P2P gets a bad press, but it's one of the best ways to share
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BitTorrent
A guide to using and optimising this popular P2P network
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T
he quickest way to share files across two or more PCs at home is through a network. Assuming your network is set up, there are a few steps to follow in order to make sure you're able to share files and access other shared resources on your network.
First, make sure all of the computers are on the same workgroup, so they're easily spotted by the other computers. Click Start, right-click Computer or My Computer and select Properties. Vista users should click Change Settings under "Computer name, domain and workgroup settings" followed by Continue when prompted; XP users should switch to the Computer Name tab. Now click Change to change the workgroup to match the rest of your network. Click OK twice and reboot when prompted.
Next, you need to enable file sharing - right-click the folder you wish to share and choose Properties > Sharing tab. If necessary, enable file sharing (don't run the wizard if prompted, just opt to enable file sharing), give your folder a name, choose whether the file is read-only or not, and click OK. You may also need to configure your firewall to allow file sharing - check its documentation for details. Once done, the folder should be visible to other users on the network, ready for sharing files.
Annotation: Vista's Network and Sharing Center revealed
A. TASKS
Choose "View computers and devices" to browse your network for shared resources, or use the other options to configure your network.
B. NETWORK DISCOVERY
Switch this on to make your computer visible to others - a pre-requisite before you can share files on the network.
C. CUSTOMIZE
Click this to change your network name, plus switch between Public (for greater security) or Private (for home networks).
D. PASSWORD-PROTECTED SHARING
Vista enables you to password-protect shared folders, choosing exactly which users have access to which resource.
JARGON BUSTER
Workgroup: a peer-to-peer network that is used to group computers on the same network together for the sharing of files, printers and other resources.
