File Sharing Windows XP Pro PC

How to access a shared folder from a domain Windows XP Pro computer

The following instructions explain how to access a shared folder from any faculty/staff, classroom or public lab computer running Windows XP Pro. The shared folder may reside on a domain Windows 98, 2000, or XP Pro computer. As reference, only computers owned by Wellesley College (i.e. faculty/staff or public lab computers) are domain members. Computers not owned by Wellesley College are NOT domain members.

For file sharing, Windows 98 and Me use share-level access while Windows 2000 and XP Pro use user-level access. Therefore, in order to access a shared folder on a Windows 98 or Me computer, only a password is necessary to access shared folders; it does not need to know who is accessing the folder. In contrast, Windows 2000 and XP Pro computers require each user to have a user account (username and password) on the computer, so only those who have been given access to a shared folder may view and or use files within that folder.

Table of Contents

Before accessing a shared folder
How to access a Windows 98 shared folder
How to access a domain Windows 2000 or XP Pro shared folder
How to access a non-domain Windows 2000 or XP Pro shared folder
How to add a Network Place in Windows XP

Before accessing a shared folder

• Know the name of the computer that the shared folder resides on (usually it is similar to the user name of the computer's owner).
• The computer that the shared folder resides on must be powered on and connected to the campus network in order for you to access the shared folder.
• Know the username and password of the account that has access to the shared folder.

Back to the Top

How to access a Windows 98 shared folder

1. If you are not logged into the computer, log in as you normally would.
2. Click Start > Run.
3. In the Open field type \\ComputerName
   

   

   
   
4. When the new window opens Double-click on the folder you have access to.
5. In the login window, type in the password for that folder; you may leave the username field blank.
   

   

   
   
6. Click OK.

The folder's contents will now be displayed in a window. What you are allowed to do in this folder depends on the permissions the owner has given you.

Back to the Top

How to access a domain Windows 2000 or XP Pro shared folder

1. If you are not logged into the computer, log in with the Domain username that has access to the folder.
2. Click Start > Run.
3. In the Open field type \\ComputerName
   

   

   
   
4. When the new window opens Double-click on the folder you have access to.
5. If your account has been given permission to view this folder you should not be prompted for a username or password.

The folder's contents will now be displayed in a window. What you are allowed to do in this folder depends on the permissions the owner has given you.

Back to the Top

How to access a non-domain Windows 2000 or XP Pro shared folder

Note: The non-domain computer you are accessing must be connected to the Wellesley College campus network.

1. Click Start > Run.
2. In the Open field type \\ComputerName
   

   

   
   
3. When the new window opens Double-click on the folder you have access to.
4. In the window that appears, type in the username and password of the user account you have been given in order to access that shared folder.

   

5. Click OK.

The folder's contents will now be displayed in a window. What you are allowed to do in this folder depends on the permissions its owner has given you.

Back to the Top

How to add a Network Place in Windows XP

Adding a Network Place creates a shortcut to the shared folder in the My Network Places window. If you are constantly accessing the same shared folder, adding the folder as a Network Place will give you easy access to the shared folder.

1. If you are not logged into the computer, log in as you normally would.
2. Double-click on My Network Places on the desktop.
3. In the Network Tasks section on the left side of the window, click on Add Network Place.
4. In the Add Network Place Wizard window, click Next.
5. Select Choose another network location and click Next.



6. In the Internet or network address field, type \\computer name\shared folder name. For example, if the computer's name is bluebird and the name of the shared folder is My Pics, then type in: \\bluebird\My Pics.
7. Click Next.
8. You may change the name of this shared folder (as it appears on your computer) by typing a new name for it in the Type a name for this network place field. Click Next.
9. Click Finish.

The newly added Network Place (shared folder) will open in a new window. The shortcut to the shared folder will appear in the My Network Places window with the name you have specified.

Back to the Top

• Doug Chudzik
• Information Services
• Date Created: October 22, 2002
• Last Modified: October 11, 2005
• Expires: July 1, 2004