Getting a Macintosh doesn't mean isolation from the Windows majority.
Be it the download-cum-file-server machine in the living room or the new laser printer connected to the family PC, use this guide to get your Mac talking to the Windows-shared files and printers in your home network.
Windows-shared files
First of all, your Mac needs to be on the same network as your PC. This could mean connecting both machines to the same router, or directly connecting the machines together with an Ethernet cable.
Then, configure file-sharing on the Windows PC from which your Mac will access files. You can create a dedicated folder on the PC for this purpose.
For Windows XP computers, in Windows Explorer, select File, New and then Folder. Enter a name for the folder. Then right-click on the folder, select Properties, and then Sharing. Click on Share This Folder On The Network.
If you want to transfer files from your Mac to this Windows shared folder, also select Allow Network Users To Change My Files. Enter a short name for Share Name, for example 'macshare'. Click on Apply, and then OK to activate file-sharing. Copy any files you want to share with your Mac to this folder.
For Windows Vista computers, in Windows Explorer, select Organise, then New Folder. Right-click on the folder, select Properties, then Sharing. Click on Advanced Sharing, and select Share This Folder.
Then enter the folder's share name. To enable write-access to this folder, click on Permissions, then select Change under the Allow column.
On your Mac, go to Finder, Go, and Connect to server. Click on Browse, then select the icon with the name of the file-share. Your Mac will prompt you for login credentials; enter your Windows username and password. If you didn't configure a password, just leave the field blank.
Alternatively, in the Server Address field, type smb://, followed by the IP address of the Windows PC, then click on Connect.
To find out the IP address of your Windows PC, under the Start menu, select All Programs, Accessories, Command Prompt, then enter ipconfig at the prompt.
Then select the name of the file-share. Authenticate as necessary.
Once done, you will see an icon for the shared drive.
You can now access it as if it were another hard disk or portable USB drive on your Mac.
Windows-share printers
Again, the Mac should be on the same network as the PC which has a printer connected to it.
On your Windows XP or Vista PC, open Control Panel, Printers and Faxes. Right-click your printer's icon and select Sharing. Activate Share This Printer and enter the share name for your printer. Click OK.
On your Mac, launch the Printer Setup utility found in the Utilities sub-folder under the Applications folder.
Select Printers, Add Printer, and then click More Printers.
In the Printer Browser window that pops up, select Windows Printing in the first drop-down list. Select the shared printer and click Choose.
Another dialogue box pops up prompting for the Windows user name and password.
Enter the credentials accordingly. Next, select the shared printer's model; click Add.
The shared printer will now appear in your printer list.
There may be some models of printers whose Mac-supplied drivers do not work when the printer is shared from a Windows PC. In such cases, head to these sites to download opensource drivers for the shared printer:
Both the examples given require the Windows PC to be switched on for file and printer sharing.
To get around this, a router with printer-sharing and file-sharing functions can be used. Just connect the printer or external hard disk to the router. The router uses the same Windows-sharing protocols, so you can use the same steps listed in this article.
