There are two desktops, wired Vista and wireless XP. The workgroups are the same, the accounts are the same, both have good internet connections, I have shared the folders I want on the Vista machine and ALLOWED everyone full access, the type of network is private, I downloaded that mapping patch on the XP machine so it can be seen in the networking window on the Vista machine, I can ping the XP from the Vista, I can ping the Vista from the XP, all access tries were done from accounts in the administrative group.

problems
1. I can only see the Vista machine sporadically from XP.
2. When I do see it I can not access it.
3. I can not see the XP from the Vista.

What did I miss or do wrong and how can I get them to see each other consistently?

Both MACHINES in the same Workgroup ? ?
This often gets overlooked...Yeah, both in the same workgroups, file and printer sharing enabled too. Best bet is to START over and re-create the Network under another Network name...In Vista, if I share a folder on C: do I have to share C:? I know sharing in XP WORKS with just sharing the folder (plus all the other STUFF).Besides "do it again", are there any other answers to this problem? And the question about sharing?