xp pro computer is inaccessible

[rdwickman]

I have 1 desktop comp at home running xp pro. Then I have 3 laptops. 1 with 7, 1 with xp pro and 1 with vista. I was always able to access the desktop from all the laptops until....

The desktop was not allowing me to upgrade to internet explorer 8. When I searched for a solution on microsoft's website, they suggested using a fixit or whatever. It had something to do with security settings. I ran the fixit thingy and then I was able to successfully install ie8. But I was unable to access anything on the desktop from the laptops, including the printer. I can access all of the laptops from the desktop. But cannot access the desktop from any of the laptops, when i try double clicking on the computer icon for the desktop from one of the laptops i get a pop-up window that says i don't have permission to access the computer.
??????????

[stokes1900]

first check that your pc is is connected to network. then check whether it is in same workgroup. check with ping command. and ensure that file sharing is on

[rdwickman]

first check that your pc is is connected to network. then check whether it is in same workgroup. check with ping command. and ensure that file sharing is on

I tried all of those things with no luck. I ended up just wiping out the hard drive and doing a clean install of xp. Problem solved. Now I can run IE8 and all the computers in my home are speaking to one another.

[zeroth]

I've seen this issue before...obviously something has changed the permissions on internetwork communications.

The culprit, in my case, was Norton's. Whenever I bring on a computer, even a new one, onto my network, I make certain to get rid of Norton's, in the case of a new computer, even before I do anything else.

On the Symantec website, you can find a utility to wipe Norton's completely off the computer. zeroth