Many users need to share computer files with other users on their networks or computers. Sharing files can be useful for sharing documents and other types of files. This article will tell you how to enable it.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: File Sharing in XP
Step 1. Run "Network Setup Wizard" on your computer to enable sharing
Step 2. Choose "Allow File Sharing" when the wizard gives you the opportunity
This option creates a "Shared Documents" folder on all computers.
The files in the "Shared Documents" folder are accessible to anyone on your network. You cannot share individual files outside the folder in Windows XP
Method 2 of 4: File Sharing in Vista
Step 1. Click "Control Panel" from the "Start" menu
Click on "Network and Internet" and choose "Network and Sharing Center".
Step 2. Make sure "network detection" is enabled
Click the chevron to expand the "Network Discovery" section of the window, if necessary, and choose "Enable Network Discovery". Click "Apply" and enter a password.
Step 3. Expand the window's "File Sharing" symbol to activate it
Click "Enable File Sharing" and then "Apply".
Enter the administrative password to confirm the selection. This option will allow you to share individual files with specific people
Step 4. Enable "Public Folder Sharing" by expanding its icon
Select "Turn sharing on so anyone with access to the network can open the files" to allow someone to see the files in this folder.
Select the "Disable sharing so anyone with access to the network can open, edit and create files" option to allow someone to check and add files to this folder. For both options, click "Apply"
Method 3 of 4: File Sharing in Windows 7
Step 1. Right click on the file you want to share
This will bring up the "Share with" menu. You can choose one of the four options in this menu.
- You can decide not to share with anyone and to make the files private. Conversely, you can choose to share with everyone on your network. You can give them a single "Read" option or "Read / Write", which gives them the ability to edit files.
- You can also choose "Specific people", which will open a file sharing wizard, so you can choose the individuals to share files with.
Step 2. Enable public sharing folders by selecting "Control Panel" from the "Start" menu
Type "network" and click on "Network and Sharing Center".
Step 3. Click "Change Advanced Sharing Settings" in the left pane and expand the Network section
Step 4. Click on the chevron to expand the network profile
Select "Enable sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in public folders" under "Public Folder Sharing".
Method 4 of 4: File Sharing in MAC 10.5 and Later
Step 1. Log into your computer with an administrator user account
Select "System Preferences" from the "Apple" menu. Choose "Sharing" from the "View" menu.
Step 2. Click on the (+) icon below the "Shared Folders" field
A browser window will appear so you can find the files you want to share. Select the desired files.
Alternatively, you can select a folder via the "Finder". Choose "Get Info" from the "File" menu of the selected folder. Click "Shared Folder" to enable sharing
Step 3. Configure users with shared access privileges
Select an existing user group or create a new one in the "User" field of the folder.
Step 4. Select the type of access you want each individual to have
The default Mac mode is "read only". Use the "Read Only" pop-up menu to change access to the other two options.
A user can "Read & Write" as well as copy, edit and delete the shared file. You can also give a user "write-only" access, which only allows the user to copy the contents of the file
Step 5. Choose the correct network protocol to communicate with the computers of the users who have chosen the shared files
Step 6. Click "Options" in "Sharing Preferences"
Select "Share files and folders via AFP" to communicate with other Macs.
