Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Share and transfer files between two laptops

by Dec 30, 2019 5:39AM PST

Hi I use to know how to do this but have forgot put it down to getting old lol, so having been trying for a couple of days I decided that I needed to turn to the fonts of knowledge, both laptops report that they are rightly set up but obviously there not as they don't work, so if anyone can help me and start again from the start.
Thanks RonC

Discussion is locked

6 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details
- Collapse -
Answer
Re: share and transfer files between 2 laptops
by Forum moderator Dec 30, 2019 6:32AM PST

You have to set up the laptop for filesharing that you want to copy from or copy to while logged on the other. If you work on laptop A, you setup filesharing on laptop B. Only if you also want to access files/folders on laptop A while logged on to laptop B, you have to set it up on laptop A also.

Once you get it done for one such situation, the other usually is easy, if they have the same OS.

Please realise that the old Homegroups from Windows 8 don't exist anymore in Windows 10. So if you used to use that, that knowledge is useless. It's more like it was in Windows XP and Windows 7, but with totally new Settings app.

So the first question: what OS do the laptops have?

- Collapse -
Re: share and transfer files between 2 laptops
by Arach1 Dec 30, 2019 11:13AM PST

Hi both have Windows 10, one is a brand new Laptop the other is between 4 & 5 years old

Thanks

- Collapse -
Re: Windows 10
by Kees_B Forum moderator Dec 30, 2019 12:14PM PST

First step: be sure that both laptops have the same Windows account with the same password, having all necessary local access, and use that account on the computer you login to.
Second step: make sure the computers have a unique name and are part of the same workgroup.
Third step: be sure the laptops are in the same LAN.
Then, on the 'remote' computer, in the properties of all folders you want to access set them to shared . Also check the advanced properties on that tab.
Then, on the 'remote' computer, open the Settings app, goto Network and Internet>Ethernet>Advanced Options for Sharing and set those as you need
Also, on both laptops, enable Network Detection.

If all is well, you can see the remote computer in File Explorer>Network and you can assign it a drive letter, if you want.

You'll find:
https://www.google.com/search?q=windows+10+share+folder+on+network
https://www.google.com/search?q=windows+10+assign+drive+letter+to+network+location
very useful. There are a lot of not really so very intuitive details.

- Collapse -
Re: share and transfer files between 2 laptops
by Arach1 Dec 31, 2019 2:35AM PST

Hi thanks for the link i'll give them a try
Cheers HNY Ron

- Collapse -
Answer
There are many ways to sync and transfer.
by Forum moderator Dec 30, 2019 12:07PM PST
- Collapse -
Answer
Maybe not the same thing
by Dec 30, 2019 2:56PM PST
Back to Computer Help forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Brand Forums
Roadshow Autos
Off Topic

Other Forums

Forum Info