File Sharing Windows 98/Me PC

How to set up File Sharing in Windows 98/Me

The following instructions explain how to set up a shared folder on a student-owned computer running Windows 98 or Windows Millennium (Me). The shared folder can be made accessible to anyone who has the password and is using a Windows machine on the Wellesley campus network.

Table of Contents

Before setting up file sharing
How to set up file sharing
How to check which folders are shared
How to remove file sharing

Before setting up file sharing

• If you are setting up file sharing on a personally-owned computer, it must be connected to the campus network in order to set up file sharing. If you need to connect your computer to the network, follow the directions on the ResNet pages for Getting Connected.
• Make sure your computer has the latest security patches and updates by running Windows Update for all versions of Windows before continuing with these instructions.
• Check your anti-virus program and make sure it is up-to-date. If you have McAfee VirusScan, make sure you have the latest version of the program and the latest virus definitions.

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How to set up file sharing

There are two steps involved in setting up file sharing on Windows 98/Me. The first step is to configure your computer for file sharing. The second step is to set up the folder(s) that will be shared. Allow 10-15 minutes for this process.

I. Configure your computer for file sharing
II. Setting up the folder that will be shared

I. Configure your computer for file sharing

You will only need to configure your computer for file sharing once. If file sharing is already set up on your computer (i.e. if you already have a shared folder on your computer), and you wish to set up another shared folder, follow the directions for II. Setting up the folder that will be shared.

1. Click on the Start button, and then select Settings > Control Panel.
2. Double-click on the Network icon. In the window that appears, make sure the Configuration tab is selected. If you do not see the Network icon, click on the view all Control Panel options link on the left side of the window.
3. In The following network components are installed: section, if you do not see File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks listed, then:
   1. Click Add.
   2. Select Service and then click Add.
   3. Select File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks.
   4. Click OK.
4. In the same window, click on the File and Print Sharing button.
5. In the dialog box that appears, check the box next to "I want to be able to give others access to my files". Uncheck the box for "I want to be able to allow other to print to my printers".



6. Click OK, then OK again; you will be asked to restart your computer. Click Yes to restart. The computer will automatically restart.

File sharing is now available on the computer.

II. Setting up the folder that will be shared

To specify a particular folder you want to share, follow these steps. These steps can be repeated for multiple folders if, for example, a certain folder must be shared with only one group of people and another folder with another group of people, using different passwords. Note: Only folders may be shared, not individual files, i.e. if you wish to share a file named blue.doc, then you must put blue.doc inside a folder and then share that folder by following the directions below.

1. Locate the folder to be shared.
2. Right-click on the folder icon and choose Sharing from the menu that appears.



3. In the Sharing tab, select Shared As.
4. Folders have 3 possible levels of access to choose from.
   
   • Read-Only - allows others to read, but not make changes to the folder. If you select this option, choose a password for the folder and type it into the Read-only Password: field.
   • Full - gives others full access to the folder--i.e., they can both read and make changes to it. If you select this option, choose a password for the folder and type it into the Full Access Password field.
   • Depends on Password - If you want some people to have read-only access but others to have full access to the folder, you can maintain two passwords, one for read-only access and the other for full access. If you select this option, choose two passwords, and type each password into the appropriate box.

     Note: The passwords show up as strings of *s; this is just for security, and the actual passwords are whatever you typed in, not strings of *s.

5. After you have entered a strong password for the shared folder, click OK.
6. Windows will ask you to confirm the passwords so make sure to take note of them and keep them in a private place.
7. The folder icon will now change into a folder resting on an arm indicating that it is being shared.

The computer will now appear as an icon in Network Neighborhood for Windows 98 and in My Network Places for Windows Me/2000/XP on any Windows PC on the network. Its name will be your username, unless it's been changed it to something else. Anyone who knows the password(s) will be able to access the folder(s) set up for sharing, so be careful about giving out the passwords. Make sure the users who are given the passwords know the importance of keeping them secure.

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How to check which folders are shared

1. Log in to another computer that is connected to the Wellesley College campus network.
2. Find the list of networked computers:
• In Windows 98, double-click on Network Neighborhood.
• In Windows Me, double-click on My Network Places.
• In Windows 2000, double-click on My Network Places > Entire Network > entire contents > Microsoft Windows Network > Wellesley.
• In Windows XP, double-click on My Network Places > Entire Network (the link is on left side of the window) > Microsoft Windows Network > Wellesley.
3. Find the name of your computer and double-click on it. The name of your computer should be your username unless you have changed it to something else. The folders that appear are all the folders that are on share on your computer.

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How to remove file sharing

To un-share a particular folder:

1. Right-click on the folder's icon.
2. Select Sharing...
3. In the dialog that appears, click on "Not Shared". Click OK.

To turn off file sharing completely:

1. Click on the Start button and then select Settings > Control Panel.
2. Double-click on the Network icon.
3. Click the "File and Print Sharing..." button.
4. In the dialog box that appears, UN-check the "I want to be able to give others access to my files" box.
5. Click OK, then OK again.
6. You may be asked to restart your computer. Click Yes to restart. If you are not asked to restart, click on Start, choose Shutdown, and then select Restart. Click OK.

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• Doug Chudzik
• Information Services
• Date Created: October 22, 2002
• Last Modified: June 2, 2003
• Expires: July 1, 2004