Once your network is set up, you’ll need to set all your computers to share their files and folders.
Share files safely with other computers
Click the Start button, then Computer. Right-click on the folder containing the files you want to share, and select Share with. A further pop-up menu will give you a list of your network choices, such as Homegroup.
Choose the group to share with, choosing to either Read, which only lets others see inside the folder, or Read/Write, which also allows others to add files to the folder.
It’s possible to allow access to a whole drive but we don’t recommend it for security reasons. To do so, browse My Computer, right-click on the drive and follow the same process as before.
Share files on your home network
Click the Start button, then click Control Panel. Type network into the Control Panel search box, then click Network and Sharing Center.
In the left panel, click Change advanced sharing settings.
Expand the network profile by clicking the arrow, then click Turn on file and printer sharing, then click Save changes.
You may have to enter your administrator password at this point.
Share files using Public folders
Click the Start button, then click Control Panel. Type ‘network’ into the Control Panel search box, then click Network and Sharing Center.
In the left panel, click Change advanced sharing settings.
Expand the network profile by clicking the arrow, then click Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files, then click Save changes.
You may have to enter your administrator password at this point.
If you can successfully access another computer on your network but can’t see a shared folder, you have to create at least one shared folder on the computer you are connecting to.
Contact the computer’s owner to ensure they can create a shared folder.
Create a homegroup in Windows 7
Windows 7 allows the creation of a special network called a ‘homegroup’. This is usually your secure home wireless network and it allows a high degree of trust between devices on that network, making it easier to share documents, music and photos.
You need to create a homegroup with a password and then use this password to give permission to other computers to access your homegroup.
Click on the Start button and then click Control Panel. In the Control Panel window, type homegroup into the search box and in the list of results, click HomeGroup.
Click Create a homegroup, then follow the instructions on screen.
If a homegroup has previously been set up on your network, then click Join now instead of Step 2, and follow the instructions on screen.