must just cringe when they see what Lenovo has done to their leading laptop. Again, thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Rocky

You're very welcome! Glad it worked. -- Eric Cross Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) http://mvp.support.microsoft.com