Share Libraries or Folders Using Advanced Sharing

A while ago I've shown how to Share Libraries or Folders Using the Sharing Wizard. In this article I will show you how to do the same thing when the sharing wizard is disabled. As you will see, this also introduces a few limitations even though it can bring you the feeling of better control over what you share on the network. This article will cover the following: how to disable the sharing wizard, share folders with specific people, with your HomeGroup computers and how to stop sharing a folder.

How to Disable the Sharing Wizard

In Windows 7, the sharing wizard is enabled by default. If you are the old-school type who would rather skip wizards, then you can disable it. For this, you need to open Windows Explorer and select Folder Options (go to 'Organize -> Folder and search options' or read our guide on Where To Find The Folder Options Menu for more details). In the Folder Options window, go to the View tab and un-check the box that says 'Use Sharing Wizard'.

Then click on OK. The sharing wizard will now be disabled and you will be able to follow the steps below to share files and folders on your network.

NOTE: when you disable the sharing wizard, sharing libraries is no longer possible. You can share only specific folders.

How to Share Folders with Specific People

If you want to share something with a specific user, first right click on the folder and select 'Share with -> Advanced sharing'. Another alternative is to right click on the folder, select Properties and then go to the Sharing tab in the 'Folder Properties' window.

In the Sharing tab, click on the 'Advanced Sharing' button.

First, check the 'Share this folder' box. Then you need to set the permissions for the folder you are sharing. Click on the Permissions button.

In the Permissions window you will see the users or groups that have permissions to access the folder you are sharing. By default, it should be shared with Everyone. On the bottom you will also see the level of permissions given to the selected user or group. Choose the access you want to give to each user by selecting it and then checking the level you desire:

• Full Control - is self-explanatory. With this level assigned, users or groups who have access to this shared folder can do anything they desire: view, modify, delete, etc.
• Change - with this level assigned, users/groups can change contents of the shared folder but cannot delete its existing content.
• Read - with this level assigned, users/groups can only view the existing content without being able to perform any changes to it.

To remove a user or group, select it and click on Remove. To add another group or user, click on Add.

A new window will open. In the highlighted text-box, type the name of the user or group you want to give permissions to. If you are not sure which users/groups are registered on your PC, click on Advanced.

Then, click on 'Find Now' and Windows 7 will open a list with all users and groups registered on your PC. Select the one you desire and click on OK to get back to the previous window. There, click on OK once more.

Once you have added/removed all the users and groups you want to give access to, make sure you select the appropriate permissions levels, as shown above. When done, click on OK and the folder will be shared according to the settings you've made.

How to Share Folders on the HomeGroup

To share a folder with your HomeGroup, you need to follow the same steps as above. The only difference is that you need to give permissions to the group called HomeUsers.

Once the HomeUsers group is added to the list of users/groups which have access to the shared folder, make sure you set the permissions you desire, according to the instructions described in the previous section.

How to Stop Sharing a Folder

To stop sharing a folder, first right click on it and select 'Share with -> Advanced sharing'. An alternative is to right click on the folder, select Properties and then go to the Sharing tab in the 'Folder Properties' window. In the Sharing tab, click on the 'Advanced Sharing' button, which will open the 'Advanced Sharing' window. Here, un-check the 'Share this folder' box.

NOTE: If you just want to remove access to a certain user or group to a shared folder, follow the instructions from the How to Share Folders with Specific People section. There you will see how this can be done without having to share this folder with others.

Conclusion

Sharing content over the network without using the sharing wizard is not as easy and straightforward. Also, it introduces a few limitations like not being able to share libraries. Therefore, my recommendation is to keep the sharing wizard enabled and use it to share libraries or folders. After reading about both ways of sharing files and folders, do share with us what you think. Should users disable or enable the sharing wizard? What is your recommendation?

Related articles:

Share Libraries or Folders Using the Sharing Wizard
How to Share a Printer with Your Network
Sharing Between Windows Vista and Windows 7 Computers
Sharing Between Windows XP and Windows 7 Computers
What is the Network and Sharing Center?
The HomeGroup Feature & How it Works
How to Map Drives in Windows 7
What is the Public Folder & How to Use it