Share Files and Folders using Windows XP?

Infopackets Reader Steve 'notjourney' writes:

" Dear Dennis,

I have Windows XP Professional and Office 2003. There are 3 people who use the machine. All 3 need to be able to modify Excel and Access files. I have put these files in the shared folder and yet only I can modify them. The other 2 users can only read them. I have tried everything I can find including making them both administrators. Nothing has worked. What do you suggest? By the way, thanks for all the help you have given me in other areas. "

My response:

It sounds to me like your share privileges are not set properly. To set your share privileges, right click the folder you're sharing, select Properties, and then go to the Sharing tab. Ensure that "Share this Folder on the Network" has a checkmark beside it and type in the Share name. Then, ensure that "allow network users to change my files" has a checkmark.

Sharing files in this manner works for multiple user IDs on the same computer (as in Steve's case), and network shares (I.E.: having two or more computers connected to a home or office network which are sharing files).

On a related note, here are a few general tips you can use to share files over a home or office network:

1. You must have administration access rights to configure your computer to share with other computers.
    
2. Both server and client machines must be using the same network protocol to communicate with one another (such as NetBUI or IPX). Also note that TCP / IP protocol will only work for Internet shares (I.E.: sharing an Internet connection).
    
3. When configuring your network, ensure that all computers use the same WorkGroup name (for example, "WORKGROUP", or "HOME_OFFICE"). This is configurable through Device Manager (Control Panel -> System -> Computer Name tab -> Network ID button).
    
4. File Printer and Sharing services need to be enabled for your Network Connection (via the Control Panel). File Printer and Sharing also needs to be enabled on the client machines.
    
5. Not all folders can be shared (example: C:\windows won't share using Windows XP). Any folder that is shared needs to be labeled (or "set") as a Shared folder. To share a folder using Windows XP, right click the Folder, select Properties, and then go to the Sharing tab. As I mentioned above, ensure that "Share this folder on the betwork" has a checkmark beside it and type in the Share name. Then, ensure that "Allow network users to change my files" has a checkmark (but only if you want network users to be able to modify files on your computer).

Additional Network Help for Windows XP

For step-by-step instruction on how to setup a home network, use the Network Setup Wizard accessible via the Control Panel -> Network. The Configuration Wizard is located on the top left of the screen under the "Network Tasks" Window. And for related help, Click Start -> Help, and type in "Using the shared documents folder", or "sharing files and folders".