Can't share over network

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Go into control panel/administrative tools open services and start the rpc service if it's off, also make sure the server service is running. Make sure to set them to auto if you want them too work after reboot. If you get errors starting them you may have to find out if any dependency services are failing.

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First, I assume you are logged on with an administrator account and that
you have assigned the Vista Machine to be in a workgroup (the same one as the XP machine).

after confirming the above, I may be able to help you get started...
or at least get your rpc server available again...

the RPC service not being available has any number of reasons:

try turning off Windows firewall, and see if the sharing drop-downs become available.

Do you have more than one Anti-Virus program installed? Or remnants
of an old one with a newer installed?

This issue can also occurs because the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service is not started:

To start the service:
Click Start, type services.msc in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
Locate and then double-click the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service.
In the Startup type list, click Automatic, and then click Apply.
Under Service status, click Start to start the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service, and then click OK.

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# Ensure that the following services are selected:

* Application Layer Gateway Service
* Network Connections
* Network Location Awareness (NLA)
* Plug and Play
* Remote Access Auto Connection Manager
* Remote Access Connection Manager
* Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
* Telephony

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The Group Policy editor sets up .... well "policies" or rules for the computer and it's users. It can contain entries that can deny even an administrator from changing settings on the computer through normal ways.. ie. your inability to change the setting for file sharing. It has a more restrictive nature than even Vista's UAC.

The versions of Windows Vista that have the GP feature, support Multiple Local Group Policy Objects which allows setting local group policy for individual users. Windows Vista provides this ability with three layers of Local Group Policy objects: Local Group Policy, Administrator and Non-Administrators Group Policy, and user specific Local Group Policy. These layers of Local Group Policy objects are processed in order, starting with Local Group Policy, continuing with Administrators and Non-Administrators Group Policy, and finishing with user-specific Local Group Policy.

Confused yet?

You get into the GP editor through the Run command in your start menu. in the Run box, type gpedit.msc. I would first look at the server section to see if there are any "rules" set up that disallow file sharing, or prevent the services you are having problems with from running.

GPEdit can contain all kinds of entries, so sometimes you may have to look at everything in there, to determine where the restriction is, look for entries where the settings for the "Policy" is set to "Disabled"... Unfortunately, it is not a very intuitive interface. For example, you can set an "Enable" Policy for an "autoplay is disabled" entry, which will prevent an optical disk from auto playing when inserted... see what I mean.

Be very carefull with changing things in GPEdit, and keep a record of exactly what you have changed, just in case you get an unexpected result.

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What I was getting at, is that there could be a policy set that is preventing the RPC server service from starting, not necessarily the policies for the service itself, after it is running.

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I've never seen nor heard of such a thing. Can you link to it? As far as I know user level can start rpc.

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RPC should not be dependant on DCOM.

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Just about everything is dependant on the DCOM Server Launcher (DcomLaunch) since it's inclusion in Win XP SP2....
If DCOM Server Launch doesn't start in Vista.. the computer will reboot to try to get it started.
DCOMLaunch in Vista is the service that starts practically all other services required for Vista to function.

here's a list of services dependent on DCOMLaunch:

Network Location Awareness, IP Helper, Performance Logs & Alerts, Internet Connection Sharing (ICS), Base Filtering System, Windows Connect Now - Config Registrar, Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider, Windows Installer, Remote Procedure Call (RPC), Windows Firewall, Extensible Authentication Protocol, Remote Access Auto Connection Manager, Windows Media Center Receiver Service, Parental Controls, Protected Storage, Tablet PC Input Service, Windows Management Instrumentation, Windows Audio, DFS Replication, Security Accounts Manager, Quality Windows Audio Video Experience, COM+ Event System, System Event Notification Service, Offline Files, Wired AutoConfig, Routing and Remote Access, Fax , Group Policy Client, Windows Media Center Scheduler Service, IKE and AuthIP Ipsec Keying Modules, SL UI Notification Service, Windows Defender, Software Licensing, Security Center, Telephony, Server, Function Discovery Resource Publication, Terminal Services UserMode Port Redirector, PnP-X IP Bus Enumerator, Windows Backup, WLAN AutoConfig, Network List Service, Volume Shadow Copy, Superfetch, Windows Search, Remote Registry, Certificate Propagation, CNG Key Isolation, Shell Hardware Detection, Background Intelligent Transfer Service, Computer Browser, Health Key and Certificate Management, Windows Color System, COM+ System Application, Windows Update, Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper, Distributed Transaction Coordinator, Network Access Protection Agent, Program Compatibility Assistant Service, Windows Remote Management (WS-Management), Windows Media Center Extender Service, IPsec Policy Agent, Windows Media Center Service Launcher, ReadyBoost, Function Discovery Provider Host, Smart Card Removal Policy, Application Information, Terminal Services, Virtual Disk, Network Connections, Task Scheduler, Windows Image Acquisition (WIA), Cryptographic Services, Print Spooler, Distributed Link Tracking Client, KtmRm for Distributed Transaction Coordinator, User Profile Service, Portable Device Enumerator Service, Terminal Services Configuration

here's a handy link to the services in Windows Vista: Windows Services