# How do I access files on the other computer on my home network?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-access-files-on-the-other-computer-on-my-home-network/125997>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 28, 2002, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-access-files-on-the-other-computer-on-my-home-network/125997 "2002-08-28T22:03:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-access-files-on-the-other-computer-on-my-home-network/125997/1 "2002-08-28T22:03:04Z")

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OK, I have two computer hooked up to a router and the router hooked up to my cable modem.

I am now able to go on the Internet with both computers and “share” files on them both.

Screw this sharing crap, I want access!!!

I want ot be able to look on either computer as if the drive was physically connected to the other computer. I know that this is possible, but I do not know how.

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**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-access-files-on-the-other-computer-on-my-home-network/125997/2 "2002-08-28T22:10:05Z")

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in windows explorer right click on the drive, set it to shared, and it should appear on the other computer. Always set a password to make it more difficult to access from the net.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-access-files-on-the-other-computer-on-my-home-network/125997/3 "2002-08-28T22:15:59Z")

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Ahhh!

Thank you very much.

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**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-access-files-on-the-other-computer-on-my-home-network/125997/4 "2002-08-29T04:33:53Z")

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What operating system do you have? You could even go so far as to map the drive - make the other computer’s C: drive your Z: drive and all.

Uhm…someone else will have to tell you how to do that, though. I’m not on a network and couldn’t do it off the top of my head.