i have a desktop with win2k pro on it and a laptop with xp home edition on it and they're connected through a router. the problem is that while they see each other on the network (e.g. when i try to add a network place), when I try to add a folder on 2k to xp, xp only detects the computer, but not of any of the shared folders on the 2k computer. do you guys know why this might be? thx.

Basic peer-to-peer networking with 2K and XP: Same workgroup name on both machines, very important. Different computer names for both, also important. Same username and password on both machines, extremely important. Be sure to enable "File and Print Sharing" bound to the network card. Set folder/s to share.

I was pulling my hair out on this one also. Found out it has nothing to do with usernames and passwords. Check the settings listed in the post above and then check this: There is a setting in the local policy editor (control panel > admin tools > local policy editor) that says "allow access to this computer from the network" or something like that. On my machine, it was disabled by default. Once I changed that, I had no more problems.

Crabby, can you elucidate on the local policy editor, I cant find that setting on my computer and Im having a similar problem just like you