Sharing Folders or Files with Others
Windows Vista maintains a set of personal folders and options for everyone on your computer to make sure the contents of each user’s personal folders remain private. The contents of your personal folders are private, unless you decide to share the contents with others who use your computer. If you want the other users on your computer to have access to files, you can place those files in a shared folder called the Public folder (New!) that each user can access. The Public folder contains subfolders to help you organize the files you are sharing, and include Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures and Videos. If you’re connected to a network, the files in the public folder are available to network users. You can also share files from any folder on your computer that you want to designate as a shared folder. When you specify a shared folder, you can also set access permission levels for a person or group.
Share a File or Folders from the Public Folder
Open the drive or folder containing the files or folders you want to share.
Select the files or folders you want to share.
Click the Folders link to display the Folders list.
Click the arrow next to the Public folder to display the Public subfolders.
Drag the selected items onto the Public folder or subfolder where you want to share files.
See AlsoSee “Setting Network Sharing Options” on page 374 for information on controlling access to a public folder over a network. |
Share Any Folder on Your Computer
Open the drive or folder containing the files or folders you want to share.
Select the folders you want to share.
Click the Share button on the toolbar.
Do any of the following:
Type the name of the person with whom you want to share files, and then click Add.
Click the arrow to the right of the text box, click the person’s name, and then click Add.
Click the arrow to the right of the text box, and then click Create a new user to create a new user account.
Click the arrow next to the permission level for the person or group, and then select a sharing permission:
- Reader. Allows viewing only.
- Contributor. Allows viewing and adding files, and changing or deleting files they add.
- Co-owner. Allows viewing, adding, changing, and deleting all files.
- Remove. Deletes the current permission setting.
- Reader. Allows viewing only.
Click Share, and the wait while Windows sets up sharing.
If you want, click the e-mail or copy link to notify people you have shared this folder and files.
Otherwise, click Done.
