File Sharing with Windows XP

Though the new HomeGroup feature in Windows 7 makes file sharing very simple, it is incompatible with previous versions of Windows. If you need to share files with Windows XP or Windows Vista computers, you have to rely on the old trusty filesharing mechanism:

1. To share files with other users and computers on the network, turn off passwordprotected sharing so that users can access the files without authentication.
2. Go to Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center. Click the "Change advanced sharing settings" link.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and locate the "Password protected sharing" section. Turn off the password-protected sharing, as this will allow other users to access your shared file without needing an account on your computer. Click the "Save changes" button when done.
   The previous step is needed only if you want everyone on your network to access your files. If you want to share only with specific users on other computers, you will need to create an account and password for them on your computer so that they can use it to access your files.
4. Create a folder that you want to share. For example, create a folder on the desktop and name it Common Files.
5. Right-click the folder and select Properties.
6. Click the Sharing tab and click the Share... button. You will see the File Sharing window.

Alternatively, you can also use the new "Share with" button located in Windows Explorer to configure file sharing.