How to Share Folders on Windows XP with Mac OS X
Mac OS X computers can access both Mac-formatted drives and Windows-formatted drives within a network. Applications such as Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office promote cross-platform collaboration through common file formats. Enable file sharing across the network on Windows XP computers through the Network Sharing wizard located in the Control Panel. Also select the folders that can be accessed by other network computers, such as a Mac. Mac OS X has a quick connect function through the Finder that accesses shared computers and folders, facilitating transfer and collaboration across the network.
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Instructions
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XP Folder Sharing
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1
Open "My Computer" by double-clicking the icon on the desktop.
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2
Select "Folder Options" under "Tools" in the top menu bar of the window and click the "View" tab.
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3
Click the box next to the option, "Use Simple File Sharing (Recommended)" to turn on this function (box is checked) and click the "OK" button.
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4
Select "My Documents" from the "Start" menu and select the desired folder.
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5
Right-click the folder and select "Sharing and Security" to open the "Sharing" tab in the "Properties" window, click the box next to "Share this folder on the network." If a "Share this folder on the network" button is not available click the "Cancel" button and proceed to Section 2 because Network Sharing must be set up before folders can be enabled for access.
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6
Click the box next to the option, "Allow network users to change my files" if desired (to enable this access).
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7
Click the "OK" button to save settings and close the Properties window.
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8
Repeat steps 4 to 8 for each folder that will be shared.
Network Set Up (XP)
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9
Select "Control Panel" from the Start menu, click the "Network and Internet Connections" button and select the "Network Setup Wizard."
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10
Click the "Next" button five times in the Network Setup Wizard (your network settings are not changed)
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11
Type the computer description and name in the corresponding fields for easy identification within the network. Click the "Next" button.
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12
Type a name for the network in the field next to "Workgroup name," if desired (the default network name is "WORKGROUP") and click the "Next" button.
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13
Select the option, "Turn on file and printer sharing" and click the "Next" button twice.
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14
Select the option, "Just finish the wizard; I don't need to run the wizard on other computers," click the "Next" button and then click the "Finish" button.
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15
Click the "Yes" button to save settings and restart the computer. Note: The computer needs to restart before the network settings take effect.
Mac Connect to XP
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16
Select "Go" in the top menu bar of the Finder and select the option, "Connect to server."
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17
Select the XP computer from the list or type "smb://" followed by the XP computer name (set up in Section 2, step 3) and press the "Connect" button.
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18
Type your user name and password in the corresponding fields, if one was assigned and click the "OK" button.
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19
Select the group of files from the drop down menu, if the shared files were grouped (most are not) and click the "OK" button.
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20
Locate the shared folders on your desktop and double-click the desired folder to access the shared files.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider setting up an external storage drive connected to the router or an Airport Extreme base station for access to shared documents. Shared folders on another computer require that the source (host) computer is on and connected to the network.
The XP computer must be turned on and not in sleep or hibernation mode for shared folders to be accessed.
