How to Set Up File and Printer Sharing in Windows Vista

Whether it's a folder, disk drive, or printer, networking is all about sharing. To set up sharing in Windows Vista, click the Network Center's View Sharing Settings icon. (Alternatively, open the Control Panel and select Share Files and Folders.) Use the Network File and Printer Sharing window to set up your computer's options for sharing files, folders, and printers.

For general network access, you have two choices:

• People with a User Account and Password for This Computer Select this option to share resources only with people who know the username and password of an account on your computer.

• Anyone Who Can Connect to My Network Select this option to allow any network user to access your shared resources.

To share the Public folder, you have three choices:

• Don't Allow Network Access to the Public Folder Activate this option to prevent sharing the Public folder.

• Allow People with Network Access to Open, But Not Change or Create Files Activate this option to share the Public folder but only allow network users to read files in that folder (Reader permission).

• Allow People with Network Access to Open, Change and Create Files Activate this option to share the Public folder and allow network users to read, edit, and create new files in that folder (Owner permission).

To share the Printers folder, you have two choices:

• Don't Allow Network Access to Printers Attached to This Computer Activate this option to prevent sharing the Printers folder.

• Allow People On the Network to Use Printers Attached to This Computer Activate this option to share your Printers folder.

The Media Library Sharing group is connected to the Library Sharing feature in Windows Media Player..

Finally, you also have two links for viewing shared files and folders:

• Show Me All the Files and Folders I Am Sharing Click this link to open the Shared By Me search folder.

• Show Me All the Shared Network Folders on This Computer Click this link to open a folder window showing your computer's shared folders and printers.