Windows XP Professional and all editions of Vista and Windows 7 have advanced sharing settings. Disable the Simple or Wizard File-Sharing Interface On the connection status windows, click the Properties button. In Windows 7, open the Network and Sharing Center, click the desired connection name link in the active networks area. Then right-click the network connection and select Properties.

Here's how to get there in Vista: open the Network and Sharing Center and click the Manage network connections link on the left pane. Then right-click the network connection you're using and select Properties. To get to the Properties dialog of a network connection in XP, click Start > Connect to> Show all connections. On the network connection's properties dialog (see Figure 1) you want to make sure the File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks and Client for Microsoft Networks protocols are enabled. Thus you should double-check it, especially if you're currently having sharing problems. Ensure that File and Printer Sharing Is EnabledĪlthough Windows automatically installs and enables the protocol for file and printer sharing, it can be accidentally disabled. You can refer to the previous article (starting with the fourth full paragraph down) to discover the current file system and to convert it if necessary. Thus you should make sure you're using NTFS (New Technology File System). Verify that You're Using NTFS on Your Hard DrivesĪs discussed previously, your older PCs might be using a less-secure file system: FAT32.

Soon you'll have them all talking with each other, sharing files, printers, and media.

So in this article we'll review a few things about each of the computers. Like many of us, you'll likely have an older XP and/or Vista machine waiting when you bring home a new preloaded PC or an upgrade copy of Windows 7.Īlthough you might be able to just boot up Windows 7 and all computers automatically can see each other, sometimes you can run into problems. Now we have another Windows versionWindows 7, coming to stores in Oct 2009to add into the mix. Back when Vista was the hot topic, we wrote an article on how to network Vista and XP computers together.

Upgrade from vista to windows 7