This link is not what you need, it refers to the Network Mapping
facility in Vista and above not computer browsing. Many people confuse
the two, that set me down a bunny trail for awhile before I figured it out.
I was experiencing this same problem, to be clear that is that computer
browsing (for example when you click on the Network icon) in a Vista-XP
network does not show the XP computers. This is NOT to be confused with
the Network mapping interface that came with Vista, just the good old
fashioned computer browse that traditionally is supported via the
Computer Browser service.
The way I fixed this was to turn off computer browser services in all
but the 2 servers and two more high-powered desktops, disabled it every
where else - including wireless-attached laptops. I read articles that
implied that if the wrong computer is a browse master things can be
spotty, especially wireless computers or old OSes (like XP). I just made
my servers and two reliable computers as the only ones running the
Computer Browser service, and disabled the service everywhere else. In
your case, have the Vista machine be the master browser (computer
browser service enabled), and disable the service for the XP machine.
Then reboot the XP computer to ensure the master browser is set properly.
I then enabled netbios over tcp/ip via the DHCP setting in my DHCP
server, and ensured it is working by checking via ipconfig /all (you
will see a line that says "DHCP enabled") on each PC. You can set this
on each PC by going to your network adapter settings, click internet
protocol version 4 (TCP/IP version 4, in XP it might just say TCP/IP) on
the properties page, click Properties, on the General tab click
Advanced, go to the WINS tab and at the bottom you can set Enable
NETBIOS over TCP/IP. In my case or if you set it on the DHCP server, be
sure that setting on the client PCs is set to Default, which will get
the setting from the server - but I don't think you have a DHCP server.
Let me know if you need to set this up on the server, there is another
step to do it there - the easiest for you in a 2 PC network is just set
it on each computer as I have explained.
In one case I had to ensure a Vista machine had file and print sharing
on in the Network Sharing Center (I think that was the Network/Sharing
change that fixed it).
You don't need LLTD that the link from another poster talks about.
Some other things to ensure - both PCs have th same workgroup name. Also
ensure you have no other network protocols running unless you know for
sure you need them (you will see these in the list where TCP/IP was, and
check it for each computer) - things like IPX/SPX is a network protocol.
Your firewall could be a culprit too, if it does not work still turn
off both firewalls and see if it works. If so report back.
This could be caused by account access/permissions too, hopefully
nothing weird has been going on there.
That's about all I can think of, after you do all these steps you should
be able to browse fine.
