Simple File Sharing - Enable

How to Enable Simple File Sharing in Vista

information   Information
This will show you how to enable simple File Sharing for other computers on your network and or for user accounts on your computer to be able to share any file or folder set to share. You will see how to set a file and folder to be shared by a user or user group you select, and set their permission level. For more information on this, see Microsoft TechNet: File and Printer Sharing in Windows Vista.
Note   Note
When you share files and folders with people using other computers on the network, they can open and view those files and folders just as if they were stored on their own computers. Any changes you allow them to make to a shared file or folder will change the file or folder on your computer. However, you can restrict people to just viewing your shared files, without the ability to change them.
warning   Warning


  • If you change the name of a file or folder after you have shared it with someone, the previous link you sent them will not work. You should send them a link to the new location instead. See STEP THREE step 12 below.
  • When a computer on the network has password protected sharing turned on (STEP ONE step 7 below), you will need to create a user account with a password on that computer to be able to connect to and browse that computer for sharing.
  • To prevent shared folder connection failures, use your same computer user account username and password when creating a user account on each other computer on the network you want to share with.
  • If password protected sharing is turned off (STEP ONE step 7 below), computers on a network that do not have a user account with a password on your computer will need to use the Guest account. The Guest account must be turned on for them and allowed to share the file or folder. (STEP THREE step 10 below)





STEP ONE
Requirements for File Sharing with a Network

NOTE: If you are not connected to any other computer(s) on a network, then go to STEP TWO below to enable simple file sharing with only the user accounts on your computer.
1. Set the Workgroup Settings
A) Make sure all computers on the network have the same workgroup name.​

2. Set the Computer Name Settings
A) Make sure that each computer on the workgroup has a unique computer name so they can identify and communicate with each other on the network.​

3. Set the Network Location Type Settings
A) Change the network location type to Private.​

4. Set the Network Discovery Settings
NOTE: Step 3 should turn this on by default, but it is a good idea to double check to make sure.​
A) Turn Network Discovery on.​

5. Set File Sharing Settings
NOTE: Step 3 should this on by default, but it is a good idea to double check to make sure.​
A) Turn File Sharing on.​

6. Set Windows Firewall Settings
NOTE: If you are using a 3rd party firewall you might have to change its settings to allow File and Printer Sharing to.​
A) Check the exception File and Printer Sharing to allow access.​

7. Turn Password Protected Sharing to On or Off
NOTE: If you turn password protected sharing off anyone who browses to your computer from the network can access your Public folder with no questions asked. If you turn password protected sharing on anyone who browses to your computer from the network will be asked for a username and password before access is allowed to your Public folder.​
A) Turn Password protected sharing on or off.​

8. Turn Public Folder Sharing On or Off
NOTE: If you turn Public folder sharing on, then you can share files in your Public folder with other users accounts on your computer and people on the same network. If your turn Public folder sharing off, then you can only share the Public filder with users that logon on to your computer with a user account in person.​
A) Turn Public folder sharing On or Off.​





STEP TWO
Turn On Use Sharing Wizard

NOTE: This will turn on the Share context menu option and Share tab for the properties window of a item you right click on to set sharing for. This needs to be turned on to do simple file sharing.
1. Open Folder Options.​
2. Check Use Sharing Wizard (Recommended). (See screenshot below)​
3. Click on OK.​
Folder_Options.jpg







STEP THREE
Set a File or Folder to be Shared

NOTE: This will show you how to set a file or folder to be shared, allow users or groups to share the file or folder, and how the users or groups can share them.
4. Right click on a file or folder.​
5. Click on Share. (See screenshot below step 6)​
A) Go to step 7 below.​

OR
6. Click on Properties.​
Right_Click_Simple.jpg
A) Click on the Sharing tab. (See screenshot below)​
B) Click on the Share button.​
Properties_Simple1.jpg


7. If this file or folder is already set to be shared, then: (See screenshot below step 9)​
NOTE: If you do not have this set to share yet, then you will see step 10 below instead. Go to step 10.​
8. To Change the Sharing Permissions
A) Click on Change sharing permissions. (See screenshot below step 9)​
B) Go to step 10.​

9. To Stop Sharing the File or Folder
NOTE: This will stop everyone from being able to share this file or folder. Of course, you the owner and any other Administrator account on the computer will still be able to access the file or folder.
A) Click on Stop sharing. (See screenshot below)​
B) When it has stopped the sharing, click on Done.​
C) Your done. Go back to the start of the tutorial to set something else.​
File_Sharing1.jpg


10. To Allow a User or Group to Share this File or Folder
A) Click on the drop down arrow. (See screenshot below)​
File_Sharing2.jpg

B) Click on a listed user account or group to select it to allow them to share this file or folder, and click on Add. (See screenshot below)​
C) Repeat this step until you added everyone you wanted to allow to share this file or folder.​
WARNING: If you have Password Protected Sharing turned off for computers on your network, then you will need to allow the Guest account or Everyone (including the Guest account) to allow computers on the network access to share this file or folder. (See STEP ONE step 7 above)
File_Sharing3.jpg


11. Set the User or Group Share Permission Level
A) Click on the Permission Level arrow for a allowed user or group to see the permission options available. (See screenshot below step 11C)​
B) Check the permission level option you want to give to the selected user or group.​
Note   Note
Here is what the permission levels mean:
Note   Note


Level

Description

Reader

The user account or group can only view or read files in the shared file or folder.

Contributor

Permit the user account or group to view all files, add files, and change or delete only the files that they added to the folder. If you are sharing a file instead of a folder, then this option will not be available.

Co-owner

Permit the user account or group to view, change, add, and delete any files in the shared folder.

Remove

Removes the user account or group and they are no longer allowed to share the file or folder.


C) Click on the Share button.​
File_Sharing4.jpg

D) You will now see this. (See screenshot below)​
File_Sharing5.jpg

E) When the file or folder is set to share, you will see this. (See screenshot below step 12)​

12. Copy the Sharing Network Path Link
NOTE: These links can be used by the computer on a network to connect to your computer using Run or a program to share this file or folder. See STEP THREE step 7 here: How to View and Browse a Computer or Device on a Network in Vista.​
A) Click on e-mail to send the links to the allowed users or groups.​
OR
B) Click on copy to copy the links to the Clipboard to paste them where you like.​
OR
C) Write down the link displayed to store for safe keeping.​
D) Click on Done.​
File_Sharing6.jpg


13. Notice that the network path link is now listed on the properties window for the file or folder. (See screenshot below)​
A) Click on Close.​
Properties_Simple2.jpg








STEP FOUR
How to See a List of All Shared Files and Folders

14. Open the Control Panel (Classic view).​
A) Click on the Network and Sharing Center icon.​
B) Go to step 16.​

OR
15. Right click on the taskbar Network system tray icon.​
A) Click on Network and Sharing Center.​

16. Click on the option boxed in red you want to see. (See screenshot below)​
NOTE: This will open a Search window and will search and display all of the shared files or folders on your computer for what you selected.​
NS_Center.jpg

That's it,
Shawn


 

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Shawn, this worked for me but it seems i can only share one "pictures" folder for example. I have two users and when i share the first picture folder and go to share the second one, it tells me the folder is already shared. is there no user specificity with this?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 745
Hi dustinfrank,

You should be able to add the second user account in STEP THREE step 10 above, then assign the premission level for that user account for the folder.

Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Two questions.
1. Does the account name have to be the name of the computer of the party to whom you are giving access to one of your shared folders or can it be any name?
2. Can someone who is not on your network, but has the same workgroup name as you, share docs on your computer, assuming normal sharing procedures are followed?
 

My Computer

Hi Cyberbiker,

Q1) You can use any account name you like. It's just easier to keep up with and less potential for problems when using the same user name and password.

Q2) I have not tried this one myself, so I do not know if it will work that way without the computers being networked other than a internet connection. You might also post this question in the Network & Internet forum to see if someone may know.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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