Connecting 4 or more computers

[KayTee]

Hi, i have 4 computers in my room, what I would like to know if its possible to connect all 4 together such that say if i am in need of a picture in PC B, i don't have to take a thumbdrive to it and manually transfer it. instead i can just copy the file through PC A? If its possible can someone pls tell me how i should go about it? 

[TechyBen]

Network.

Do you have internet? Do you have wifi internet? In which case 99% of the time the internet "box" or hub or router will also do a network for you. Put all the PCs on the network/homegroup etc.

 

Otherwise buy a wifi or wired router.

[KayTee]

2 of the Desktops are connected via LAN.

The other 2 are connected only via wifi because i need to bring them out 

[Mira Yurizaki]

If they're all running Windows 7 or later, you could set up a Homegroup. Otherwise you could try setting up a shared folder.

[KayTee]

what are the pros and cons of the Homegroup and shared folder?

 

[KayTee]

7 minutes ago, Mira Yurizaki said:

If they're all running Windows 7 or later, you could set up a Homegroup. Otherwise you could try setting up a shared folder.

What are the benefits of both? 

[SupaKomputa]

Homegroup is optional, but shared folder is must.

Right click on a folder and select Properties > Sharing tab.

Click advance sharing > share this folder.

Click permission > Everyone (select the permission also)

Click ok > apply > ok

 

To open :

In your other pc, open explorer

Write the address of the source computer with double forward slash : \\192.168.0.XXX\(the name of the shared folder)

 

[KayTee]

1 minute ago, SupaKomputa said:

Homegroup is optional, but shared folder is must.

Right click on a folder and select Properties > Sharing tab.

Click advance sharing > share this folder.

Click permission > Everyone (select the permission also)

Click ok > apply > ok

 

To open :

In your other pc, open explorer

Write the address of the source computer with double forward slash : \\192.168.0.XXX\(the name of the shared folder)

 

can this be applied to a drive?

[SupaKomputa]

Yes.

You also can map network drive just like an internal drive (with drive letter).

What you want to do:

- click This PC

- right click and select "map network drive"

- Select a drive letter (or auto select)

- In folder input network address and the shared name (folder or drive) 

- click finish.

everytime both pc are online, the drive will be enabled.

 

[Mira Yurizaki]

52 minutes ago, KayTee said:

What are the benefits of both? 

Homegroups are easy to set up, but they're limited to sharing what's in your Libraries and whoever has the Homegroup password.

 

Shared folders allows you to share whatever you want and you can set it up so it doesn't require a password or it requires the login of the user that owns the folder. The person just has to be on the network to see it. However, I've found they can be finnicky to set up, especially since I believe network sharing isn't enabled by default. Though File Explorer will have a little thing below the toolbar saying this and asks if you want to enable it if you go to the Network section.