To Roland Penny and spindles_seven: Yes. I wouldn't dream of leading anyone down the garden path for basic stuff like this. I take it that Windows 7 uses SMBv1, does it? If so, then it would explain why I had to enter the IPs of my Windows XP virtual machines through my Mint host. It would also explain why I had to enter an IP to access my Windows 7 shares from my Windows 7 computer. See, my Mint box enables NT1 as the lower protocol range on smb.conf. I share my stuff on that computer using caja-share. Is that relevant? -- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus