File Sharing Between Vista & W7

[sleddriver]

I'm having a [censored] of a time trying to share files between W7 and Vista!! Royal PITA....

Problem #1:
I'm unable to change the name of the WORKGROUP Vista assigned; it's grayed out. The W7 machine is on a different workgroup and I want Vista to use it.

Problem #2:
Not sure if the WORKSTATION service has anything to do with this, but I'm unable to start it. I get the error msg #1079 "the account spec'd for this service is different from the account spec'd for other services running in the same process."

Problem #3:
In Vista, file sharing is stuck on CUSTOM rather than ON and I'm unable to change/affect/modify it. It immediately reverts upon any attempt to do so.

My purpose is to use the largely free disk space on the Alien LT HD to store the old files from WXP HD mentioned above, so I can wipe it, the clone the failing W7 drive to WXP. However, #$%^! Vista refuses to allow me to make the necessary changes and is being most uncooperative!

Please Advise!
TIA...

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Obvious question: Do you have Admin rights on your Vista machine to make these changes?

 

[raytseng]

depending how many files you hsve and if you have have direct access to the machines you're better off just using an usb stick if you dont have too many files. or to take out the hdd and attach it to the new computer and copy the files if you have a lot of files.

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted By: raytseng
or to take out the hdd and attach it to the new computer and copy the files if you have a lot of files.

OP,
linky link

This would also be a good exercise to clean dust-wool from both computers.

 

[theeagleflies]

A few clearing cobwebs in memory seem to reveal something about professional and enterprise versions can share files easily via a home network; not so much with the home or lower versions of Win Vista and Win 7. So depending on the version of your Win 7 and Vista; you may be better suited to remove the HD and put a USB adapter on it and transfer files that was mentioned previously.

 

[sleddriver]

Well I've finally figured it out...mostly. I can move files from W7 machine to Vista LT, but don't have access/permission to go the other way.

I was able to change the LT's workgroup to match that on W7 and upon restarting, the LT appeared under Network on the W7 machine. Wow...what a strange trip it's been wading through this....doesn't help that MS has removed a lot of key networking Vista docs from their site resulting in dead links.

Transfer speed from W7 to Vista LT is MUCH slower than I figured though: 11MB/sec?? W7 ntwrk adap = Intel 82579LM Gigabit Ntwrk Conn. Alien LT sports two: Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapt. & NVIDIA nForce 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet.

So why am I stuck at 10Mbp/s? Could it be I'm going through the router? Would it be faster if I used a USB cable between both machines instead?

This is the first time I've ever connected the LT to another machine. It does have 'net access through ADSL, but neither conputer was config'd to see the other.

Also, this LT was given to me. I didn't set it up, config. it, etc.

 

[sleddriver]

I just realized something...the WXP SATA drive is in an external box connected to the W7 machine through a USB 2 cable!! No wonder....

Actually, I can unplug this HD from the W7 machine, plug it into the LT and eliminate the network. I'll try that.

Indeed MUCH faster...about 3X. Now up to 34Mb/sec.

 

[raytseng]

see my post above. use a usb stick or usb hard drive is easiest. be sure you get at least usb 2.0 device. usb3 may or may not have speed benefits

 

[sleddriver]

Moving off the recent entire-sys-backup file would take a 60G+ stick.

I could have saved myself some earlier grief by simply connecting the WXP drive-in-a-USB-box to the LT directly in the first place! However I was stuck on getting the networking...working. All that work for 10Mb/sec?? Something (else) is backed up..WUWT?

Clearly, not thinking clearly. Stress does that.

Now I'll be able to proceed with cloning the W7 install from the failing drive to WXP...after I move these files off onto the LT.