How Do I Share My Files on a LAN (Local Area Network)?
PCs set-up in a local area network can share their resources. One PC can create, copy, save, open, change and move files on another network PC. A single folder can be configured to be shared or you can configure the entire hard drive to be shared. This article will guide you through those steps.
Decide whether you want to share all your files, or just some. If you want to share the entire drive, open the My Computer window and right click on the drive you wish to share. If you will share only a folder, then select the item and right click.
If you are using Windows 98, then click on Share As and give it a name as it will appear on the network. A descriptive comment is optional.
You can choose to allow other PCs to only read a file or give full access to change or delete a file as well. You can make the share password protected if you choose.
Click OK. The shared item name should now appear in the network neighborhood screen with a hand beneath to indicate it is a shared resource.
If you are using Windows 2000 and sharing a drive, then click on the New Share button. Otherwise click on
DNP DNP DNP
Sharing Folders
After the restart, you can share a file or files that you want to use on other computers.
Locate a folder on the computer.
Right-click the file, and then click Sharing.
Enter a share name. The folder appears under this name in Network Neighborhood. You can also type a comment that describes the resource.
Note The share name and the folder name do not have to be the same.
Determine the user rights.
Determine whether all the users in the network have access, but have read-only rights.
Determine whether all the users in the network have full access.
Determine whether only specific users have access.
If so, you must assign passwords, one for read-only and one for full access.
Click OK.
The shared folder now appears with a hand:
You can access the shared folder through Network Neighborhood.
If you have selected the Read/write permission option, you can view, copy, move, change and delete files in this folder on any computer in this network. You can add new files and access subfolders and files.
You can also stop sharing in the same menu. To do this, click Not Shared. The folder will not appear in the network anymore.
You can share whole drives the same way. For example, you can share the following drives:
Hard disks or partitions
CD ROM drives
ZIP drives
Your network is now fully functional. Take a minute to optimize the configuration. Remove file and printer sharing and the Client for Microsoft Networks from the dial-up connection (only here). A dial-up connection to the Internet does not use these services. Additionally, this provides some protection against malicious users. To optimize the configuration, follow these steps:
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Network or use the shortcut previously created on the desktop.
Click the Network Configuration tab.
Click TCP/IP, click Dial-Up Adapter, click Properties, ignore the warning, and then click OK.
Click the Bindings tab.
Clear the check boxes next to Client for Microsoft Networks and File and printer sharing.
Click OK, click No, click OK, and then restart your computer.
Part 8. Sharing a Printer
You share a printer the same way you share a file. To share a printer, follow these steps:
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printer.
Right-click the printer, and then click Sharing.
Click Shared As.
Type a share name. You can also type a comment and a password.
Click OK.
The printer is now shared:
To install a network printer on the other computers, follow these steps:
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printer.
Double-click Add Printer.
The Add Printer Wizard starts. Click Next.
Click Network printer, and then click Next.
Click Browse to find the shared printer in the network. Locate the printer, and then locate the share name.
Click OK, and then click Next.
Set the printer name, and then click Next.
Print a test page, and then click Finish.
Windows configures your printer and copies the printer driver through the network.
Your printer now appears:
You can use the network printer like a local printer if the corresponding computer is turned on.
Tip If you use different Windows versions, install the intended network printer as a local printer on LPT1 first. This way, the correct drivers will be installed for the operating system. You do not have to connect the printer to the printer port to do this. Therefore, you do not have to move things. You just cannot print a test page.
To assign the printer to the correct port later:
Right-click the locally installed printer.
Click Properties.
Note The following screenshots are from Windows 95, but the process is almost the same in all Windows versions.
The Printer Properties tab varies based on the model of your printer. Look for the tab that manages the port for printer output, and then click Add Port.
Type the network path for the printer, click Browse to find the shared printer in the network, look for the printer, and then look for the share name.
Click OK to close all the windows.
You can also install Internet Connection Sharing now if you want to. Before you can do this, you must configure an Internet connection. You can find step-by-step instructions on how to do so in a different guide.
