Windows XP File Sharing

Wazzaʼs QuickStart
Basic File Sharing in Windows XP
Windows XP
(& Mac OS X)
This document provides a basic introduction to the built-in file sharing options in
Windows XP - how to setup file sharing on one computer, and how to access those
shared files from Windows and Macintosh computers, via a network connection.
This type of basic file sharing is known as peer-to-peer sharing, as files are shared
directly from one computer to another, without the need for a dedicated “server”.
For a more “robust” sharing environment, a dedicated file server can be employed,
using Windows Server software.
This document details the following steps in the file sharing process:
1. Setting up a network connection on a Windows XP computer.
2. Setting up Windows XP personal file sharing.
3. Accessing your shared files from a Windows XP computer.
4. Accessing your shared files from a Mac OS X computer.
5. File compatibility between Macintosh and Windows computers.
1. Setting up a Network Connection in Win XP
The computers between which you are sharing files must be connected to the same
network. These notes discuss the procedures for computers on an Ethernet network,
but similar procedures apply for a wireless network.
1. Setup TCP/IP.
Choose Control Panel from the Start menu.
2. In the Control Panel window, click on the Network and Internet
Connections icon.
3. In the Network and Internet Connections window, click on the Network
Connections icon.
4. You will see an icon which represents your computer’s Local Area Network
Connection adaptor (your network card).
Wazzaʼs QuickStart: Peer-to-peer File Sharing in Win XP
Page 2
5. Right-click on the Local Area Connection icon, and choose Properties from
the drop-down menu.
6. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), by clicking on it once to highlight it.
Click on the Properties button.
7. Enter an IP address and DNS information for your school.
A computer which is acting as a server should have a fixed IP address.
IMPORTANT: Make sure that the IP address you use is not being used by
another computer, and is not in the range of a DHCP server in your school.
Wazzaʼs QuickStart: Peer-to-peer File Sharing in Win XP
Page 3
8. You can test your IP connection by “pinging” another device on your
network, such as your OASIS server (10.x.x.16) or your router (10.x.x.1).
Choose Run from the Start menu.
9. In NSW schools, type ping 10.x.x.1, where 10.x.x.1 the IP address of your
school’s router.
10. A command-line window will open, indicating a successful connection if you
see a Reply from the router:
NSW schools can check the school’s connection to the DET WAN, by
pinging the DET’s DNS server - 153.107.37.21
Wazzaʼs QuickStart: Peer-to-peer File Sharing in Win XP
Page 4
2. Setting up Windows XP Personal File Sharing
Windows XP includes an option where you can enable file sharing, which permits
other computers on the network, and in your WorkGroup, to access files stored on
your computer.
If your computer is sharing these files on a network, it is technically known as a File
Server.
1. Check that your computer is in a Workgroup.
1.1. Right-click on My Computer and choose Properties.
Check the name of the workgroup.
1.2. Close the properties window
2. Create a new folder, which will contain your shared files.
3. Right-click the folder and choose Sharing & Security.
Wazzaʼs QuickStart: Peer-to-peer File Sharing in Win XP
Page 5
4. Click on the Sharing tab, and tick the option to Share this folder on the
network.
5. Click on Apply, then OK. Close the Sharing window.
Wazzaʼs QuickStart: Peer-to-peer File Sharing in Win XP
Page 6
3. Accessing your Shared Files from a Windows XP Computer
A computer which has file sharing enabled, and is accessible from other computers
on the network (known as clients), is known as a File Server, or simply a Server.
The computer from which you connect to the server is known as a client:
1. Check that your client computer has a suitable IP address (as discussed
previously) and is connected to the same network as the server.
2. Check that you can ping the server (as discussed previously).
3. Right-click on My Computer and choose Properties.
Check the name of the workgroup is the same as the workgroup of the
server.
4. Open My Network Places.
If a My Network Places desktop icon is not available, double-click on the
My Computer icon on the desktop, or choose My Computer from the Start
menu.
5. Click on My Network Places in the Other Places panel on the left of the
screen.
Wazzaʼs QuickStart: Peer-to-peer File Sharing in Win XP
Page 7
6. Click on View workgroup computers.
7. Choose the Win XP computer from the list of available workgroup
computers.
8. Open the computer containing the shared folder, and you will see the
shared folder.
9. You can now open the shared folders on the computer, and copy files to
and from the shared folder, depending on the access privileges setup on
the server.
Wazzaʼs QuickStart: Peer-to-peer File Sharing in Win XP
Page 8
4. Accessing your Shared Files from a Mac OS X Computer
Mac OS X computers can connect to Win XP computers, and copy files between
computers.
There must be a shared folder on the Win XP computer, and you must know the
username and password.
1. Check that the Mac OS X computer has a suitable IP address, and is
connected to the same network as the server.
2. Check that you can ping the server.
Use the Network Utility in the Utilities folder in the Applications Folder
3. Choose Connect to Server, in the Go menu of the Finder.
4. In OS X 10.3, type smb://xp.server.ip.address (with the correct IP address!)
(In OSX 10.2, choose the Workgroup to which the Win XP computer belongs,
then click on the Server to which you want to connect.)
5. Click on Connect
Wazzaʼs QuickStart: Peer-to-peer File Sharing in Win XP
Page 9
6. Enter your Win XP username and password:
Click on OK
7. Select the shared folder (known in Windows as a “share”) to which you want
to connect.
Click on OK.
8. Your shared Win XP folder will now be mounted on the Mac desktop.
9. Double-click on the icon to open the shared folder.
You can now open the shared folders on the computer, and copy files to and
from the shared folder, depending on the access privileges setup on the
server.
Wazzaʼs QuickStart: Peer-to-peer File Sharing in Win XP
Page 10
5. File Compatibility between Windows and macintosh Computers
Although this document describes how to copy files from one computer to another,
the user receiving your files may not be able to open them.
Keep these basics in mind for sharing files with others, particularly between
Macintosh and Windows computers:
1. Use a common application.
If you create a file in Corel WordPerfect, for example, the person receiving
your file must also have that application installed on their computer to be
able to open and read the file.
Without the same application, a translator can be used, though this may
result in the loss of formatting and/or graphics.
Generally, the safe option is to use widely available software, such as
Microsoft Office or AppleWorks.
If you are sharing graphics files, use common “standard” formats, such as
tiff, gif, jpg, png, etc. Graphic Converter is a useful OSX shareware
application for converting graphics files to various formats.
2. Use the correct file extension.
Windows users have become familiar with file extensions, such as .doc,
and .xls. Mac OS X uses file extensions too.
These extensions are used by the computer to identify which application
should be used to open a file.
When saving a file to share with another person, (particularly a Windows
user) be sure to save the file with the correct file extension.
When saving a Microsoft Word document in OSX, for example, be sure to
tick the Append file extension box.
Wazzaʼs QuickStart: Peer-to-peer File Sharing in Win XP
Page 11