How To Share Files between MS Windows 9x PC's using Microsoft Network

Jerry Winegarden
Duke University, OIT

Revised: 6/21/01

Connecting PC's in a Local Area Network (LAN)

"WHY TO": There are TWO reasons to connect PC's to each other in a LAN:

• File sharing (including CD drive)
  • Share one CD drive with machines without a CD. Helps with software installation!
  • Software which keeps data on each user (e.g. GED Interactive study software or Accelerated Reader) can be installed to a folder on a common shared disk drive, so that a student can sit down at ANY computer, log in, and have the results of the session recorded in the common (shared) database for that application.
  • If files are saved to one machine, back ups can be simplified, since backups only must be done on one machine (the one with shared folders).
• Printer sharing - turn a "personal" printer into a "network" printer

=>Start=>Settings=>Control Panels=>Network=>TCP/IP (for the ethernet adapter, NOT Dialup Adapter) ==> IP Address ==> Use server (Not manual)

Once TCP/IP networking is installed in the Network Control Panel on a MS WIndows PC, the Internet Application Programs must be installed.

HOW TO Share Folders (either whole disk drive or subfolders) from a MS Windows 95/98 PC:

1. Enable file sharing in Network Control Panel (click on button)
   • ==>Start
   • ==>Settings
   • ==>Control Panels
   • ==>Network (control panel)
   • Should have: "Client for Microsoft Network" and
   • ==> "File and Printer Sharing" button
     • ==> I want to share my files
     • ==> I want to share my printers
   • ==> OK
   • ==> OK
   • Note: Windows will seek to install or re-install some Windows System software after making changes in the Network control panel settings. You might need to insert the MS Windows 9x installation CD (or specify where the .cab files are (e.g. C:\windows\options\cabs, or C:\windows\system)
   • Restart your machine? ==> Yes

2. Create a new folder to share (if you want)
   • ==>My Computer==>C:==>File==>New==>Folder==>NewFolderName(e.g."Shared")
3. Share a specific Folder (or Printer) from a PC
   • Go to a My Computer (or Windows Explorer), click on a folder Icon (e.g. C: or open C: and select individual folder, perhaps called: "Shared"),
   • ==>File==>Sharing==>Shared (and give a share name))

4. To access a folder that has been already shared by another PC on the LAN:
   • =>Network Neighborhood =>Machine Name (if it shows up, if not, double-click on the Workgroup name, if no Workgroup names show up, double-click on Whole Network, then on the workgroup, then on the machine).
   • Double-click on the machine name, list of Folders which are shared up, double-click on the folder to open it up
5. To make a "permanent" connection to this folder from your PC, MAP NETWORK DRIVE:
   • ==>Select folder
   • ==>File
   • ==>Map Network Drive
   • ==>Drive letter (from list: E, F, G, H, ...)
   • ==>Enter Share name.
   • ==> Click on "reconnect at startup" box
     to make this a PERMANENT connection. This Disk drive shows up in My Computer List as if you had another disk drive on your PC.
   • (Note: the sharing computer must be turned on first for reconnect at startup to work on the other computers)
6. To save to this common folder, now that "Shared on xxx (F:)" shows up in My Computer
   • Use "SAVE AS" when you save a document to save to correct folder in the Shared folder:
     • Click on triangle to right of "Save in: My Documents" (click_here)
       Pops down menu of places to save to
     • ==>"Shared on xxx (F:)" (or whatever you called it)
     • Select the subfolder of Shared to save into (if there is one)
       For example, if you created a folder for each student in your class
       then student should select his or her own folder here
     • Check to see that File Name box has the correct file name to save as
     • ==>Save

To share a printer between MS Windows 95/98 PC's.

There are several printer sharing methods.

1. Microsoft Networking
2. print server box
3. TCP/IP network printers

1. Printer sharing via Microsoft Networking

1. Share the printer from the PC that it is connected to (via parallel cable).
   ==>Network Control Panel==>File and Printer Sharing
2. Add NETWORK printer
   
   • ==>add printer
   • ==>network printer
   • ==> Browse the network
   • ==>name of computer that's sharing its printer
   • ==> name of printer
   • you will have to have the printer driver installed
     (may say have disk at this point if you have the disk that came with the printer).

Note: if you share a printer or a folder, then that computer MUST be turned on first or the other computers will not be able to see it to get the shares from. You will have to restart the other computers to see the shared printer or files otherwise.

2. Printer sharing via Linux Print Server Box

Linux computer provides PC print service via Samba (SMB). In this case, the Linux machine is acting exactly like a Windows 98 computer running Microsoft Network, so it should show up in Network Neighborhood, and it's shared printers should be accessible in exactly the same way as any other Windows machine which has shared its printers.

3. Printer sharing via Print Server Box

There are two types of Print Server Box:

• Microsoft Network print server - no special Client software required
  HP print server

• TCP/IP network print server - TCP/IP print client software required DLink print server

4. Printing to TCP/IP Network Printer