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This document was last updated on the 13 December, 2005

Useful Links

Macintosh: Networking With a Windows PC link

Mac OS X 10.1 or later: How to Connect to Windows File Sharing (SMB) link
Mac OS X 10.2: How to Set Up Windows File Sharing link
"Well Known" TCP and UDP Ports Used By Apple Software Products link
Sharing files between a Windows XP PC and a Mac running OS 10.4.x link



Sharing files between a Windows 98 PC and a Mac running OS 10.3.x

You can use the following procedure to share files between a Windows 98 PC and a Mac (OS 10.3.2) though the process is similar for 10.2.8. Both computers should have their firewalls turned off, or have the relevant ports opened. These ports are 548, 427 and 139.

Stage 1 Ensure all computers are on the same subnet

Ensure that first each of the computers can access your network. Ensure that the IP address of each computer shares the same subnet, ie 10.0.1.x or 192.168.0.x or whatever!

Stage 2 Usernames and Passwords

It really helps with the Windows PC to have a user account with a username and a password and to know the shortname and password associated with the Mac.

How do I find my Mac (OS X) shortname?

Creating a new user account on Windows XP

Stage 3 Mac File Sharing

On the Mac

System Preferences -> Sharing

Ensure that Personal File Sharing and Windows File Sharing are checked

Stage 4 PC File Sharing

On the PC on the relevant folders you want to share, right click and select Sharing and Security...

You will then bring up a new window, which will be different depending on whether you are using simple file sharing or not.

Non-Simple File Sharing

Simple File Sharing

Select Share this folder and give the folder a relevant name (it can make sense to avoid spaces and keep it all in lower case.

Non-Simple File Sharing

Simple File Sharing

If you are using non-simple file sharing, you can specify who can connect and what they can do, with simple file sharing you can also allow users to change files, by checking Allow network users to change my files.

Stage 5 Mac to PC

On the Mac (running 10.3.2)

Finder -> Go -> Connect to Server

You will now see the Connect To Serve window.

Type in smb://IP Address of PC

example smb://192.168.0.8

Click Connect

It will then attempt to connect to the PC

If it is successful you will see the following and will ask you to Select a share (which will be the shared folders on the PC). Select the correct share and click OK.

Your shared folder on the PC will then be mounted on the Mac Desktop and will be available in Finder.

Stage 5a Mac to PC - Individual folders

On the Mac (running 10.3.2)

Finder -> Go -> Connect to Server

smb://IP Address of PC/name of shared folder

example smb://192.168.0.8/ifelix

Stage 6 PC to Mac

Start -> My Network Places

Yours may already have network places in it.

Click Add a network place

You will then start the Add Network Place Wizard

Click Next

Select Choose another network location (you have more than the choice indicated here) and click Next.

Type in \\IP Address of Mac\Mac Username

example

\\192.168.0.10\jimbo

Then click Next.

You will then be asked to Type a name for this network place:

It makes sense to either leave it as is, or type in this case the name of the Mac.

Then click Next.

This will then add a folder to your My Network Places folder.

And you will be able to access the files in the folder on the Mac from the PC

From the Mac

System Preferences -> Sharing

Select Windows File Sharing and it will actually tell you what to type in.

Useful Links

Macintosh: Networking With a Windows PC

Mac OS X 10.1 or later: How to Connect to Windows File Sharing (SMB)

Mac OS X 10.2: How to Set Up Windows File Sharing