How To Convert a Computer into a File Server

A home or small office can set up a single computer as a file server to share files between all the computers used on the network. You can use this file server to keep large amounts of data and later access them through a different computer. You can share applications or devices like the printer with everyone who connects to the file server in the home or small office.

1. Look for an extra PC. Find an extra computer in your home that you could use as the file server. It does not necessarily have to be new one, but it has to be running and reliable, since you might want to have it powered up for most of the day when people are using computers in your home or small office. The computer must have an operating system and a big enough hard drive to store various types of data. When you find an extra computer, set up the operating system and install programs you may need. Connect the computer to a router, or directly to one of the slots on a wireless router.
2. Configure Network Setup Wizard. In this example we will be working with the Windows XP operating system. Go to the Start button on your taskbar and select the Control Panel. At the Control Panel window click the Network Setup Wizard. When you have opened the Network Setup Wizard, click the Next button twice until you reach the "This computer connects to the Internet through a residential gateway or through another computer on my network" option. Select this option then click the Next button. Type a description for the file server, then click the Next button. Pick a name to use for Workgroup Name, then click the Next button. On the next configuration window choose the option "Turn on file and printer sharing" and then click the Next button until you see the "Just finish the Wizard" option. Click the option and exit the Network Setup Wizard.
3. Set up folder for sharing. You need to make a new folder on your desktop to be shared across your network. This is where other computers can access the shared files. On your desktop, right-click on a blank space, and then select New then Folder to create a new folder on the desktop. Rename the folder, then right-click the folder you created and select the Sharing and Security option. In the Sharing and Security window put a check on "Share this folder on the network" and a check on "Allow network users to change my files" then click OK.
4. Configure Map Network Drive. For every computer that will gain access to the file server, you need to configure the Map Network Drive. To do this, go to the Start menu then right-click the My Computer option and select on the Map Network Drive option. You will now be asked to select a drive letter for the Shared folder. Choose a letter then browse for the shared folder you created on the file server computer, then click the OK button.

You can now access the shared folder on the file server through a different computer. You can also save files in the shared folder directly through your various programs like Word or Excel.

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