How to Network Windows 7, Vista, and XP Computers > Verify that You're Using NTFS on Your Hard Drives. Back when Vista was the hot topic, we wrote an article on how to network Vista and XP computers together. Now we have another Windows version. 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. Although you might be able to just boot up Windows 7 and all computers automatically can see each other, sometimes you can run into problems. So in this article we'll review a few things about each of the computers. Soon you'll have them all talking with each other, sharing files, printers, and media. Verify that You're Using NTFS on Your Hard Drives. As discussed previously, your older PCs might be using a less- secure file system: FAT3. Thus you should make sure you're using NTFS (New Technology File System). 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. Ensure that File and Printer Sharing Is Enabled. Although Windows automatically installs and enables the protocol for file and printer sharing, it can be accidentally disabled. Thus you should double- check it, especially if you're currently having sharing problems. 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. To get to the Properties dialog of a network connection in XP, click Start > Connect to> Show all connections.
Then right- click the network connection you're using 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 and select Properties. In Windows 7, open the Network and Sharing Center, click the desired connection name link in the active networks area. On the connection status windows, click the Properties button. Disable the Simple or Wizard File- Sharing Interface. Windows XP Professional and all editions of Vista and Windows 7 have advanced sharing settings. When you use the advanced method, you can better control sharing using Permissions. You'll be using a similar approach among your computers, regardless of their Windows version. Here's how to disable the simple or wizard- based sharing interface: Open Computer or My Computer. Click Tools and select Folder Options. You should have all the computers that you want to share with each other set to the same group. Because some Windows versions have different default workgroup names, you should decide on a particular name and verify that each computer is set to the same. To find the current Workgroup of a Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7 machine, right- click the My Computer or Computer shortcut from the desktop or start menu and select Properties. You'll see the computer name, domain, and workgroup setting on the System window. While you're at it, you can also verify that you have descriptive computer names, so you can tell which PC is which when you browse the network. Set Up Your Home Network, Windows 7 Edition. With Windows 7, you can more easily share files and printers across a network via the new Home. Groups feature. Home. Groups lets you connect to files and printers with a group password- -if all the PCs have Windows 7. But I'll show you how to get your Windows 7 PC to play nicely on a network that also has Macs and XP/Vista PCs. Set Up Windows 7 to Share a Printer. If you have people regularly printing on a PC while you're using it, check the second box to offload some of the processing to those systems. Windows can share a printer with other PCs on your network, so everyone in your household can connect as long as your printer and PCs are on. Here's how to set up this sharing in Windows 7. Open Devices and Printers from the Start Menu, and double- click your printer. Pick Customize your printer, and click the Sharing tab in the following window. Select the Share this printer checkbox. Unless you're connecting a bunch of similar PCs, I recommend skipping the option to download additional printer drivers on the host system. Just take a moment to configure everything once on each client. With different combinations of 3. Vista, Windows 7, and XP PCs, it's more hassle than it's worth to try to plan ahead here. Approve the options and close the Properties window. Share a Printer From Vista and XPKeep the printer name short and without spaces to help support many operating systems. If you would rather connect your Windows 7 PC to a printer on an XP or Vista system, here's how to configure those operating systems. In Windows Vista, open the Printers control panel, and right- click your printer. Click Sharing, and press Change sharing options. Now, click Continue, then Share this printer. Click OK. It's a similar process in XP. Open the Printers and Faxes control panel, and right- click your printer. Click Share this printer, and click OK. Connect to a Shared Printer in Windows 7. Click the second button to march through the wizard screens. Here's how to use a shared printer from your Windows 7 PC, whether the printer is connected to a Windows 7, Vista, or XP computer. In Windows 7, open Devices and Printers from the Start Menu, and pick Add a printer. Click the second option to add a network printer, and pick your printer from the list. Click Next, and wait for the printer driver to be located. If you want this printer to be the default printer, make the necessary selection, and click Finish. Windows 7 couldn't automatically locate the printer driver for my aging- but- strong Epson Stylus Photo R1. If you face the same problem, manually download the driver from the printer company's Website, and browse to it when prompted. Want to update your drivers in Windows 10, 8, 7, XP & Vista? Don't worry even if you don't wish to manually update windows drivers. Download driver whiz now. Windows 10 64 bit / Windows 10 / Windows 2003 / Windows 8 / Windows 7 / Windows Vista / Windows XP / Windows 2K. Want a network without a "boss" computer or cumbersome. How to Transfer Files and Settings from a Windows Xp or Vista Pc to Windows 7 With an External Hard Drive. This article is to demonstrate a way to transfer data from. If that still doesn't work- -it didn't for me- -try installing the printer driver before trying to connect to your designated network printer. When I did this, Windows 7 afterwards had no problem reaching my network printer. Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, Windows Home Premium, Windows Home Premium upgrade, Windows Vista Home Premium Edition.
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November 2017
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