Create a Shared Drive on your LAN

Networking computers allow you to share data through the hard drives of every computer within the network. You need to configure the hard drive for sharing data.

This works differently, as it depends on the version of Windows OS running on your computer. Check your computer’s operating system and follow the steps below to set up a shared drive.

Set Up a Shared Drive in Windows 98 and Windows ME

Step 1:
Go to “My Computer.”

Step 2:
Locate the drive you wish to share. Choose between C or D drives.

Step 3:
Right-click on the hard drive icon and click “Sharing” from the shortcut menu.

Step 4:
Select the “Shared As” option. Type the name of the shared folders. Click “OK.” Close the dialog box.

Step 5:
Set preferences for sharing. Choose from the three options available—Read Only, Full or Password Protected.

Step 6:
Verify the status. That shared file/drive will have the sign of a hand below its icon.

Set Up a Shared Drive in Windows 2000

Step 1:
Go to “My Computer.”

Step 2:
Locate the drive you wish to share. Choose between C or D drives.

Step 3:
Right-click on the hard drive icon and click “Sharing” from the shortcut menu.

Step 4:
Select the “Share This Folder” option. Click the “New Share” button to create a new share for the drive. Doing so will open the New Share dialog box.

Step 5:
Click on the “New Share” button located on the right side of the window toward the bottom.

Step 6:
Type the name of the drive you want to share in the New Share box, followed by a “$” sign. For example, type “C$” if you want to share drive C.

Step 7:
Click the “Permission” button and select the users you want to allow. You can allow up to 10 users to share the drive.

Step 8:
Click “OK” and return to the dialogue box where the “Share Name” option appears.

Step 9:
Click on “Apply.”

Set Up a Shared Drive in Windows XP

Step 1:
Go to “My Computer.”

Step 2:
Locate the drive you wish to share. Choose between C or D drives.

Step 3:
Right-click on the hard drive icon and click “Sharing” from the shortcut menu.

Step 4:
Select the “Share This Folder” on the “Network” option. Enter a name by which you wish to share this folder.

Step 5:
Select the “Allow Network Users to Change My Files” option. Click “OK.” Close the dialog box.