If you have an XP computer still joined to your home network along with some Windows 7 systems you have probably found setting up file and printer sharing to be anything but easy when you try to give the XP computer access. Yes sharing between Windows 7 and/or Vista is a breeze with Homegroups. XP gets left out of the mix entirely. Factor in that you are NOT using the Default or Public folder on the Windows 7 computer and it gets really frustrating. Its not impossible to do however.

The assumption is that you will want all items shared with read/write permissions so all files are editable by anyone.

Here is my current configuration on my home network:
A Windows 7 Full desktop with a partitioned hard drive and external drive. All my data is on the D partition. I do not use the default user folders for storing my data. Nor do I use the Public folders.
B Windows 7 Full laptop I use the user folders
C Windows 7 laptop he uses the user folders
D XP Pro SP 3 desktop
E Lexmark P4350 All in One Printer attached to the Windows 7 Desktop.

Now I do have a XP home netbook but I never use it at home so I haven’t tried bring it into the mix yet.

You need to start by configuring A,B,C to be in the same Homegroup and turn on printer and file sharing in all.

On B and C you should navigate to your user folder. At the top of the explorer window click on Share With. First choose HomeGroup Read/Write. If you have a lot of files it might take a few minutes to complete Sharing. When it finishes click Share With again and choose Specific People. In the box type Everyone and click Add. Then change the permissions to Read/Write and then click Share. That will make those folders accessible by all the other computers, even the XP computer.

Now to make computer A’s files accessible. When you browse to the partition you will see that when you click Share With your only option is Advanced Sharing. The issue with partitioned drive and external drive sharing is that in Windows 7 the Share permissions don’t inherit down to subfolders. You have to share EVERY folder out to Everyone with full control for it to be accessible to other computers on the home network (XP or Win 7). Next you have to set the security permissions to give Everyone read/write permission. This should inherit down to your subfolders.

Now at this point you should be able to go to your XP computer and use the Add Network Place wizard to browse out to the Win 7 computer and add the user folder and the partitioned drive.

Of course you need to set the permissions on the XP computer to allow the Windows 7 computer access as well.

Once the printer is installed and shared out on your network it should be easy enough to get the other Win 7 computers to add it. If you have any trouble with drivers or installation I recommend contacting the manufacturer. I had an amazingly pleasant experience with Lexmark. My printer is well out of warranty and yet they took remote control of my Win 7 systems and set everything up for me because it kept hanging up on me. It took them over an hour but they saw it through until I was able to print! Amazing customer service.

Printer is connected to computer A and shared to the network. To add it to B and C:

To share the printer to XP open the Devices and Printers on computer A. Open Print Server properties. Click the Security Tab. Add Everyone here with all the boxes checked except special permissions. Click OK.

Next double click on the printer icon, choose customize your printer. Click Sharing tab and ensure that the printer is shared out to everyone. Then click the Security tab and make sure you have Everyone added with everything checked except Special Permissions. Click OK

Go to XP computer and go through the wizard to install a Network printer.

For my Lexmark printer I had to use the same driver on the XP computer that I used on the Win 7 computers. Now typically you wouldn’t do that but that is what the support tech told me to do to make it work.

Note: I wrote this post six months ago and I can’t remember now if I needed to add more steps, so I’m publishing as is.