Windows – “file sharing” vs “File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks”

file-sharingnetwork-printerwindowswindows-vista

What's the difference between "file sharing" (first image) and "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" (second image) ?

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Initially I thought they were the same thing – just a different UI – so turning one off would turn the other off and turning one on would turn the other on.

However after experimenting, I found that they are in fact independent of each other. What's the difference between them?

Best Answer

The "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" component is the software that provides the file sharing functionality. However, just because the software is installed doesn't mean that sharing is enabled.

The first dialog box says "To turn off file sharing, Windows Firewall will be enabled" so I conclude that the function of that dialog is to configure the Windows Firewall to either allow or disallow file sharing.

Functionally, this means that file sharing has to be on in both places in order to work.

Related Solutions

Windows – Automate Windows 7’s file sharing and firewall settings

netsh should be all you need to tweak the firewall. Here's the verbose documentation on how to use it for the firewall specifically (since it can be used for a lot of things non-firewall related). Here's a few examples that might help get you started:

# Allow Remote Desktop
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="Remote Desktop" new enable=Yes
# Allow File and Printer Sharing
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="File and Printer Sharing" new enable=Yes

Off the top of my head, I'm not sure how to affect the advanced sharing settings. I'm sure there's a way to do it though.

Windows Firewall prevents File and Printer sharing from working

I'm assuming you are using either Windows 7 or Vista, since you did not specify. When you open up the firewall settings, go to "allow a program." Then make sure the file and printing sharing is turned on.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Windows – Automate Windows 7’s file sharing and firewall settings

Windows Firewall prevents File and Printer sharing from working

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