My XP computer can access any files my ME computer has on it through My Network but not vice versa any advice?

Question

I have no problems accessing any files off the ME computer, but when I try to access the XP files from the ME computer, it just stops responding. I don't even get to the point where Network Neighborhood would list the ME and XP computers. It just locks up and I have to ctrl-alt-del the window. How can I resolve this?

When I entered the XP ip in the ME run window, it came up with a window about 10 seconds later saying it could not find \\192.xxx.xxx.xxx etc and to try again.

When I ran the ME ip address through the XP command window though, it pulled up the ME's files just fine in another window. So it is only working one way, XP->ME but just not in reverse.

Answer 1

First make sure that you have the hard drive (or the folder you want to see) shared out on the XP machine.
(Right click on the C drive, go to properties, go to sharing, and let others see your files)

Try this: Get the IP address of the XP machine
(Start button / Run / type in: cmd
In the Windows that opens type: ipconfig
It should display several lines of info, second line is IP address
Will look like 192.168.0.100)

On the ME machine:
Start button / Run / type in \\192.168.0.100 (only use the real IP address of the XP machine with the \\ in front)
Click enter and hopefully a window will open displaying the files on the XP machine.

Answer 2

It's also possible that your XP computer's hard disk is formatted with NTFS, which Windows ME won't be able to access. The Windows ME computer will be formatted with FAT32 (possibly FAT16 if it was formatted by someone who's seriously old school). Windows XP can read a FAT partition, but Windows ME won't be able to see an NTFS partition. If they're both formatted with FAT32, then I would suspect a problem with NetBIOS. Regardless of whether or not you're running a TCP/IP network (which you most likely are), in a workgroup situation the Windows operating systems rely on NetBIOS naming to communicate and share files. The solution to this problem would be to utilize a local HOSTS file and configure your network adapters to read from it.

Answer 3

It's not a well-known fact, but Windows ME has difficulty in networking situations. As a matter of fact, Windows ME is the worst version of Windows ever. I'm really not surprised to hear your problem.

The truth behind your issue is that there is no solution. Windows ME simply will not work most of the time with communicating with Windows XP over a network. Troubleshoot it as much as you'll like but if it's not working, it never will. You're better off having Windows 2000 or Windows 98 communicate with your XP machine.