Windows 7 & XP File and Printer Sharing
Sharing Files and Printers Between Windows 7 and XP
If you maintain a home network utilizing Windows 7 alongside older systems running Windows XP, you may desire to enable file sharing between these different operating systems. This article details the necessary steps to facilitate both file and hardware device – such as printer – sharing.
File Sharing Configuration
The new HomeGroup feature in Windows 7 simplifies file sharing between two Windows 7 computers. However, this functionality isn’t compatible with Windows Vista or XP. Our guide utilizes Windows 7 x64 RC1 and Windows XP Professional SP3, connected via a standard Linksys wireless router.
Initially, confirm that both computers are members of the same Workgroup. The default Workgroup name is typically “Workgroup.”
On the Windows 7 machine, navigate to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Network and Sharing Center. Then, select “Change advanced sharing settings.”
Within Advanced Sharing Settings, verify the configurations for both the Home or Work and Public profiles.
To allow any user access to public shares, disable password protection. This option is located towards the bottom of the Advanced Sharing Settings list.
If you prefer to maintain password protection, ensure that a login account exists on the other XP machine, complete with a valid password.
Accessing the Network section in Windows 7 should now display both your XP machine and the Windows 7 computer itself.
Printer Sharing
To share a printer connected to the Windows 7 machine, go to Devices and Printers from the Start menu and double-click the printer icon.
Subsequently, double-click on “Customize your printer.”
Within the Properties screen, navigate to the Sharing Tab. Check the box to enable printer sharing and specify a share name for the printer.
If your XP machine utilizes an x86 operating system, you may need to install additional drivers before configuring the XP machine.
To locate shared folders and devices, double-click the Windows 7 machine icon under Network. You should see the shared printer connected to the Windows 7 machine, as well as the Users Folder.
Explore the Users folder and Public folder to view the shared folders. A dedicated folder named "XP Share" was created to centralize shared resources.
Accessing Shared Resources from XP
On your XP machine, open My Network Places to find the Windows 7 (mysticgeek-pc) shared folder.
Double-click the Share folder to view a list of shared folders within the Public folder on Windows 7. If password protection is enabled, you will be prompted to enter the username and password of the user account on the Windows 7 machine.
Setting Up XP with the Shared Printer
To configure the shared printer in XP, navigate to Printers and Faxes from the Start menu and initiate the Add Printer Wizard.
Select “A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer” and click Next.
Choose “Connect to this printer…” and enter the network path for the printer connected to the Windows 7 machine. Then, click Next.
Confirm the action by clicking Yes.
Finally, click Finish to install the printer and complete the wizard.
In certain instances, installing the x86 XP drivers for the shared printer may be necessary, as Windows 7 drivers are not always compatible with XP. Once installation is complete, locate the shared printer within Printers and Faxes.
These steps should provide a foundation for sharing files and devices between your Windows 7 and XP systems. Initial visibility of the printer on XP may occur due to a HomeGroup setup, but printer sharing may require separate configuration for a workgroup environment. Restarting the XP machine may also be necessary for it to recognize shared resources on Windows 7. Feel free to share your experiences with Windows 7 and XP sharing in the comments below!
