Share and share alike, we always say. And when it comes to your home network, we're sure you'll agree that being able to share files—documents, pictures, music, and whatever else you store on your computers—between all of the computers in your house is a handy idea.

Here's all it takes to start sharing:

• Give each computer a name
• Assign a workgroup name
• Set up a protocol (Windows* XP* only)
• Enable file sharing
• Share your folders

First, name each of your computers and assign a workgroup name.

You'll need to give each computer a name and assign a workgroup name. Setting up a file-sharing workgroup is just a way to associate all of your computers with one another so they can work together, similar to a human workgroup where a collection of individuals all work together on the same task. In larger networks, such as those in the business world, groups of Windows computers are usually set up as a domain, instead of a workgroup. Here, we're assuming you're setting up file sharing on a home network that uses a workgroup.

Note: Each computer in your house must have a unique name, and they must all have the same workgroup name. When choosing a name for each computer, make it easy to recognize. For example: "Den computer" for the computer in your den.

1. Go to your computer's desktop.
2. (Windows Vista*): Right-click the Computer icon, and then click Properties.
3. (Windows XP*): Right-click the My Computer icon, and then click Properties.
4. (Windows Vista): Click the Change settings link, and then click Change.
5. (Windows XP): Click the Computer Name tab, and then click Change.
6. Enter a unique name for your computer and a workgroup name (this will be the same for each computer), and then click OK repeatedly to close each dialog box.
7. Restart your computer.
8. Repeat steps 1 through 5 for each computer you want to add to your file-sharing workgroup.

For Windows XP only, set up the IPX/SPX protocol

In Windows XP, file sharing requires a communications protocol, IPX/SPX, for your computers to talk to each other over the network.

1. Click the Start button, select Settings, then Control Panel, then Network Connections, and then Local Area Connection (or whatever connection the computer uses to connect to the network).
2. In the Local Area Connection Status dialog box, on the General tab, click Properties.
3. In the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box, on the General tab, scroll the "This connection uses the following item" list and look for the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol entry.

Do one of the following:

If the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol entry appears in the list, the IPX/SPX protocol is already set up.

4. Click OK repeatedly to close each dialog box.
5. Restart your computer.

OR

If the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol entry doesn't appear in the list,

4. In the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box, on the General tab, click Install.
5. In the Select Network Component Type dialog box, select Protocol.
6. In the Select Network Protocol box, select the IPX/SPX protocol, and then click OK repeatedly to close each dialog box.
7. Restart your computer.

Note: To enable IPX/SPX protocol and file sharing on older versions of Windows, see the Microsoft articles Enable IPX/SPX file and print sharing on Windows 2000 and Enable IPX/SPX file and printer sharing on Windows 95*, Windows 98*, and Windows Millennium Edition*.

Enable file sharing.

You've set up almost everything. Now you need to give the computer permission to do the sharing.

Windows Vista:

1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center and verify that the entry File sharing is On.
2. If it's not, click the down arrow next to the entry, select the On option button, and then click Apply.
3. Click OK repeatedly to close each dialog box.
4. Restart your computer.

Note: In some cases, the dialog box will indicate that you need to turn on file sharing using your firewall software. In this case, refer to the documentation that came with your firewall software.

Windows XP:

1. Click Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet Connections > Network Connections.

   The Network Connections dialog box displays.

   Note: In some cases, to open the Network Connections box, you'll need to click Start > Settings, right-click Network Connections, and then click Open.

2. On the Advanced menu, click Advanced Settings.
3. On the Adapters and Bindings tab, under Connections, click Local Area Connection.
4. In the Bindings for Local Area Connection list box, under the File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks entry, clear the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) check box.
5. Click OK repeatedly to close each dialog box.
6. Restart your computer.

Share the actual folders.

You're almost there. You've made all of the system-wide settings you need to share files among your computers. There's just one more thing—you need to share the individual folders that contain those files:

Windows Vista:

1. On the desktop, double-click My Computer, and then right-click the folder you want to share.
2. Click Share...
3. In the File Sharing dialog box, click the arrow next to the down arrow at the top of the screen (shown in the picture circled in red), and then select the name of the person you want to share the folder with. To share it with everyone in the workgroup, click Everyone.
4. Click Add, and then click Share.
5. In the confirmation dialog box, click e-mail to open an e-mail message that contains a link that others in your network can use to access the folder you just shared with them.

Windows XP:

1. On the desktop, double-click My Computer, right-click the folder you want to share, and then click Sharing and security...
2. On the Sharing tab, under Network sharing and security, select the Share this folder on the network check box, and then enter a name for the folder (pick a name that describes what's in it, like "Bob's music.")
3. Click OK repeatedly to close each dialog box.
4. To access the folder from any computer in the workgroup, double-click My Computer, and then click My Network Places.
5. Locate the name of the shared folder you entered in step 2. You'll be able to open it just as if the file resides on the computer you're using.

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