Short description for Windows 7 and 8 file and printer sharing:
Go into the Network and Sharing Center from the Control Panel or from the Network icon in the Notification Area. Your network must be designated 'Private' (or 'Home' or 'Work'). Click on Change advanced sharing settings. In the Private or Home or Work section you can configure File and printer sharing, Public folder sharing, and Password protected sharing.
You may want to change the Workgroup name. To check it or change it right click on "Computer" and select "Properties."
You must uninstall or properly configure any non-windows firewall (security suite).
A wizard way to enable file and printer sharing on XP:
Run the Network Setup wizard (found in Control Panel of XP). Tell it each of your computers connects to the internet via "residential gateway" and that you want to enable file and printer sharing. Create a disk at the end only if you have a PC with Windows ME or Windows older than ME.
Windows XP firewall (if SP2 or SP3) will be properly configured by the wizard (but make sure it is not set to “No Exceptions”). You must uninstall or properly configure any 3rd party firewalls on each machine. Unique computer names and same workgroup, of course.
The Shared Documents folder is automatically shared. Any other folders (or drives) or printers you want to share, just right click on them and sharing ... . When sharing a printer, accept the offer to load other drivers if your other PCs have different Operating System(s).
When you first go into My Network Places there will be nothing there. The first time you click on 'View Workgroup computers' will probably result in great disappointment. It takes awhile (up to 15 minutes) before all the computers in the workgroup get up-to-date and accurate lists of the other computers. Often you can speed up this process via Search for other computers.
When computers show up in My Network Places, double click on one to see its shares. If that includes a printer, you can right click on the printer to connect to it.
Go into the Network and Sharing Center from the Control Panel or from the Network icon in the Notification Area. Your network must be designated 'Private' (or 'Home' or 'Work'). Click on Change advanced sharing settings. In the Private or Home or Work section you can configure File and printer sharing, Public folder sharing, and Password protected sharing.
You may want to change the Workgroup name. To check it or change it right click on "Computer" and select "Properties."
You must uninstall or properly configure any non-windows firewall (security suite).
A wizard way to enable file and printer sharing on XP:
Run the Network Setup wizard (found in Control Panel of XP). Tell it each of your computers connects to the internet via "residential gateway" and that you want to enable file and printer sharing. Create a disk at the end only if you have a PC with Windows ME or Windows older than ME.
Windows XP firewall (if SP2 or SP3) will be properly configured by the wizard (but make sure it is not set to “No Exceptions”). You must uninstall or properly configure any 3rd party firewalls on each machine. Unique computer names and same workgroup, of course.
The Shared Documents folder is automatically shared. Any other folders (or drives) or printers you want to share, just right click on them and sharing ... . When sharing a printer, accept the offer to load other drivers if your other PCs have different Operating System(s).
When you first go into My Network Places there will be nothing there. The first time you click on 'View Workgroup computers' will probably result in great disappointment. It takes awhile (up to 15 minutes) before all the computers in the workgroup get up-to-date and accurate lists of the other computers. Often you can speed up this process via Search for other computers.
When computers show up in My Network Places, double click on one to see its shares. If that includes a printer, you can right click on the printer to connect to it.