XP computer cannot access Windows 7 Computer in Workgroup

[Guest JamesPHood]

I have two computers, a Desktop running Windows 7 (wired internet connection) and a laptop running XP (wireless connection), both connecting to the internet through the same router. I did have them set up to network to each other and I could share files etc no problem. Owing to various problems with my Windows 7 PC I had to reinstall Windows 7 on it. For some reason I can't seem to get the network set up properly again. This is what I'm getting:

 

- Windows 7 computer can access files on XP laptop no problem at all

 

- Windows XP laptop can ping the Windows 7 PC but can't access the workgroup (yes I've checked they have the same name!)

 

 

If I try going into the workgroup ("view workgroup computers") in XP I get the following error: "Workgroup is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The specified network name is no longer available".

 

 

If I try connecting directly by running \\windows7PCname then I get the following error: "\\windows7PCname is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The specified server cannot perform the requested operation".

 

 

Even stranger because a few hours ago it could at least connect to the workgroup and the users/Public folders on the Windows 7 machine but no matter what I did with sharing options in Windows 7 couldn't make it share the libraries for the single user (and I don't recall having these problems when setting it up last time). Unfortunately I'm not sure what I did that made that stop working, because I've tried so many different fixes from various web searches, none of which have had any positive effect!

 

 

Any help much appreciated - I have no idea why it is causing so much trouble this time when I got the two machines networking perfectly last year...

 

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