Windows 7 gives users the ability to share files and folders with friends and family at home, or with colleagues in the office. In fact, it has a useful wizard that simplifies the process of sharing folders, especially in a work environment. If your computer is connected to a homegroup, workgroup, or domain on a specific network, and you want to know how to share files and folders, read the following article.
Steps
Step 1. Determine if your computer belongs to a homegroup, workgroup, or domain
To start sharing folders and follow the steps correctly, you need to know which network you belong to.
- Find out if your computer is part of a homegroup by clicking the "Start" button, or the Windows logo, at the bottom left of the screen. Click on "Control Panel". In the search box at the top right, type "Network", and click the "Network and Sharing Center" link when the search results appear. Check the status next to the "Homegroup" field. If the status is "Enrolled" or similar, then your computer belongs to a homegroup.
- Find out if your computer is part of a workgroup or domain by clicking the "Start" button, or the Windows logo, at the bottom left of the screen. Right click on "Computer" and select "Properties". In the "Computer name, domain and workgroup settings" section you will see the words "Workgroup" or "domain", followed by the name.
Step 2. Add a shared folder to a homegroup
Find the folder you want to share and right click on it. Go to "Share with" and choose the desired option for sharing between Homegroup (read), Homegroup (read / write), or Specific users.
- Select "Homegroup (Read)" to share the folder with all homegroup computers in read-only format. No one else will have the ability to modify or delete the folder and its contents.
- Select "Homegroup (read / write)" to allow each computer belonging to the homegroup to read, modify and delete the folder and its contents.
- Select "Specific users" to open the file sharing wizard, it will allow you to choose the users you want to share files with. Once the wizard is open, type a user's name or click the arrow to view a drop-down menu with all the names included in the homegroup. Choose the desired permission level by choosing between "read" or "read / write". "Read" will allow users to read files, but will not allow them to modify or delete them. "Read / Write" will allow users to read, modify and delete files. Click on the "Share" button at the bottom of the wizard to complete the operation.
Step 3. Add a shared folder to a workgroup or domain
Find the folder you want to share and right click on it. Click on "Share with" and choose "Specific users" to open the sharing wizard.
- If the computer is part of a workgroup, click the arrow next to the text box and select the correct name from the list. Click on "Add" to add a shared folder to the workgroup.
- If the computer is part of a domain, click the arrow next to the text box and select "Find users". Type the correct name in the dialog box next to "Select Users or Groups" and click "Check Names". Click on "OK" to proceed.
- Set the desired permission level by choosing between "read" or "read / write". Under the "Permission Level" column, choose the desired option. "Read" will allow users to read files, but will not allow them to modify or delete them. "Read / Write" will allow users to read, modify and delete files. Click on the "Share" button at the bottom of the wizard to proceed. Depending on your network setup, you may need to enter an administrator password or confirm the operation.
- Tell users that you have shared new items with them. If you have an e-mail program, click "E-mail" to send users a link to the shared folder, or click "Copy" to copy the displayed link to the Windows clipboard and paste it into an e-mail message, an instant message, or in another program. Click on "Finish" to complete the operation.
Step 4. Check if a folder is shared
To view the details of a shared folder or file, open Windows Explorer by clicking the Start button, or the Windows logo, in the lower left corner of the screen. Click on the username to view the folders and files. Click on any file or folder to view sharing details in the lower pane.
Step 5. Remove shared folders
If you want to stop sharing a folder, right click on the folder you want to stop sharing; click on "Share with", and then on "None".
