In order to start using “Advanced Sharing” for sharing a folder, you need to first select it in File Explorer (in Windows 8.x) or Windows Explorer (in Windows 7). Once you select the folder in Windows 8, expand the “Share” tab on the ribbon. Open Sharing preferences (choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Sharing). Select the File Sharing checkbox, then click Options. Select “Share files and folders using SMB.” Select the checkbox next to the user account that will be used to share files with Windows users, enter the password for that user, then click OK.

I am having extreme difficulties sharing files over my home network! I have 3 PCs and one Mac. I have tried the Mac forums and the Windows forums, to no avail.

On the Mac side: File Sharing is ON, with smb Users are set to Everyone with read/write privileges WINS has the correct Workgroup name Network Name has no spaces in it Shared my Desktop, Public Folder, Documents, and Shared folders (just to cover root folders and specific ones too) Mac gives an smb://xxx.xxx.x.x address and a local network accession 'mycomputername.local,' but I don't know what to do with either of these things. When I put the addresses into the Windows Run dialogue box or in Internet Explorer, they don't seem to recognize the path. Firewall is set to Allow All Incoming Connections Under the Shared location in Finder, I can see my router name, and if I click on it, I can connect. Word x for mac docx. No password is required.

I am connected as my account name. However, I can't see the PC or anything at all, in fact. Under the Shared location in Finder, I can see my shared name for my Mac. But I cannot connect to it, probably because I'm connecting from my Mac. It would be nice to use the smb://DNSname/sharename or the smb://IPaddress/sharename function in the Go to Server window, but I have no idea where to find this information on my PC.

Or on the network. Or whatever this is referring to.

On the PC: Sharing is NOT password protected under Advanced Sharing Options I am sharing my Desktop and My Documents with Everyone and Guest, and Windows 7 has provided a file://computername/Users/foldername path. However, when I put this into the Connect to Server or Connect to File window, there is an error. I can click on my Mac computer name in the Network window, but I get the error message that it cannot connect (network path cannot be found, using MYMACNAME as the path).

This is when my Mac says it is 'connected' when I click on the router in Finder's Shared places. Of course both the Mac and the PC have full connectivity to the same network. Also, I have disabled the internal firewall in the Belkin router. Also, my accounts have identical names with no spaces. Thanks guys!! Okay, so the strangest thing just occurred.

I reformatted my Mac and installed Snow Leopard (10.6.4), and now it shares fine. Here are my settings: On the Mac: Sharing --> File Sharing ON, I shared my desktop and gave Everyone Read and Write privileges. Under Options, SMB is the only thing checked.

My account is checked. My Computer Name can have many different kinds of characters in it, including capital letters, spaces, numbers, and even a comma.

Accounts --> The name of my account has a space in it, and capital letters, but that seems not to matter. It is password protected, and has the same password as my Windows 7 desktop. Network --> Advanced --> WINS has the workgroup name WORKGROUP. The NetBIOS name automatically fills in, I'm assuming because I'm successfully sharing on the network. Security --> Firewall is set to Allow All Incoming Connections. However, I toggle with Intego's VirusBarrier X6 and if set to Client, Local Server this works as well. Of course Airport is connected to my home network.

Finder --> Shared Locations sees my router, but nothing else. When I highlight the router, it says 'connection failed.' This seems not to matter. My home network has capital letters but no spaces in it. On the PC: Network and Sharing Center --> Advanced Sharing Settings --> Current profile is Home of Work. Turn ON network discovery, turn ON file and printer sharing, Turn ON sharing so anyone with network access., Media streaming is ON, Use 128-bit encryption, Turn OFF password protected sharing, and Allow Windows to manage homegroup settings. User name is the same name as the Mac, but without a space.