Sharing a Folder on the Network with Windows XP

By | 2009-11-15

You’ve got your home network all setups. Now how do you share files around the house? You don’t have to be a networking guru, just follow this quick procedure.

  1. Open Windows Explorer or My Documents, and then locate the drive or folder you want to share.
  2. Right-click the drive or folder, and then click Sharing and Security. If you are sharing a drive, under the Sharing tab, click the If you understand the risk but still want to share the root of the drive, click here.
  3. Under the Sharing tab, as shown in the picture below, you can do one of the following:
    • Share this folder on the network – This allows you to share the contents of the drive or folder available to other users on the network.
    • Allow network users to change my files – This allows network users to change files over the network. This option is only available when the “Share this folder on the network” checkbox is checked.
  4. Click Apply, and then click Ok.

Keep a share name with 12 characters or less. This way other versions of Windows can access the share and will make the folder fully accessible over the network.

Author: dwirch

Derek Wirch is a seasoned IT professional with an impressive career dating back to 1986. He brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience that is invaluable to those embarking on their journey in the tech industry.

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