Enabling File and Printer Sharing in Windows XP

File and Printer sharing is required for sharing your computers resources. In addition, a special share, called the admin$ share is used to remotely manage and install software on Windows XP systems. By default file sharing is blocked in the firewall. The following steps will enable file and printer sharing in Windows XP.

Step 1:

• Go to Control Panel -> Network Connections -> Local Network Connections, Right Click and Click Properties

Step 2:
Make sure that following services, protocols are enabled and set up properly.
Note: Default configuration is recommended.

• Minimum components
• Client for Microsoft Networks
• File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
• Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
• Recommended services, if supported
• QoS Packet Scheduler

Step 3:

• Open Windows Firewall from Control Panel
• A. Make sure that the Firewall is Enabled and the Don't Allow Exceptions is Disabled unless the computer is located within an unsecured network.
• B. Click on the Exceptions Tab when finished

Step 4:

• Enable File and Printer Sharing on the Exception List.

Step 5:

• Open the control panel.
• Click on the tools menu, and select “Folder Options…”
• Select the view tab. Scroll down and make sure “Use simple file sharing” is unchecked.
• Click OK.

Sharing is now on
NOTE: Make sure you have set a password, or you will always get an access denied message when trying to connect to a remote machine.