How to Share Files and Folders between two Computers with Vista using Wireless or Wired Network?
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Long back I wrote the post how to share internet connection with another computer using vista. That helps to understand how to share internet between computers if you don’t have a wireless router or a hub and if you have only one access point at home. Some of the commenter’s were asking how to share folders between computers.
So how to share files and folders in a wireless network at home or work?
Note: This method is applicable both to wired and wireless network in Windows Vista.
First you need to access Network and Sharing Center. Go to Control Panel -> Network and Internet -> Network and Sharing Center. You can also access it by clicking the network icon on the tray from the taskbar and then click Network and Sharing Center.
Here you will see the network you are connected currently and under that you find the title Sharing and Discovery. Turn on Network Discovery, File Sharing and public folder sharing. Make sure you do the same thing in the computer that you want to share files with.
To see the computers available on your network, click Network from Start or click View Network Computers and Devices from Network and Internet at Control Panel. Here you will be able to see your computer and other computers that are connected to this network with public file sharing mode.
Now, all the files that are in the public user are shared across the network. You can see these folders and files from C drive/users/public (or from the drive where windows is installed). To share a file you can just copy and paste it under the folder public.
Share files and folders from anywhere by changing its properties:
You can also share files and folders from anywhere by changing the sharing properties of the files and folders. To change its Properties, right click and click Properties. Go to Sharing tab and click Share.
Click the drop down menu and select Guest and click Add. Click Share at the bottom of the window and it will close.
By default, the guest will have view access and if you want to give access to full access or change, click Advanced Sharing from the Sharing tab and click Permissions. Select Guest and choose the permission setting you would like to give and click Ok.
Now you will see that folder under your PC apart from public in Network folder. To stop sharing these files, Click Sharing from the properties, Click share and click stop sharing.
Password Protection:
If you are sharing folders in a network where there are couple of computers and you would selectively share folders then you can opt for password protection. You can activate Password Protection from Network and Sharing Center. Now while accessing the shared folders from another computer, you need to use the User account and Password that is already there in your computer.
As a best practice, always turn off network discovery and file sharing after you are done with sharing.
[...] Update: If you are looking for how to share files and folders between computers in a network, read “How to Share Files and Folders between two Computers with Vista using Wireless or Wired Network?“ [...]
thanks,,,,
I can share files from one public folder to another public folder, but how do you share files from one c: folder to another c: folder, I have set the share in the c: folder and the permission full to everyone and I still can not share the c: folder
Before This u post about How To Share Internet Connection in XP Without Wireless Router using wireless Adapter
but i using Windows Vista
can u tell me how How To Share Internet Connection in VISTA Without Wireless Wireless Router using wireless Adapter
Thanks
@wiseguyzzjb, This article explains how to share files between computers. If you want to know how to share internet connection between Vista computers, you may have to read this. You can also apply it two vista computers which are connected through LAN card.
me and my roommates recently got a wireless router and we have his and my computer on it. and for some reason anything one of us downloads shows up on both computers, and im trying to find out how to stop it,k i tryed turning off file sharing but it doesn’t work.so if anyone knows how i can fix this problem please email me at krystlelovesme@yahoo.com with three question marks as the subject thank you.
Hi,
When I go into the Network and sharing Centre and click Public Folder Sharing the green light is highlighted with a password required message attached!!
Neither of the networked computers have any passwords. Is it possible to remove the “password required” ??
Got a problem i have two computers one Xp and one Vista and when i tried to network i can access files on Xp trough Vista, but i cannot access the files on Vista from Xp The folder icon is shown but whenever entering, gets a error saying about a Admin not allowing or something so could you help
Please give the solution
Hello,
I have connected my Desktop(having XP) and Laptop(having Vista) through Switch. But I am being unable to see any connection between them neither being able to share any folder and files.
So, please help to configure the same.
Thanking you in advance.
Junaid…
@Junaid, Its easier to connect to XP from Vista than the other way around. Try doing that with the help of this post. As I dont have XP anymore, its gonna be really hard for me to explain that with screenshots. Will try if I can get hold of any of my friends XP.
I order for a networked Vista system to see the main XP machine the XP must have the LLTD, (link-layer Topology Discovery) protocal installed on the XP machine, Google it to download.
Regards,
-dan-
Is thera a way to share a folder and the folders underneath it? Like d:\videos
Right now, the only thing I can access is the specific folder. Not the folders IN it.
hey friend,
Thankz for such a kind reply Mr.Byte.
I have got one more problem. Somehow i managed to connect my laptop(Vista) and pc(XP) and was able to share files but was unable to use internet in both simultaneously.
But now again I have got problem I mean when I ping i get reply in both laptop as well as pc but when i try to access my laptop through pc or the other way round. Sometime it is being accessible and sometimes it says permission denied.
So, if possible can you please help me with the same.
Thanking you in advance……
Junaid……
thnx dude it was really helpful
I’ve tried this between my desktop(xp) and my laptop(vista) through a wirless connection and i couldnt access internet with the laptop although everything looks gr8 in the connection
@Josh, Even though you can share files with this method, you have to have ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) turned on to access internet.
thanks Byte, it really helped me.
keep posting the helpful such things.
regards
easy think what you just showed, but show us how to share the C: DRIVE between two vista computers, or is it impossible?
Considering what I have given as example (public folders), they are part of C drive. But windows will not allow you to share the whole C drive as it impose security issue.
Dear sir ,
pls send me some importent topics for basic pc hardwere installation
Regards
Bhoopesh
How to find a share folder from your xp pc into vista laptop? i dont know what to do?
hi pls i want to create a folder in the public folder of a computer that has Vista Ultimate installed (am using it as a server sort of)bt its ot allowing me to. can u help?
my wireless network can’t access sharing folder.pleas give me a setting in wireless network sharing. i think this problem is setting problem
Thanks a lot got it working first time after hours of experimenting.