Assuming you know how to share a folder, and rather than re-invent the wheel, see http://maximumpcguides.com/windows-vista/map-a-shared-folder/ NOTE: Some people find Vista doesn't map the other drive on an XP machine (this could be Frank T's problem) so a MS update is needed on the XP machine. See http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=922120 Which includes a link for the XP hotfix Paul -----Original Message----- From: jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Gerry Winskill Sent: 05 April 2010 11:11 To: jhb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [jhb] Re: Network Mystery Paul, If you have an idiot's guide to mapping, I'm definitely qualified to Beta test it! Gerry Winskill Paul Reynolds wrote: > What's going on? Network security. When there is no network activity > for a while either the router of any of the PC's may disconnect the > network resources in line with its own network security policies - it's > a bit like saying 'The XP user isn't doing anything and it seems they > forgot to disconnect so just to be on the safe side I'll disconnect > them'. Consequently, when you go to check your network places on the > Vista machine it only sees the active links - its own shared resources > and the router. As soon as you go to the Network and Sharing Centre you > are then asking Vista to check the network for any connections this > sends a signal to the router asking for the info on which connections > are active, so both Vista and the router check each link against its > security settings and re-establishes contact with those that meet its > approval hence they show up in My Network Places again. > > > > One solution is to map to a shared folder on your Athlon from your vista > machine. This will create a virtual drive on the Vista machine which > Vista should try to keep active so it never disappears. > > > > Paul > > > > *From:* jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On > Behalf Of *Frank Turley > *Sent:* 04 April 2010 19:57 > *To:* JHB List > *Subject:* [jhb] Network Mystery > > > > I thought I would consult the gurus on this list to explain something > that has me baffled. > > > > I run a small network here, connected via a Netgear router which > connects all machines to each other and to the internet. I use my old > Athlon machine running XP Home for e-mail and downloads, and my Vista 32 > bit machine for FSX. > > > > When I download a file for FSX I save it on my Athlon machine, to a > shared directory. From my Vista machine I access the appropriate folder > on the Athlon and copy the file across to the Vista machine. All makes > sense so far. > > > > Now for the mystery. Normally, when I select Network from my Vista menu, > it brings up a folder, and listed in the folder are my machines plus the > router. Sometimes, however, it doesn't seem to find the other machines, > I just see the router listed. What makes it more mysterious, is that if > I then select Network and Sharing Centre form the network screen, and > then click on View Full Map, I can then see the other machines, so Vista > is obviously detecting their existence. Anyone seen anything like this? > Is there a cure? > > > > Frank T. >