Share Files Between Two Computers on the Same Wireless Network - Part III (Windows XP to Windows XP)

• Question:*

I have a desktop and a laptop that are connected to a wireless network. I am trying to transfer files wirelessly from my desktop to my laptop. How can I do this?

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• Answer:*

The easiest way to do this is create a shared folder on your desktop computer and map that folder on your laptop computer. This Document is going to be a two part process - Creating the shared drive / Mapping the shared drive.
Since Windows XP and Windows Vista are so dramatically different, this is going to be a four-part Document series. Each part will show the detailed steps on how to share between various XP and Vista combinations.


From Windows XP to Windows XP

Part I: Creating the shared drive

- On the computer that you want to share files from, open Windows Explorer (Start icon -> My Computer)
- Select the drive that you want to share (in this example, let's use Drive C:)
- Within the drive, Right Click on the folder that you want to share (in this example, let's use Temp) and select *Sharing and Security..*
- Under the Network Sharing and Security section, you will see a long hyperlinked statement. In short, it says that you know of the risks of enabling file sharing and to use the Network Setup Wizard. Click that hyperlink. *PLEASE NOTE: If you are not comfortable with this step, select the Network Setup Wizard hyperlink and follow the steps within the wizard.*
- In the new window, you will again be prompted if you are sure you want to bypass the Network Setup Wizard. Select Just enable file sharing and click *OK*.
- This will take you back to the original Network Sharing and Security section. Place a check mark in the box next to, "Share this folder with network."
- Leave the Share Name as it is
- In order to make changes to the shared folder, place a check mark in the box next to, "Allow Network Users to Change My Files"
- Click Apply -> *OK*
- At this point, shared folder is being created. This process may take some time depending on the amount of files you have in that folder.
- Once completed, the icon of the shared folder will have a small hand underneath of it signifying that the folder is now shared

Part II: Mapping the shared drive

- On the computer you want to share files to, open Windows Explorer (Start icon -> My Computer)
- Click Tools -> Map Network Drive
- Within the new window, click on *Browse*
- In the short list of options, look for *Workgroup*. Click the (+) to the left of Workgroup to expand the field.
- In the list below Workgroup, you should see all of the computers that are connected to the wireless network. Find the one that matches the first half of the path provided earlier (in this case, it is (my computer name)-PC. Click the (+) to the left of that entry to expand the field.
- You will then see all the shared folders of that computer, in this case, there is only one (Temp). Select that folder. The list of all the subfolders within that folder will appear, disregard them.
- Click *OK*
- This will take you back to the original window. The drive letter will automatically set itself starting from Z:. You can change that letter to any other letter that is available.
- Make sure that the box next to "Reconnect on Logon" is checked
- Click *Finish*
- A new Windows Explorer window will appear showing the shared folder and all of the subfolders. You can now copy files from and to that folder. Since both computer have access to that shared folder, all files within the shared folder are now available to each computer.