Sharing files between a Windows XP PC and a Windows 7 PC over a home network

Anonymous
2009-12-17T00:07:02+00:00

I have files on an old PC running Windows XP that I would like to get onto my new PC running Windows 7. I have been trying to access the files over the network the same way that I always had with XP, by making them available over the network through the folder's properties.

I have made the files available for sharing on the XP computer, but can't figure out how to access them from the new Windows 7 PC.

PC with desired files is running Windows XP

PC to retrieve files is running Windows 7

The XP PC is connected wirelessly through a Linksys router

The W7 PC is connected to the same router via Ethernet cord

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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Anonymous
2009-12-20T05:26:10+00:00

Hi All!

This problem occurs if the Link-Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) Responder component is not installed on the Windows XP-based computer.

In order to establish the connection between the windows 7 machine and XP machine, try downloading and installing the Link-Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) hotfix. Check the link mentioned below:

Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) Responder (KB922120)

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=4F01A31D-EE46-481E-BA11-37F485FA34EA&displaylang=en

If this doesn't help, can the computer ping each other?

To do this:

  1. Get your computer name (Visit http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Find-your-computer-name for help getting your computer name). In this example we'll be using Computer1 and Computer2as the computer names.
  2. On Computer1, Click Start, type cmd and press Enter
  3. In the black and white command box, type ping Computer2 and press Enter

You should get something similar to the following:

 Pinging <###.###.###.###> with 32 bytes of data:

   Reply from <###.###.###.###>: bytes=32 time=77ms TTL=28

   Reply from <###.###.###.###>: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=28

   Reply from <###.###.###.###>: bytes=32 time=78ms TTL=28

   Reply from <###.###.###.###>: bytes=32 time=79ms TTL=28

If you get Request Timed Out, there's a something blocking communication between the computers.

Try those steps out and let me know what works!

Cody C

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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Anonymous
2009-12-18T09:04:31+00:00

Easiest way, make both workgroups the same . windows key + pause under computer. Kill password sharing in windows 7. Right mouse on the LAN in Win7, open network / change advanced. Select turn off password sharing. Make sure turn network discovery and file sharing are on.

Create a folder in XP share it. Tick simple file sharing if its off (my computer / tools / folder options / view). . Create a folder in Win 7 right mouse / properties  / sharing / share. Select everyone up the top, change the bottom to read/write. Saves you mucking around with passwords, or entering ips in to get into the other folder. To make things easier if you want to copy install files etc. Go to start/run in win7, type shell:sendto, right mouse / new shortcut. Go to the networked folder add it. Then it'll appear under the send to context menu. Do the same with XP, except type sendto under start/run. And do the same thing

If you dont have any other Win7 pc's kill homegroup. Computer, highlight homegroup / right mouse / change homegroup settings / leave homegroup

If any firewalls are installed on either (besides windows), configure them

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-04-04T02:47:49+00:00

    I've been trying also to share files and printers between a Desktop PC running Windows XP SP3 (32 bits) and a Laptop running Windows 7 (x64). After reading Windows help files and following instructions I've come to the point where I can access a shared folder of the Windows 7 computer from my Windows XP Desktop computer. But I still can't access the Desktop computer from the Laptop: In Windows 7, in 'Network and Share center' window, a simplified network scheme shows the Laptop name and the Wireless Network name, but the Desktop PC name doesn't appear in the scheme. Then I click on the "Show complete map" link and the same scheme appears as before along with a message saying that it isn't possible to place the following detected devices in the mapping: and a icon with my Desktop PC name appears. Also a link saying "Click here to show all the other devices" appears. Clicking this link opens a Network window showing both computers and a "Multimedia device" which opens the Music Library contained in the Laptop. The main point is that when I click the icon representing my Windows XP Desktop PC, a Windows Security window appears asking me to enter a network passwork required to connect to the Desktop PC: this window has two blank fields, one to type the 'User name' and other to type the 'Password'. Do I have to setup a User Account Password in the Desktop PC running Windows XP (I never did this before) in order to share folders of the Desktop PC so that these can be "seen"/accessed by the Laptop?  

    Note: I also followed Cody's suggestion and tried to install the **Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) Responder (KB922120)**in the Windows XP PC in order to make the Windows XP computer be shown in the network map of the Windows 7 Laptop computer, but this didn't work because that version of the LLTD responder must be outdated, it seems it was made for Windows XP SP2, and it cannot be installed in a computer running XP SP3. A Google search is able to find a more recent version of that Windows update (version 6), only it is an English version and seems to be "unofficial", and I haven't come to try it, mostly because I run the portuguese (Portugal)-PTG version of the Operative System.

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