Set up a multi-operating home network

In this article, I will show you how to connect a Windows 7 computer to share printers and files with XP and Vista computers, and even Macs.

With Windows 7, you can easily share more files and printers in your network through the new HomeGroup feature. HomeGroup allows you to connect to files and printers with a group password - if all computers are Windows 7. However, we will show you how to do so in a network. Many different operating systems like Mac, XP / Vista.

Set up Windows 7 to share the printer

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Windows can share printers with other computers on the network, so anyone in your family can connect as long as your printer or computers are turned on. This is how to set up sharing in Windows 7.

Open Devices and Printers from the Start menu, double-click your printer. Select Customize your printer , and click the Sharing tab in the following window. Select Share this printer .

Unless you're connecting to a cluster of similar computers, don't ignore the option to download additional printer drivers on the host system. It only takes a little time to configure everything while on each client. If your system is a combination of different components: Vista 32- and 64-bit, Windows 7 and XP, then you need to make a plan from scratch. Approve the options and close the Properties window.

Share printers from Vista and XP

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If you prefer to connect your Windows 7 computer to a printer on an XP or Vista system, here's how to configure those operating systems. In Windows Vista, open the Printers control panel , right-click your printer. Click Sharing and click Change sharing options . Click Continue , then Share this printer . Click OK .

Similarly in XP, open the Printers and Faxes control panel and right-click the printer. Click Share this printer , and click OK .

Connect to a shared printer in Windows 7

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This is how to use a shared printer from your Windows 7 computer, even though this printer is connected to a Windows 7, Vista or XP computer.

In Windows 7, open Devices and Printers from the Start menu, select Add a printer . Click the second option to add a network printer, select your printer from the list. Click Next , and wait for the printer driver to appear. If you want this printer to be the default printer, make the necessary choices, then click Finish .

Windows 7 cannot automatically find printer drivers for some older printers in the network. If you have this problem, download the driver from the printer manufacturer's website and browse to it when prompted.

If that doesn't work, try installing the printer driver before connecting to your designated network printer.

Use the printer of Windows 7 computer from XP and Vista computers

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If you prefer to install a printer on a Windows 7 computer, you can still connect from XP and Vista. This is how.

In Windows XP, open the Printers and Faxes control panel. Select File: Add Printer and click Next . Click the button to add the network printer and click Next . Click the Connect to this printer button and type the path to the network printer.

For example, your computer is called " Sloth ", the printer directly connected to this computer is called " EPSON_R1800 ". Then the path will be SLOTHEPSON_R1800 . If you are unsure of your path, open a new window on your Windows 7 computer, open the Network menu on the left. Browse to your computer name and locate the printer here to identify the computer and printer name. On Windows XP systems, click Next .

Enter the username and password for the Windows 7 computer. Leave the Remember my password checkbox checked if you want to connect automatically in the future. Click OK . Click Yes for the warning to appear. If the printer driver does not download automatically, install it as mentioned in the previous section.

Choose whether you want to use this printer as the default printer, click Next and click Finish . Now, when you print a document, use the Name menu drop down to select the printer in the network.

In Vista, open the Printers control panel , double-click Add Printer . Select the second option to add the network printer, click Next . Vista will find the printer for you. Your task is to select it and click Next .

If you see a dialog box informing you that you are missing the printer driver, click OK and browse to the driver file. If you still have problems, install the printer driver before setting up the printer in the network. Alternatively, choose whether you want to set up the new printer as the default printer, then click Next and Finish .

Share your Windows 7 printer with Mac OS X

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Mac OS X can access a Windows printer like other Windows-based computers. For this to be due to the new network architecture in Windows 7, users often had problems connecting a Mac. You can now use LPD (Line Printer Daemon) standard to share the printer.

On a Windows 7 computer, go to the Programs control panel and select Turn Windows features on or off . Double-click Print and Document Services , activate LPD Print Service . Click OK .

On OS X Mac, open the system reference section of Print & Fax . Click the plus icon to add a new printer. Right-click the toolbar and select Customize Toolbar . Then drag the Advanced button in the toolbar and click Done .

Click Advanced , and select the LDB / LPR Host or Printer type . Enter the path with the computer name and printer. If your Windows 7 computer is called " SLOTH " and the printer is " EPSON_R1800 " then the path will be lpd: // SLOTH / EPSON_R1800 . Click Select Printer Software in the Print Choosing menu and select your printer from the list. Click OK and Add .

Share a Mac printer with Windows 7

Windows 7 can also connect to a Mac OS X printer on the network. On the Mac, open Sharing System Preference and select Printer Sharing . Choose your printer.

On a Windows 7 computer, select Start: Devices and Printers , click Add a printer . Click The printer that I want isn't listed . Enter the path name to the Mac and the printer. For example, if your Mac is called " Felix " and the printer named Epson Stylus Photo R1800 , you need to enter the link FelixEpson Stylus Photo R1800 and click Next . Follow the prompts to finish the installation process; This is like installing a network printer that is connected to the Windows system.

Set up Windows 7 to share and connect files

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Windows 7 allows you to share files through a combination of its public folders and manual selection. If you want to share files with anyone on the network, simply transfer them to the public folder inside the libraries (Libraries) in the left pane of the window.

You can also share files or folders wherever they reside. Select an item to share, select the Share with menu at the top of the window . Select Homegroup ( Read ) to allow everyone in your home network to open but not change the files. Choose Homegroup ( Read / Write ) if you want to allow people to open and edit files.

Select Specific people if you want to restrict access to certain user accounts. If not, you need to create a login to the new password for those who can access these files. Go to User Accounts and Family Safety control panel, then select Add or remove user accounts . Click Manage another account , and select Create a new account .

Follow the prompts to create a Standard user , select the account and click Create a password . If you choose Share with: Specific people , click the drop-down arrow and add a new account to the list.

Next, try connecting to the file. If you are in the same HomeGroup with another Windows 7 computer, just open a new window and look in the Homegroup area on the left. Select the computer and browse to the shared library inside.

If another computer is not connected through Windows 7's HomeGroup, you need to browse through the Network tab a bit lower in the left pane to find it.

Set up Vista and XP to share files and folders

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Here's how to set up Windows XP and Vista to share files and folders with Windows 7. In XP, you can share files in the network by dragging them into the Shared Documents folder. Or you can enable file sharing manually at file locations.

Right-click the file or folder you want to share, select Sharing and Security . Click the check box next to Share this folder on the network . If you want others to change the file contents, click Allow network users to change my files . Click OK . To turn off sharing, open the same menu and uncheck the necessary checkboxes.

In Windows Vista, you can also copy files to the Public folder to share with anyone in your network. To share selected components, right-click the file or folder and select Share . Select the user account that is accessed from the drop-down menu, then click Share .

To restrict the files that are configured from a Windows 7 system, look at the Network browser inside XP or Vista.

Share files between Mac OS X and Windows 7

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OS X Mac can share or restrict files with Windows 7, though you need to do some other things. Here's how you can share it from OS X.

Open Network System Preference , click the network connection on the left panel, click Advanced . Click the WINS tab, type the workgroup name of the Windows 7 computer and click OK . Click Apply .

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Open Sharing System Preference , click on the checkbox to enable File Sharing . Click Options and select the Share files and folders using check box using SMB (Windows) . Click the check box to enable sharing for your user account. If necessary, click the plus sign below the Shared Folders box to add other locations.

On a Windows 7 computer, if your Mac does not appear in the Network area, type the Mac's computer name into the Windows file browser window. For example, if your Mac is called ' Felix ', hit Felix . Enter the username and password to connect to the files.

You can also browse files that Windows 7 shares in OS X. On Mac, go to Finder, select Go: Connect to Server , and enter the SMB file path of the remote computer. For example, the Windows 7 computer has the name ' SLOTH ', then you need to enter smb: // SLOTH . Enter your username and password to end the connection.

Until now, your network has many different operating systems ready for sharing.