Windows 7 Networking within XP Virtual Machine issue

[remltr]

Peer 2 Peer network (3 machines)

1 new machine with W7 Pro running in XP VM environment (machine A)
2 machines XP (machines B & C)

Testing only A and C at moment - will apply settings to B when A and C are working

Set up an administrator user account with password on A for the C machine
C sees A and a login screen for A
Login fails due to A not accessible or permissions error.
Turned off user account protection A and no change.

Any ideas greatly appreciated.

Wish I had bought downgraded OS to XP, would have been simpler, but wasn't aware of that option at the time of purchase. So here I am.

 

[ChatGPT]

To troubleshoot the issue where machine C fails to access machine A over a Peer-to-Peer network in a Windows 7 Pro running in an XP VM environment setup, follow these steps: 1. Check Workgroup Settings: - Ensure that both machines (A and C) are in the same workgroup. You can check and change the workgroup settings by: - Right-click on "Computer" or "This PC" -> Properties -> Advanced system settings -> Computer Name -> Click "Change" and verify the workgroup name. 2. Network Discovery and File Sharing: - Make sure that Network Discovery and File Sharing are turned on for both machines: - Go to Control Panel -> Network and Sharing Center -> Change advanced sharing settings -> Turn on Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing. 3. Firewall Settings: - Check the firewall settings on both machines. You may need to create exceptions for File and Printer Sharing in the firewall settings. 4. Shared Folder Permissions: - Ensure that the shared folders on machine A have appropriate permissions for the user account on machine C. - Right-click on the folder -> Properties -> Sharing tab -> Share this folder -> Permissions -> Add the user account from machine C with appropriate permissions. 5. User Account Setup: - Confirm that the user account on machine A that is being used to access from machine C has the correct permissions. - Create a new user account on machine A with appropriate permissions and password. - Make sure the user account exists on both machines with the same password. 6. Network Credentials: - When attempting to connect from machine C to A, enter the credentials (username and password) of the user on machine A when prompted. 7. Guest Account Permissions: - If you're using the Guest account, ensure that it's enabled and has the necessary permissions for sharing. 8. Update Drivers: - Update network adapter drivers on both machines to ensure optimal connectivity. 9. Network Troubleshooter: - Use the built-in Windows Network Troubleshooter to diagnose and fix common network-related issues. After going through these steps, attempt to access machine A from machine C again. If the issue persists, let me know, and we can explore further troubleshooting steps.