Windows 7 Problems with Home Networking

[doubtingthomas]

I am trying to link up a DELL LAPTOP Home basic WIN 7 64bit OEM with a desktop running XP SP 3. The router is Quidway Huawei.

I have run thru all the suggestions of putting Network discovery on etc and all the necessary services and options are ON.

From the LAPTOP the DESKTOP PC is not visible.

From the DESKTOP the LAPTOP is visible but am unable to connect (An alert that PATH or PERMISSIONS is incorrect).

Incidentally everything was running fine and was able to transfer files etc between the 2 computers till I knocked down ONLINE ARMOR(OA) Firewall from my LAPTOP. It seems OA while uninstalling has also removed the OA helper-driver (seen earlier from Network Adapter Properties).Should I conclude that OA was infact helping Home Networking.

Why I say this is there are tons of posting on the Networking issue even with basic configuration without any special installation.

I would love to keep going again (ofcourse without OA).THe problem seems to be ingrained deep into registry? Any help is most welcome. Thanks

PS-EDIT The word "d r i v e r" does not seem to get into my post.It is actually OA helper d r i v e r

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you are encountering network connectivity issues after removing the Online Armor (OA) firewall from your laptop. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the problem:

Troubleshooting Steps:​

1. Check Network Discovery and Sharing:
   • Ensure that both the laptop and desktop have network discovery and file sharing enabled.
   • Make sure both computers are on the same workgroup.
   []Check Firewall and Anti-Virus Software:
   • Confirm that Windows Firewall or any other security software is not blocking the connection.
   • If you have another security software installed, check its settings to allow local network communication.
   []Shared Folders and Permissions:
   • Verify that the shared folders on both computers have appropriate permissions set for sharing.
   • Check that the user accounts on both computers have the necessary permissions to access shared folders.
   []Reset Network Settings:
   • Reset the network settings on both computers to default by running the Network Troubleshooter.
   []Reinstall Network Drivers:
   • Since you mentioned the OA driver might have been removed, reinstall the network adapter driver on your laptop.
   []Check Registry Settings:
   • It's possible that some registry settings related to network configuration were affected by the removal of OA. You can check for any related registry entries and make necessary corrections.

     How to Reinstall Network Adapter Driver:​

     To reinstall the network adapter driver on your laptop, follow these steps:
   []Open Device Manager:
   • Press Windows Key + X and choose "Device Manager".
   []Locate Network Adapters:
   • Expand the "Network adapters" section.
   []Uninstall Network Adapter:
   • Right-click on your network adapter and select "Uninstall device".
   • Check the box that says "Delete the driver software for this device" if available.
   []Restart Your Laptop:
   • Restart your laptop to allow Windows to reinstall the network adapter driver automatically.
   []Check Network Connectivity:
   • After the driver is reinstalled, check if the network connectivity between your laptop and desktop improves. By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot and resolve the connectivity issue between your Dell laptop and desktop running Windows 7 and XP SP3, respectively. Let me know if you need further assistance!