I have also fixed this problem, but it was not firewall related. I had also
tried all versions of disabling firewalls and rebooting with no luck.

It turns out that I had a Creative Live! wireless webcam in my garage from
several months back that powered on and connected, even though it wasn't
actually working. It took Network Magic to point me in this direction, where
it showed up as an unnamed device. Unplugging it resulted in all issues
disappearing. Why the simple existence of this device on the network would
prevent Vista from networking with XP systems is beyond me. I also have a
VOIP modem connected to the router, which apparently doesn't cause problems,
but which I had tried disconnecting anyway.

"Robert L [MVP - Networking]" wrote:

> Samski,
>
> Thank you for the detail feedback.
>
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> "Samski" <Samski@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:07BA9115-E6D6-472C-B880-4D4FCCA86484@microsoft.com...
> WAHOO! Its working. I disabled my firewall and booted the main pc and it
> popped up all working in myt network place... Dont know whether the pcs just
> needed a reboot or it was the firewall... Have now reconnected firewall and
> all is loverly. Here are my settings (i hope they help):
>
> Network discovery: on
> File sharing: on
> public folder sharing: off
> printer sharing: on (password protected)
> Password protected sharing: on
> Media sharing: off
>
> I also changed my workgroup name from WORKGROUP to MSHOME and briefly turned
> of my firewall (dont know how important that it). DID NOT disable anything in
> my wireless connection properties, all the tcp lltd tc things are ticked.
>
> I think microsoft could have atleast included something to detect worgroup
> names etc.
>
> oh well... good look to you guys!
>
> sam
>
>
> "Mike S." wrote:
>
> > Bob, come on, please take this a little more seriously. I have tried every
> > imaginable fix for this, including this one. All I really want to do is
> > connect thsi stupid Vista machine to my printer.
> >
> > "Robert L [MVP - Networking]" wrote:
> >
> > > Make sure all computers are in the same workgroup. Also make sure enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP. These troubleshooting may help,
> > >
> > > Step by step troubleshooting VISTA sharing
> > > http://www.chicagotech.net/forum1.htm
> > >
> > > Vista Troubleshooting Collections
> > > http://www.chicagotech.net/forum1.htm
> > >
> > > Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> > > Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> > > How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> > > "Bill Fry" <BillFry@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:450229BE-7ADF-4BBB-B102-F71EDF9EFC24@microsoft.com...
> > > I have 3 PC's, and 2 Notebooks on a home network. I purchased a Vista
> > > Machine and can not see the XP Pro Machines. I have upgraded one machine to
> > > Vista and can see the other Vista machine, but still can not see the XP
> > > Boxes. All have file sharing and all have the same Workgroup Name.
> > >
> > > I can ping the machines, just not connect to them