Here's How You Can Share Files With Other Computers From Windows XP

Windows XP lets you share documents, folders, and other file types with other users on the same local network, whether they're using Windows XP or a different Windows operating system like Windows 10, Windows 7, etc.

Once you enable sharing and choose what to share with other computers, you create a file server where you can transfer files between computers, share a whole computer with your network, copy videos or images, etc.

How to Share Windows XP Files Across a Network

It's really simple to share files from Windows XP; just follow our simple steps to get things going:

1. Ensure Windows XP Simple File Sharing is enabled.
    
2. Find the location of the file, folder, or drive that you want to share. One easy way to do this is to open My Computer from the Start menu.
    
3. Right-click the item or go to the File menu, and then choose Sharing and Security....
4. From the new window that opens, select the option called Share this folder on the network, and then give the item a name for it to be recognized.
   
   If you want users to be able to change the item, put a check in the box next to Allow network users to change my files.
   
   Note: If you can't select either of these options, it might mean that the file or folder is located within another folder that is set to private; you have to allow access to that folder first. Go there and open the same sharing settings, but uncheck the Make this folder private option.

1. Click OK or Apply to save the changes and enable the new shared item.

Windows XP Sharing Tips

• An alternative way to share files and folders entails moving or copying them to the Shared Documents folder located at "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents." In Windows XP, all files contained in the Shared Documents folder are automatically shared on the local network.

• The procedure for sharing files in Windows 2000 and earlier version of Windows can be accessed from the File > Sharing menu in Windows Explorer.
• Sharing files in this way does not let you share files outside of your local network. In other words, you cannot send files to your friend who lives miles away. For that, you'd need a file sharing website like NoFile.io, or a cloud storage website like Dropbox that supports public links.