Network Windows
Being able to dig below the surface of Windows is an essential skill. The faster you can access your data-from any location-the more enjoyable your life will be. The ability to quickly help your friends and family via remote access is pure power user.
Map Network Drive
You'll save time and energy by mapping a frequently used network directory to a drive.
Mapping a network drive in Windows 7 is both quick and easy, once you know how to do it. Open My Computer and highlight the drive you want to map. Select Map Network Drive from the toolbar. In the pop-up window that appears, select a drive letter for your mapped drive. Click the Browse button to drill down to the folder you want to map and be sure the Reconnect at Logon box is checked. All that's left is to click Finish. You should now see the mapped network drive in the My Computer window.
Create Secure Remote Access
It's an indelible truth of being an advanced user: Our loved ones need our help when things go wrong. Quite often, it's nearly impossible to provide that sort of help over the phone-the entire process often becomes counterproductive, usually eliciting a great deal of frustration rather than resolution of any kind. So what ends up happening? You get in your car and drive far too many miles only to discover that your mom simply needed to disable some pop-ups in "The Windows." What a waste of time and gas, and now you've got to stay for dinner.
OK, we're digressing. The next time you're at mom's house, do yourself a favor that'll save you some gas, time, and grief later on down the line. Head over to www.logmein.com, download the free software onto mom's computer, and create an account. The next time you receive a distressed phone call, you can hop on your own PC, take remote control of mom's desktop, and address any simple fixes she needs from the comfort of your own home.
LogMeIn is easy to download and install, and will allow you to remote access your desktop from virtually anywhere with an internet connection.
Once the software is installed on the computer you need remote control over, taking the reins becomes as easy as logging into LogMeIn.com (which only requires a username and password, all free). The open-source software allows you to perform almost any task you normally would using your PC, over the Internet. You can save and make changes to files, reorganize the desktop, and adjust system settings-more than enough capabilities required for what's usually an easy fix.
Incidentally, LogMeIn has a wide range of uses that extend far beyond remote controlling a desktop. With the right software iterations, you can remote control any given desktop from a smartphone or tablet PC, too. For a more in-depth look at LogMeIn, go here.
Create Secure Remote Access
In the old days, setting up a home network with printer and file sharing was about as fun as watching a train wreck… from the conductor's seat. With Windows 7, Microsoft has removed most of the headaches associated with sharing files, thanks to the advent of HomeGroups.
HomeGroups only work with PCs running Windows 7, leaving Vista and XP users to go pound sand. To set up a HomeGroup, navigate to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Choose Homegroup and Sharing Options. Mash the Create a HomeGroup button and check the boxes for the types of files you want to share, including Pictures, Music, Videos, Documents, and Printers. In the next step, you'll be given a case-sensitive password. Write this down-you'll need it when adding other PCs to the HomeGroup.
To connect another PC to the HomeGroup you just created, follow the same path as before and press the Join Now button. Enter the password you jotted down and Windows will take care of the rest.
You can quickly and easily set up file sharing across your entire network through this screen.
You may not want to share the same files and folders with everyone in your HomeGroup. Maybe you've recorded some, ahem, special-interest videos that would place little Johnny in therapy for the rest of his life if he viewed them, or confidential documents detailing your secret identity as a spy. Whatever the case, it's easy enough to selectively share files with others on your network.
To detach an entire folder or a single file from your network, open it in Windows Explorer, select the Share With pull-down menu, and click Nobody (you'll also find the Share With option in the right-click context menu). Alternately, you can give your HomeGroup just Read or both Read/Write permissions in this same section, or share the folder with only specific people in your HomeGroup. In the case of the latter, select Specific People from the Share With pull-down menu and select only those you want to have access to your file or folder. Next to each name, you can grant specific levels of access; for example, you can restrict little Johnny to only viewing your vacation photos, and you can give everyone else both read/write privileges.
For even finer control, bulldoze your way back to the HomeGroup section in the Control Panel and select Change Advanced Sharing Settings. From here you can set up different rules for Home, Work, and Public networks, as well as troubleshoot connection issues. If someone is unable to access your network shares, they might be using an ancient wireless adapter that doesn't support 128-encryption. If that's the case, scroll down to File Sharing Connections and select "Enable file sharing for devices that use 40- or 45-bit encryption." You can also turn printer sharing on/off, as well as several other self-explanatory options.
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