- Introduction
- Using the Explorer Window
- Changing the Explorer Window View
- Opening and Viewing the Computer
- Viewing and Opening Documents
- Working with Libraries
- Working with Personal Folders
- Navigating Between Folders
- Viewing the Folders List
- Changing the Explorer Layout
- Customizing the Navigation Pane
- Organizing Files by Headings
- Searching for Files and Folders
- Saving a Search
- Changing Search Options
- Performing an Instant Search
- Performing an Advanced Search
- Performing Natural Language Searches
- Modifying the Index to Improve Searches
- Adding Properties and Tags to Files
- Creating and Renaming Files and Folders
- Copying and Moving Files and Folders
- Deleting and Restoring Files and Folders
- Changing File and Folder List Views
- Hiding Files and Folders
- Changing Folder Options
- Customizing Library Folder
- Customizing Personal Folders
- Sharing Folders or Files with Others
- Compressing Files and Folders
- Managing Files Using a CD or DVD
- Creating a Shortcut to a File or Folder
Sharing Folders or Files with Others
Windows 7 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 that each user can access. 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 to those connected to your network or Homegroup (New!), a shared network. When you specify a shared folder, you can also set access permission levels for a person or group. If you no longer want to share a folder, you can change the Share with option to Nobody (New!).
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.
- In the Navigation pane, point to a folder list to display the expand and collapse arrows.
- Click the arrow next to the Public folder (Public Documents, Public Pictures, etc.) in a library to display the Public subfolders.
- Drag the selected items onto the Public folder or subfolder where you want to share files.
Share or Unshare a Folder on Your Computer
- Select the folders you want to share.
- Click the Share with button on the toolbar, and then click Specific people.
- Share with Homegroup. Click the Share with button, and then click Homegroup (Read) or Homegroup (Read/Write).
- Unshare a folder. Click the Share with button, and then click Nobody.
- 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:
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Read. Allows viewing only.
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Read/Write. Allows viewing, adding, changing, and deleting all files.
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Remove. Deletes the current permission setting.
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- Click Share, and then 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.