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Troubleshooting Vista file and print services
Jonathan Hassell, Contributor
11.12.2007
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If you're new to Windows Vista, you might be stymied by changes to file and print services in this version of the operating system. The challenges for value-added resellers (VARs) rolling out Vista for new customers may be annoying, but they're not insurmountable. Here's a quick cheat sheet for some of the most common file sharing and print sharing problems in Windows Vista.
File issues
Microsoft introduced a setting in Vista called Network Discovery and disabled it by default. As a result, it's now more difficult to see other file shares, computers or devices on a network. In addition, the company inexplicably obscured the feature, needlessly complicating a simple chore. Nevertheless, you can turn Network Discovery on in the new (and nearly useless) Network and Sharing Center. Here's what to do:
You should then be able to see other file shares and devices on your local area network (LAN). If those shares and devices still aren't visible, ensure that they are assigned to the same workgroup under the Workgroup setting, which you can see by right-clicking on Computer from the Start menu and selecting Properties.
On a smaller network where there's less concern for internal permissions and security issues, you might want to simply share the ent
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ire contents of a machine's hard drive. By default, however, Windows Vista disables this option. To share contents of a hard drive, choose Computer from the Start menu, right-click the drive in question, and then select Share. In the resulting dialog box, select Advanced Sharing, then click "Share this folder" and name it. You'll then be able to see the entire contents of the root drive and all of its subfolders from network machines.
Here are a few other file-related tips:
Printing problems
In Windows Vista, Microsoft "gummed up the works" for network administrators by changing the interface that enables configuration of printers. For veteran Windows IT folks, navigating the new interface may present some challenges, such as recognizing existing network printers. Here's the most straightforward way to find a network printer:
Once you actually have a printer configured correctly on a customer's Vista computer, printing is reliable and quick. The hard part is just getting that first page to come out.
About the author: Jonathan Hassell is an author, consultant and speaker residing in Charlotte, N.C. Jonathan's books include RADIUS, Learning Windows Server 2003, Hardening Windows and most recently Windows Vista: Beyond the Manual.
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