How to Share files from any folder on your computer on Windows Vista

Follow these steps to share files from their current location without copying them to another location. Using this method, you can choose the people with whom you want to share files, regardless of whether they use this computer or another computer on the network.

1.Locate the folder with the files you want to share.

2.Click one or more files or folders that you want to share, and then, on the toolbar, click Share.

3.In the File Sharing dialog box, do one of the following:

•Type the name of the person you want to share files with, and then click Add.
•If your computer is on a domain, click the arrow to the right of the text box, and then click Find. Type the name of the person you want to share files with, click Check Names, and then click OK.
•If your computer is on a domain, click the arrow to the right of the text box, click Everyone to share the files with everyone on your network, and then click Add.
•If your computer is on a workgroup, click the arrow to the right of the text box, click the person's name in the list, and then click Add.
•If your computer is on a workgroup and you don't see the name of the person you want to share files with in the list, click the arrow to the right of the text box, and then click Create a new user to create a new user account so that you can share files with the person using this account.

The name of the person or group that you selected appears in the list of people you want to share files with.

NoteIf your computer is on a workgroup, you have the option of turning password protection on or off. If password protection is turned on, the person you are sharing with must have a user account and password on your computer in order to access the files and folders you are sharing. You can turn password protection on or off in the Network and Sharing Center.

4.Under Permission Level, click the arrow next to each person or group and select sharing permissions:

•A Reader can view shared files, but not add, alter, or delete them.
•A Contributor can view or add shared files, but can only alter or delete files he or she has contributed.
•A Co-owner can view, add, alter or delete any shared file.

Picture of permission level drop-down menu

Choose how much access to give people to your files

Note If you are sharing a file instead of a folder, there is no option to set the permission level to Contributor.

5.When you are finished choosing the people or groups you want to share files with, click Share. Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

6.After you receive confirmation that your folder is shared, you should send a link to your shared files to the people you are sharing them with, so they know the files are shared and how to access them. Do one of the following:

•Click e‑mail to automatically open a Windows Mail e‑mail message containing the link to your shared files.
•Click copy to automatically copy the link displayed on this screen to the Windows Clipboard. Then open a new e‑mail message and paste the link into the message.
•Manually copy and paste the link displayed on this screen into an e‑mail message. Right-click the link and click Copy Link. Then open a new e‑mail message and paste the link into the message. You might want to do this if you don't use Windows Mail as your e‑mail program.

Note If you change the name of a file or folder after you have shared it with someone, the previous link you sent them will not work. You should send them a link to the new location instead. An easy way to get this link is to share the file or folder by following the preceding steps.

7.If you don't want to send an e‑mail message to the person you are sharing files with, click Done. They won't be able to find the shared files, however, until you give them the network location of the files.