Add a Mac to a PC network

We’ve explained how to set up a PC for networking many times in the past, so we won’t go into great detail here – you can find a complete guide to wireless networks here. The key point is that no special settings or adjustments are required on the PC to enable Mac access – the standard network configuration is fine.

Macs already contain networking hardware, and the Network Setup Assistant is the simplest way to get connected – it works in a similar way to Windows’ Network Setup Wizard, presenting a series of simple questions which help it identify the network and connection type. Once connections have been established, they can be examined in the Windows Network Connections Control Panel on the PC and in the Network section of the Mac’s System Preferences.

Accessing PC files from a Mac
Once both the Mac and the PC are connected to the network, it’s possible for each to access files and folders on the other and carry out file transfers. Before this can happen, though, these items need to be stored in folders set up for sharing.

Only files set up for sharing can be seen over the network. It’s a way of keeping the majority of your data private and controlling what other users can and cannot access.

Windows XP has a Shared Documents folder by default. It’s in the My Docuements folder. Drag files and folders to it to share them on a network. The contents of this folder are visible to other users of that computer, and the Shared Documents folder is also visible on the network.

To access this shared folder from a Mac, first open a Finder window – you can do this from the keyboard by holding down the Apple key and hitting N when in the Finder – and then click on the Network icon in the sidebar. A list of network locations will appear to the right, and, assuming both computers are successfully connected to the network, this list will include Mshome.

Remember, this is the network name chosen by default when the Network Setup Wizard is used on a PC. If another name has been chosen, it will be visible here. The next step is to click the Mshome icon on the Mac. This will show a list of computers connected to the network, which should include the PC’s name, chosen during the Network Setup Wizard.

Clicking this will display a Connect button. When this is pressed, the Finder will display a list of available folders on the PC. Initially, this will be the Shared Documents folder.

When the connection has been made, a SHAREDDOCS icon appears on the Mac’s desktop. The Finder’s sidebar also displays a SHAREDDOCS icon. This acts like an extra disk drive and can be opened and navigated in the Mac Finder.

To access other folders on the PC, it’s necessary to set these folders up for sharing. To do this, right-click the folder on the PC, and choose Properties. The Properties dialogue has a Sharing tab, and a checkbox labelled ‘Share this folder on the network’. Beneath that is another box which should be checked ‘Allow network users to change my files’.

The folder’s icon will change to indicate that the folder is available for sharing. On the Mac, it will be one of the connection options available in the Finder.

Note that when a folder is shared, all its subfolders become available too. While you might not bother password-protecting your PC on a wired home network, it’s a good idea with wireless networking, because neighbouring houses could be within range and able to connect to your network.