So you have a network, multiple, pc’s, shared Internet, the whole nine yards, but how do you share files over the network. When using a Vista and XP machine, there are a few more steps but is pretty easy to set up. The easiest way to network files is use the standard Vista way but then you have to move your files to the shared area if you know what that is and you would not be using Vista’s cool networking features.
The key to networking a hard disk or folder is to plan two things: Where the drive or folder is going to be and the name of your network. You want to pick a place for the shared drive or folder that will be in a computer that is on the majority of the time or always on. If you create a shared drive in a computer that is turned off frequently, the other computers on your network wont be able to access the files on the disk or folder. The other thing that is forgotten frequently is the name of the network. If you are using all Vista PC’s, the name is WORKGROUP and MSHOME is the default for XP. It is important to change the name in a Vista or XP machine if you are going to share files over a network. To make things simple, this tutorial will assume all computers are Vista and not change the name of the network or "workgroup" as it is referred to in Vista. One of the cool things about Windows Vista is its auto sensing network technology which means your shared drive will be seen automatically if the workgroup is the same. Just a side note, there are many ways to share files in Windows, this is just one way.
Once the location for the shared files have been decided, the first step is to right-click on the drive or folder and select properties. From the window that pops up, click the sharing tab, then advanced sharing. Yet another Window will pop up and you need to click the box for share this folder, create a name (this will be the name identified on the network), and click permissions. In the Permissions box, you get some options for your users: full control, change, and read. Most people will want full control which will allow people to copy or read files, modify them, and save them in the shared folder. If you want people to be able to only read the files then select read but they wont be able to save to or modify the shared files. Click "OK" over and over until all the open windows with "OK" are gone. Your shared folder is now ready to be accessed.
Now you will want to be able to access the the files from the shared location to test the shared folder or drive you created. Again, there are many ways but one of the easiest is to click "Network" right from the start menu. Here is where you will be stopped by Vista’s new security features. Once the network window opens, you will see all the computers on your network, click on the computer with the shared drive where you will have to enter the username and password of the computer with the shared drive. When you enter the username and password, you might want to check remember password so you don’t have to do this again. Now you will see all available shared folders available in that computer. Just click on the folder and you will see all your files. You are finished as far as what you can do to share the folder but there is one last step you might want to do to speed up access to your folder. Right-click on the shared folder and select "Map Network Drive," select any drive letter you prefer that is not taken on your current computer, check reconnect at logon. Now this shared drive will show up with your regular drives in your computer area, you can also right-click and create a shortcut for somewhere else in your computer.
Just one more thing! You can also map a shared drive via "Computer," formerly My Computer, by clicking "Map network drive," and follow the steps to find the shared folder or drive as explained earlier.
