Win 7 machine has network discovery and file and printer sharing enabled. Password protection disabled. The xp machine can access the "users/public" folders, but will not access a shared drive.

I suggest you re-do the drive sharing on the Windows 7 machine: Right-click Computer > Manage > Storage > Disk Management, then right-click the drive graphic > Properties > Sharing Tab > Advanced Sharing > tick Share this folder and type in a Share Name > Apply > OK. Now go to the Security Tab > Edit > Add then type ‘Everyone’ (not the quotes) > Check Names > OK and below it select your preferences, e.g. Full Control, etc. > Apply > Reply Yes to any security message > Keep pressing OK to any ‘deny’ messages > OK, etc. to finish.

I suggest you re-do the drive sharing on the Windows 7 machine: Right-click Computer > Manage > Storage > Disk Management, then right-click the drive graphic > Properties > Sharing Tab > Advanced Sharing > tick Share this folder and type in a Share Name > Apply > OK. Now go to the Security Tab > Edit > Add then type ‘Everyone’ (not the quotes) > Check Names > OK and below it select your preferences, e.g. Full Control, etc. > Apply > Reply Yes to any security message > Keep pressing OK to any ‘deny’ messages > OK, etc. to finish. Thanks for the info, the only problem is that it says "A object named everyone can not be found". How and where do I add 'Everyone' ? thanks

Type Everyone in the box underneath the words 'Enter the object names', then continue as my post above.

Thanks- I don't know why it wouldn't take the first time but it works now, one final question - When I give permission to share this drive then it seems I must also set each folder and it's sub-folders to share. Sharing the entire drive doesn't automatically share the entire drive? thanks

I’m glad you sorted it out. Drive sharing works for me. However, if you’re sharing the system partition, it’s a different story.