Sharing for computers running different versions of the OS in a networked environment has always been difficult due to differences in operating systems. But thanks to the efforts of Microsoft, the problem gradually began to recede into the background. Today, if XP and seven are installed in your home or office, then you can easily organize a single network for file sharing and collaboration between these two systems. In this article I will describe what actions should be performed by someone who has decided to independently configure the network environment in his company or at home. This also applies to the problems of “visibility”, when two computers for some reason do not see each other on the network, as well as printing to a network printer.
There is nothing easier than the task of setting up a network environment in windows 7, if all computers are equipped with this OS, thanks to the new Microsoft development called “Home Group”, connecting them into a single network is a task for the child. But, unfortunately, this technology is not compatible with Windows Vista and XP,
Where to start in the difficult task of connecting machines running XP and windows 7? The network environment must be configured from the "stove", that is, from the name. Verify that all computers on your network are in the same workgroup. By default, this is Workgroup. In some cases, the alternative name MSHome is used, or names invented by users. What name you choose for your network is not important, it is important that it is the same on all computers. Only in this situation will your network environment begin to work normally.
Where to check it? In Windows 7, click on “My Computer” with the right mouse button and select properties, in the menu that opens, look at the values of the “Workgroup” item. For XP, the path is slightly different, right-click on "My Computer", then in the "Properties" menu that opens, then go to the "Computer Name" item and there we check what the network name is.
If everything is in order, move on.
In the case of the seven, go to Control Panel> Networks> Network Control Center and there we click on the menu item "Change ext. sharing options. "
Then, in the menu that opens, you can check the settings and fine-tune the sharing of the system. The main point here, for us will be "Connecting file sharing." You should choose 40 or 56 bit encryption, for compatibility with previous versions instead of the 128 bit used in Windows 7. You can also remove password access (a check mark at the bottom) and make other, less significant changes.
If everything is done correctly, then, having entered the networked environment on Windows XP, you will see a car with Vin 7 there. What was required.
But the organization of a working network is only half the battle, it is often required to connect the entire network to a network printer, usually installed in a single copy.
In order for the printer of a computer running Windows 7 to become available to all other computers on the network, you need to perform several simple operations.
We go to the Control Panel, there we click on Devices and Printers, then in the window that opens, select our printer and open it with the right mouse button. In the menu, click on the option "Printer Properties".
The control snap-in will open, here you should go to the Access item. In it, check the “Share this printer” checkbox and enter your name, or agree with the proposed system. Since x64 drivers are not compatible with x86 drivers, when you try to connect to your printer with Windows XP x86, you will need drivers for this OS. You can avoid these problems if you download and install drivers for XP, then in the “Additional drivers” field you will see the x86 checkmark, putting it, you can connect both versions of Windows on the fly.
Now from any computer on the network, open the network environment and find your machine to which the printer is connected. You should see it in the list of folders and devices. Right-click on the printer and select "Install Printer". Then clicking a pair of confirmation windows, you install the printer driver on this computer.