Transfer Files Between Windows 8 and Windows 7 PCs
Sharing Files Between Windows 8 and Windows 7 PCs
Do you have a Windows 8 system installed on an extra computer and require transferring files to, or from, a Windows 7 machine? Establishing a network connection between the two is a straightforward process, provided both are connected to the same home network.
This guide details how to facilitate file sharing between a Windows 8 PC and a Windows 7 PC by sharing a folder on the Windows 7 system and then mapping it as a network drive within Windows 8.
Sharing a Folder on Windows 7
Initially, a folder must be shared on your Windows 7 PC. While sharing the entire C: drive is possible, granting access to all folders from Windows 8, it’s recommended to create a dedicated folder specifically for file transfers. This limits access to your Windows 7 PC, enhancing security.
Create a new folder on your Windows 7 PC. Right-click on this folder and select “Properties” from the context menu.
Within the Properties dialog box, navigate to the “Sharing” tab and then click “Advanced Sharing.”
In the Advanced Sharing dialog box, check the “Share this folder” box to enable sharing for the selected folder. Subsequently, click “Permissions.”
The Permissions dialog box displays a list of users and groups, including “Everyone.” If other users on your Windows 7 PC require access to this folder from the Windows 8 PC, leave “Everyone” listed. Click the “Full Control” checkbox in the “Allow” column to grant complete read and write privileges, then click “OK.”
Alternatively, you can restrict access to only your user account on the Windows 8 PC. Select “Everyone” in the list and click “Remove.”
Click “Add.”
In the “Select Users or Groups” dialog box, type your Windows 7 username into the “Enter the object names to select” field. Click “Check Names.”
The Windows 7 computer name will be appended to your username. Click “OK.”
Your username will now appear in the list. Select it and check the “Full Control” box in the “Allow” column to grant yourself full read and write access to the folder. Click “OK.”
You will return to the Advanced Sharing dialog box. Click “OK” to close it.
Finally, click “Close” to close the Properties dialog box for the folder.
Mapping the Network Drive in Windows 8
Before mapping to the shared folder on your Windows 7 PC, you need to determine either the IP address or the computer name of the Windows 7 machine. To find the IP address, open the Start menu, type “cmd” (without quotes), and press Enter when “cmd.exe” is highlighted.
At the command prompt, type the following command:
ipconfig /all
A list of connections will be displayed. Locate the IP address for the appropriate adapter. The location will vary depending on your network configuration. For example, in a virtual machine environment, it might be under “Ethernet adapter VMware Network Adapter VMnet8.”
If you are using a wireless connection, the IP address is likely found under the “Wireless LAN adapter” section.
To find the computer name of your Windows 7 PC, right-click on “Computer” in the Start menu and select “Properties.”
The computer name is located in the “Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings” section of the System window.
Note: Record both the computer name and the IP address of your Windows 7 PC. The IP address can be useful if the computer name doesn’t work.
Switch to your Windows 8 PC and click the “Desktop” tile on the Start screen.
Click the “Windows Explorer” icon on the Taskbar.
In the navigation pane of the Explorer window, right-click on “Network” and select “Map network drive” from the context menu.
Choose a drive letter from the “Drive” dropdown menu. Enter the path to the shared folder on your Windows 7 PC, using either the computer name or the IP address. Remember to use two backslashes before the IP address or computer name and one before the shared folder name. If you want the drive to reconnect automatically upon login, select the “Reconnect at sign-in” checkbox. Click “Finish.”
The following image demonstrates connecting using the Windows 7 computer name as an example.
You may encounter a dialog box indicating a slow or failed connection.
If the Windows 7 PC is found, a Windows Security dialog box will appear. Enter your username and password for the Windows 7 PC. Selecting “Remember my credentials” will automate login for future connections. Click “OK.”
A message about network discovery and file sharing being turned off may appear. If so, click the message and select “Turn on network discovery and file sharing.”
For security reasons, it’s recommended to select “No” and only enable network discovery and file sharing for private networks.
Your shared folder from the Windows 7 PC should now be visible under “Computer” in the navigation pane of Windows Explorer.
You can now seamlessly transfer files between your Windows 8 and Windows 7 PCs. This is particularly useful for testing software downloaded for Windows 7 on a Windows 8 system.
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