# Basic question about Windows network file sharing

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-question-about-windows-network-file-sharing/603149>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 16, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-question-about-windows-network-file-sharing/603149 "2011-11-16T18:18:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-question-about-windows-network-file-sharing/603149/1 "2011-11-16T18:18:13Z")

</div>

Running Windows 7, here is the setup:

Desktop, USB-connected to an external drive that houses all data files (docs, music, photos)

Laptop, connected wirelessly to home network.

What I want to do: Access files from laptop, make changes, then save to original location.

Questions:

Must files be in a public folder for me to do this?

Must they be on the desktop’s C drive (as opposed to the external hard drive)?

Thanks!  
mmm

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![brk913](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/838e76/32.png) [@brk913](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brk913)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-question-about-windows-network-file-sharing/603149/2 "2011-11-16T22:09:12Z")

</div>

As long as you are sharing the drive and have the correct permissions set you will be able to access the USB drive from the laptop.