How can I share files between different PCs on my home network?
Windows XP gives every user a Shared Folder for this very purpose. Step one is to share some documents; go to My Computer and look for the Shared Documents folder… anything you put in here will be available. Alternatively, you can share other folders without putting them into Shared Documents by changing their security settings. Right-click on the folder you wish to share, and then click Sharing and Security. Check off the box next to Share this folder on the network. If you want others to be able to modify and delete your shared files, check off the box next to Allow network users to change my files.
To access the shared files on a particular system, type \\COMPUTERNAME into the Explorer address bar and hit enter. The window will reload and you’ll see icons for each different folder and/or device that computer is sharing. To find out the name of a computer, go to the Control Panel, double-click the System icon and then click on the Computer Name tab. You should see a line that reads “Full computer name: computername”, where computername is the name of your machine.
Caution! Sharing files on your computer makes them available to prying eyes and is a potential security risk. This threat is further heightened if you allow other users to modify your files. Do not share any of your files unless you understand the risks involved, and are absolutely sure you are not sharing any sensitive information.
