How To Home Network Vista Style

[Raptor]

Howdy all

It seems what was the very simple process of sharing files across a network in XP is now somewhat more difficult in Vista, and i gotta say there is not alot of info out there about it. So i thought i'd jot down a few lines and share what i have learned so far.

This is a basic home network between my desktop pc and my media centre both of which run Vista Ultimate. Connection is via a Netgear GS605 switch and a Netgear DG834 router.

Assuming you have your NIC all set up with appropriate drivers and cables plugged in (if applicable) it's time to get started. First up if you wish to change your WORKGROUP name to something else you will need to right click on the My Computer icon and head to the System screen. Here, about half way down is your computer name, domain name and workgroup settings. Click customize to change either of these settings if necessary. I change the workgroup name on mine but there really is no practical need for this. Just a reminder though, if you do change it make sure you change it on all computers.

Now off to the Network and Sharing Centre. Couple of ways to get there are either thru the Control Panel or a right click on the network system icon. This screen has the basics of what you need to get networking. A basic network map and your network status up top and the Sharing and Discovery underneath.
You want a Private network. Click on the customize button to change it from a Public network. Whislt in here you should be able to change the network name and network icon. If it is not letting you do either, your network is not up and running, so you come back to it later and change it if you wish.
In the sharing and discovery section you should have:
Network Discovery - ON
File Sharing - ON
Media Sharing - ON
Printer Sharing - ON (if applicable)
Password Protected Sharing - OFF.
You can use the Public Folder way of sharing if you wish but i do not since i have multiple files spread out over multiple drives. I haven't mucked around with this much but if you can change the location of the folders, e.g off C drive, it would probably be good for a server with a raid set up.?.?

From here your network should be up and running and able to at least get on the net and see the other computer(s) on you network, but probably not able to access them. If you are having troubles getting onto the net. Try a reboot of everything. Also if you have a firewall router, like me, you will probably, like me, need to disable the Vista Firewall. Otherwise you will more than likely have a very intermitent internet connection. Two steps to this. First head to Control Panel, then Windows Firewall, and turn it off. Back into the Control Panel when your done and then into the Security Centre. Under the Firewall section will be a link that says something like "What are my options". Head into there and select the "I have a firewall installed that i will monitor myself" option. Doing this will stop the Security Centre from chucking a wobbly everytime you move the mouse.

Ok, assuming you're network is all good it's time to share some files. Head to a file/ folder/ drive that you wish to share and right click, and Properties, Sharing tab, Advance Sharing, and tick the "Share this folder" button and name it if you wish.
Ideally this is where it would finish, and for some files it might, but most likely not. Unless you've set up both/ all computer(s) with identical usernames and passwords you will not be able to share files without setting up Permissions first.
This is the fast and nasty way. Once you have done it a couple of times you can refine it a bit more if you wish. Whislt still in the Properties click on the Security tab. Here you will see which groups and users have permission to this file/ folder/ drive and by clicking the group or user you can see below what permissions they have. Click Edit, then Add and type in "Everyone", and click OK. Now you can set the Permission level for "Everyone", just tick Full Control., Apply, OK and OK.
Repeat this for all the files/ folders/ drives you wish to share.

If you have, like me, different usernames and passwords for your pc's you will also need to set up an auto login so you are not having to type in a username and password everytime you want to access a shared file/ folder/ drive on another computer. Open the Start menu and search "netplwiz". To automate the login to your other computers for file access click on the Advance tab, and Manage Passwords button and Add. In the Log On To section enter the other computer name. In the User name section enter Computer name\user name. And in the passwords section enter the password for the other computer.

Eg. I am currently on Peter Smiths's Desktop PC and setting up permission so i can logon to John Smith's Media Centre PC and access files:

Log on to: MEDIACENTREPC
User name: MEDIACENTREPC\John Smith
Password: **********

And Visa versa, on John Smith's Media Centre PC to set up permission to logon to Peter Smith's Desktop PC:

Log on to: DESKTOPPC
User name: DESKTOPPC\Peter Smith
Password: **********

Whilst in "netplwiz" you can automate your startup logon process by highlighting your user and unticking "user must enter a user name and password to use this computer". Hit apply and you will need to enter your password a couple of times to confirm it.

Click OK and Close and you should be right to share files over you network without interruption.