Windows XP File / Printer Sharing

• File Sharing "Advanced Mode" and mixing older versions of Windows:
  • Windows XP CD has files needed for Windows 98 and other "downlevel" windows versions. See the Windows XP CD-ROM 'Install Other ...'.
  • Simple vs. advanced file sharing - see 'Tools' -> 'Folder Options, Views' and scroll to the bottom.
  [From Windows XP Workshop Notes (University of Oregon), which has a lot more info on Windows XP.]

• Description of File Sharing and Permissions in Windows XP
• How to Use the NetBEUI Protocol in Win XP (Scot's Newsletter, by Scot Finnie)

It is easier to have a Windows 98 box make its hard drive available for sharing that the other way around because Windows XP wants some authentication usually. If you want to share an Windows XP resource you may find it easier if your Windows 98 logon ID is the same as you Windows XP logon name! Most people aren't aware of their logon ID in Windows 98.

On Windows 98 make sure you have Client for Microsoft networks installed in the Network Control panel.

Make sure that both are part of the same Workgroup for simplicity. In Windows 98 that is on the identification tab in the properties for 'My Computer' (right click and choose 'Properties'). In Windows XP this is 'My Computer Properties' (right click on 'My Computer' in the 'Start' menu, select the 'ComputerName' tab and click 'Change'). Make them match in name and upper/lower case.

Right click on the resource (like 'C:' in your 'My Computer') and select 'Sharing' and start off with it wide open with no password then once you can see it and use it start ratcheting it back to make it secure.

Now a word on security. If you "bind" the client for Microsoft Networks to TCP/IP then you share to the world. Often we install something like IPX protocol and bind the client for Microsoft Services to IPX and unbind it from TCP/IP so we share on our wire but not outside. Putting passwords on this is a nice idea.

[The notes below use NetBEUI to do sharing, which is not shared to the world - that may be possible with Windows XP as well.]

Windows 9X File / Printer Sharing

To enable file / printer sharing:

1. Go to "My Computer", then "Control Panel", then "Network",
   or "Start", then "Settings", then "Control Panel",
   or right-click on "Network Neighborhood", then "Properties".
2. Install NetBEUI (under "Add", then "Protocol", then "Microsoft"), if it isn't already installed.
3. Unless you need NetBEUI for something else, remove all the "NetBEUI" entries in the "Configuration" tab except for the binding to the Ethernet card ("adapter").
4. In the "Identification" tab, set the "Computer name" and "Workgroup".
5. In the "Configuration" tab, under "Primary Network Logon", select "Windows Logon".
6. Under "File and Print Sharing...", enable file and/or printer sharing.
7. In the "Configuration" tab, select each of the TCP/IP entries in turn, and click on "Properties"; under the "Bindings" tab, de-select all entries (e.g. "Client for Microsoft Networks", "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks"), and click on "OK". A warning window will pop up warning that you have not selected any drivers to bind with - click on "No".
8. Click "OK" at the bottom of the "Network" window, and reboot the system.
9. If a login screen appears after the reboot, enter a username, and a password if desired. If you do not enter a password, you will be automatically logged in as the last username used at each reboot; if you specify a password, you must login after each reboot.
   You can change users from the "Start" menu.

To enable sharing of files from the local system:

1. You must be logged in as a user.
2. In Windows Explorer, right click on the directory to be shared, and select "Sharing...".
3. Under the "Sharing" tab, click on "Shared As:" and enable the desired options;
   you can change the "Share Name" from 'C' to the name of the local C: drive if you like,
   and select the "Access Type" ("Read-Only" means the remote machines can not modify/delete objects on the local disk, "Full" means they can).
4. Click "OK".

To access files from another system:

1. Share the files/directories on the remote system (see above section).
2. You must be logged in as a user.
3. In Windows Explorer, go to the "Tools" menu,
   or right click on "Network Neighborhood".
4. Select "Map Network Drive" and fill in the form: the local drive letter can be selected,
   the remote machine / directory is entered in the form "\\machine\directory",
   select "Reconnect at logon" to have this sharing be re-established the next time you login as this user.
5. Click "OK".

To enable sharing of a printer:

1. You must be logged in as a user.
2. Go to "My Computer", then "Control Panel", then "Printers",
   or "Start", then "Settings", then "Printers",
   right click on the printer to be shared, select "Properties", then the "Sharing..." tab.
3. You should then be able to see that printer from a remote machine under "Add Printer", and select "Network".
4. Click "OK".