How do I make Windows 7 HomeGroup content accessible to Vista and XP?

As I explained in “How Do I Create and Configure a Network with Windows 7 HomeGroup?” the HomeGroup feature in Microsoft Windows 7 is an enhanced version of a peer-to-peer workgroup designed to make sharing files and folder easier on a home or small business network. I then showed you how to create and join a HomeGroup with Windows 7.

In “Extend Default Folder Sharing Capabilities in Windows 7 HomeGroup,” I explained how Libraries are used to share folders and files and also described other built-in features that you can use to extend folder sharing capabilities in a Windows 7 HomeGroup.

In those blog posts, I explained that only computers running Windows 7 can actually participate in a HomeGroup. I then went on to explain that in addition to supporting HomeGroups, Windows 7 can participate in a standard workgroup network configuration with XP and Vista systems and can be configured to share folders and access shared folders just like XP and Vista systems can.

However, there is another possible scenario — Windows XP and Vista systems that can access content shared in HomeGroup. Of course, this type of configuration requires a bit of tweaking, but it is possible.

In this edition of the Windows Vista and Windows 7 Report, I’ll show you how to make it possible for Windows XP and Windows Vista systems to access the folder and printers shared in a Windows 7 HomeGroup. As I do, I’ll also describe how to share and access resources on Windows XP and Windows Vista systems from a Windows 7 HomeGroup system.

Configuring a Windows 7 HomeGroup system

In order to configure a Windows 7 system that is part of a HomeGroup so that Windows XP and Windows Vista computers can access the shared folders and printers, you will create a special password-protected account specifically for sharing with Windows XP and Windows Vista systems. To limit this sharing account to the task at hand, you will set it up as a Standard user.
To begin, access the Control Panel, type User in the search box, and then select Create Standard User Account from the search results. When the Create New Account window appears, as shown in Figure A, type a name for the new account, such as HG-Share, and click Create Account.
read more:http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/how-do-i-make-windows-7-homegroup-content-accessible-to-vista-and-xp/1910

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