How To Share a Folder the XP Way in Windows Vista
I've received a number of requests for an article on how to share a folder. I know for many of you this is a very simple operation, but I finally realized there's a reason for the confusion users are having.
Windows Vista includes a "Share" button on the explorer toolbar, but it doesn't work the way people used to XP/Win2k expect it to. Instead it pops up a wizard to make things "easier".
By default, this share button will not let you choose the name of the shared folder. Even more annoying, sharing a folder within your user directory will have a weird share name like \\computer\Users\geek\Contacts, which is much more difficult to remember.
If you want to share folders the way you used to on Windows XP, simply right-click the folder, and choose the Properties option.
Now choose the Advanced Sharing button.
Now you should be able to check the box "Share this folder", and choose a share name, which will be accessible from \\computer\myshare, for example.
You can also click the Permissions button if you want to allow write access to this share, or allow access to only a particular user.
Disclaimer: Many of our articles require making changes to your system. While we fully test and stand by our advice, there is still the potential for problems when making any configuration changes. Please be careful.
Hi
I applied this to a folder of mine, However, I still can't access or map to this network drive. Any more clues are appreciated. The Firewall is on, but allows file and printer sharing.
kind regards
Beej
Oh my god!! Thank you so much!!! I have been fiddling trying to make Vista share without that stupid wizard which I can't work out. Finally a bit of normality in vista!!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
is it possible to access the share folder of Vista from XP ??
cause I can't access share folder in vista, from XP OS. But it's possible if I access share folder in XP from vista OS.
same story here got to connect vista to read xp but the reverse or better still xp to xp wireless network folder sharing has been a nightmare for me. any help
Ditto for me. The 'Share' Button is always greyed out for any folder no matter how I set the network options. I use advanced sharing and I can then see the folder in XP but when I try to open it is not available.
ya i have the same problem with windows xp it says i cant get to the file and i dont know why anybody can help?
yaa it was bugging me too .. but yestrday i found a solution … it wrked for me … windows vists allows the users to get connected on foldersharing after loggin in with username and password of an account in the vista machine ,,,,,, just go the windows xp .. and hit the view all wrkgrp computers .. if you see you vista machine in the list just hit it and enter a user name and passwrd that already exists there in the remote vista machine ….. in case u dont see your vista computer over there u need to configure the firewall and IP address properly first of all check the workgroup name for both the systems … it should be same.. sometimes turning off the firewall works ..or u may hit some adjecnt ip adresses say " 192.168.1.10 " for one machine and "192.168.1.11″ for another … make sure the ipaddresses used are not same for any two devices …
On vista… how do you see other shared folders?
I have a desk top XP and laptop Vista basic. After 2 days and pulling out alots of my hairs I am able share files but in one way only, I can see files in XP machine from Vista machine, but problem is I have to turn off firewall on vista eveytime I want to see the shared-files. Can anyone show me the way without turn off firewall
What you guys should try is when you are in properties, there is a tab called "Security" there is a list of users, add "Everyone" to it, and check the read, write etc…
That should do the trick!
hi.
im having problems sharing files between my vista laptop and xp PC.
i can access the files on vista from my XP PC but i cant acess the files on the XP PC from my vista laptop. something is deeply wrong….:-(
ive tried all the solutions listed above ^^^
im getting rather annoyed with this as ive been trying for hours, ive turned off firewalls and have the same MSHOME workgroup on both machines but its not wroking. any help?
OMG!!!!! John. . . THANK YOU!!! You have solved my problem. I was about to throw my computer out the window because of it telling me that I didn't have access to the shared drives on my network. Thank you, again.
Eric
I have no problem seeing xp files from my vista laptop and no problems seeing vista files from my desktop. My concern is that I have password protection enabled so i entered a username and password to access the shared files on my laptop and now it doesnt ask me for the name or password anymore. I assume it still needs a password, but my desktop has saved it somewhere. My question is for how long? Restart? 10 mins? And then my other question would be how can I make it so everytime I access the folder it asks for a password?
I need help confirguring a small office here. I have four computers in this network through the router, Three pc all running windows xp and are enable for file sharing.
I have a laptop with vista that belongs to the boss that needs to be enabled for file sharing.
Is there any way i can get vista to enable file sharing
Hi - I am having the exact same problem as callum below:
im having problems sharing files between my vista laptop and xp PC.
i can access the files on vista from my XP PC but i cant acess the files on the XP PC from my vista laptop. something is deeply wrong….:-(
ive tried all the solutions listed above ^^^
im getting rather annoyed with this as ive been trying for hours, ive turned off firewalls and have the same MSHOME workgroup on both machines but its not wroking. any help?
callum on November 3, 2007 9:10 am
Did not find a response and/or solution. Can anyone help
I have the same problem. I have a workgroup of 6 machines. The XP machines can read & write to the shared folders on ALL the machines BUT while the VISTA computers can see all the machines on the workgroup they cant actually access any of the shared folders on the XP machines ???
I believe I have all the normal stuff set correctly - workgroup name, permissions, file saing etc ???
Thanx…It's working…
i have done all the things above including addinfg EVERYBODY but while my XP machines all network ok the VISTA machines cant access the XP files (but they can see the computer)?????
Lindsay
Thanks John~~ It works!
Hi,
I have both Windows XP and Vista installed in my laptop. From windows xp, I can open the files in my vista( c: ) drive but the vice versa doesn't work. I can only open txt files but I cant open pdf documents, rar files etc.
Any idea's?
Hi,
I was having trouble trying to get simple file sharing working between an XP Pro machine and Vista Home Premium. I didn't want to have to use a password to log on to windows, so after searching google a bit, I found that all you need to do is disable Password Protected Sharing. Works fine now sharing folders, however I can't get it to share my root directory D: for some reason.
Evan,
Did you give the security tab a try? and add "everyone" to the users list?
I'm having the exact problem on my home network.
Each computer can see each other but with Password Protection Sharing enabled in Vista I can't access my Vista laptop shared folders from my XP Pro PC. When I try to access the Vista machine the username and password window doesn't come up instead a box with a red circle/X comes up saying "can't access, contact server admin etc"…. I believe I have enabled "everyone" on the security tab. Just to double check, what are the steps to enable everyone???? Because it seems like there are a few different security tabs that may do different things and maybe I'm implementing the wrong one.
If Password Protection Sharing is Disabled I can access the Vista files but will this give access to computers outside the network or access to ONLY computers on the network???
Hi,
I just instauled window vista in my computer after removing window xp. now I can't open my old folders saved in my flash disk. what should I do.
jhon,
you should try your USB stick in another computer and retrieve the data that way. There is a possibility that the data is currupted or damaged (it does happend to USB sticks, hence possibly not vistas fault)
How do I make Vista default to enable the YES button when sending a shortcut to desktop by selecting File > Send > Send Shortcut to desktop OR even better hwo do I get rid of this panel and enable shortucts be sent to desktop?
How to Share folder in Vista the XP Way - this was so great. I have been hunting the web for a simple step by step guide to this - I had nearly given up. I don't have time to read a 500 page manual. Thanks so much.
I set up a share in Vista using that method, however I still cannot access the share on any other computer. I'm not quite sure if any other vista computers can access the share, as this is the only computer running vista. All the other comps are running XP Pro and XP Home. I have allowed printer and file sharing through my firewall, but it still doesnt work…any ideas?
-Trev
I'm having trouble file sharing between my XP computer and Vista computer. I'd appreciate anyone's help. The Public sharing folder works…I just want to share my other folders like I used to on XP!!!
I've completed all the file sharing steps on my vista computer. Both computers have the same workgroup name. I've disabled the firewall on my vista.
The problem I'm having is accessing any of my shared files on my vista computer through the XP computer. I keep getting an 'Access Denied…' message.
I'm able to see all files shared on my XP through Vista though.
This is pretty ridiculous. If this keeps up I'm just going to uninstall vista…PLEASE spread the word that vista is CRAP.
Anyways I'd appreciate anyone's help who has achieved the abaility to share files between XP and vista.
Ok, please disregard my last post.
Because Vista made things so easy I finally figured out how to share folders after countless hours.
If anybody has a similar problem I'll be glad to help.
plz tell me then, cuz my public folder work nice, but rest folders with full premision controll wont work… ty
write me on marko.obradovic@opticom.co.yu
tyyyyy
Here are the steps to sharing folders in Vista. Same should work for an individual fie, although I haven't tried it yet for files.
1. Right-click the folder you want to share, select 'Properties', and select the 'Sharing' tab.
http://img228.imageshack.us/my.....262eo5.jpg
2. Click the 'Advanced Sharing' button.
3. Select the 'Share' check box.
http://img252.imageshack.us/my.....972ak3.jpg
4. Click permissions to adjust the permissions.
5. Select OK. This brings you back to Sharing Properties.
6. Next, click the share button. you'll get this screen
http://img168.imageshack.us/my.....020ni4.jpg
In the drop down menu, select 'Everyone', and then click 'Add'. In the box, select the level of access for other users.
Then click 'Share'
7. You're done!!! If you did things right you should be able to share the folder on the network, and other users.
"SIMPLE STEPS" created by the Microsoft Vista team to make it "EASIER" to share folders on Vista.
about sharing a folder in vista, in addition to setting the share properties to share folder and the permissions to everyone, you need to set the security to everyone here is how:
open properties and select Secutiry tab: if you don't see "everyone" in the group or users names then click edit then add then advanced then find now, scroll until you see "everyone" then click ok, set the allow controls as you prefer, this should let you share this file of home network.
I'm having some troubles with my vista ultimate sp1. The problem is I cant share anything on vista, networks is working ok ( I can ping from winxp, also can view xp share's from vista). I've search on internet for some advices..but they all say the same , e.g: go to properties, share tab, etc ,etc. Well I DONT have that share tab/button
.
Cool. I'm going to go try this tight now!
THIS WORKS!
Note:
You have to set permissions for a folder first.
Otherwise, you won't be able to share it with "Everyone"!
Right click on the folder name.
Select Properties/Sharing/Advanced Sharing.
Click the checkbox "Share this folder".
Click on Permissions.
Click on Allow Full Control, Change or Read.
Click on Apply, then OK.
You will be returned to the Advanced Sharing panel.
Click on Apply, OK.
You will be returned to the Sharing panel.
Now, click on Share…
Click on Change sharing permissions.
The list of users will now include "Everyone".
In the drop down list at the top of the dialogue box, choose Everyone (All users in this list)
Click on Share.
Once the setting has been made, click on Done.
That's it!
HELL YEAH! TANK YOU ANDREW. I was told to do all that you told… except the last part (the "change sharing permissions" one).
It is AWESOME. I can now see my vista shared folders from xp users, vista users, and from my Xbox (from the Xbox Media Center)
Hey Bruno, It's my pleasure! All the best! Andrew H
Hello there,
Provide the permissions for the folder were set to "everyone" you also have to go to the security tab, click edit, click add, type everyone in the box, click apply and that should fix the problem everyone seems to be having hopefully.
Regards
L8ian
Deep Thanks you saved my night.
I have i computer with xp and a computer with vista
I was able to share a folder in vista so i could use it from my xp computer.
Then i tryed to share a folder on the vista computer and i was able to seen it but not enter it on the xp.
The last steps helped me…
6. Next, click the share button. you'll get this screen
http://img168.imageshack.us/my…..020ni4.jpg
In the drop down menu, select 'Everyone', and then click 'Add'. In the box, select the level of access for other users.
Then click 'Share'.
It seems like you just have to share the folder, THEN share it again and set permissions a few times…
Then click F1 can try to get some help which you cant and then click here and there and hurra for vista for fucking it all up again.
I dont see the point in changing things that worked fine just to confuse people..
But thats typical microsoft to make it that way.
Anyway thanks for the help.
When i copyed files i got "This page has an unspecified potential security risk" When Using Files on a Network Share
EVERYTIME…
Here how you disable it :
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto.....ork-share/
Listen Guys its really simple:
In "Network And Sharing Center" you have in thr middle of the page "Sharing and Discovery",
from here on then its a childplay - Just Turn on and off option you like - I recommend turning OFF the
"password protected sharing" and turning ON the "public folder sharing",
HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!
Migrating hoard (read: dozens of gig) of data to new laptop, using crossover between wired NICs on the 169.254 net. Firewall turned off on both machines, can see and copy files served XP while on the Vista machine, but could not see the Vista shares from XP, could not even ping. Just a heads up to those banging their heads like me: McAfee on the new Vista laptop was the culprit. Call me old-fashioned, I didn't think to check the Antivirus software for an active firewall.
Also, I usually use CopyHandler for batch copying on XP, but tried TeraCopy on Vista and it worked for most files, but near the end it skipped about 45 files, all ZIPs, EXE, and RAR from my installation dir. Got an Error: Access is denied. Once I figured out the McAfee problem, I could connect from my XP and push them to Vista share no problem. Mystery why Vista skipped these when other files in that directory had no problem.