Methods for Sharing in Windows 8

Windows 8 includes three methods for sharing resources, each of which has its own advantages. The following sections explain these different methods.

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image See Chapter 24, “Making Music with Media Player,” to learn about sharing media with Media Player.
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Homegroups

Homegroups were first introduced as a feature in Windows 7 designed to simplify resource sharing and access for home networks. Homegroups are also available with Windows 8. The first Windows 7 or Windows 8 computer added to a network creates the homegroup, and then other Windows 7 or Windows 8 computers on that same network can join the homegroup. Once your computer is part of the homegroup, you have access to the resources shared by the other computers in the homegroup.

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image See “Windows 8 Homegroups” later in this chapter to learn how to create and join a homegroup.
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When you use a homegroup for sharing, you specify which folders you want to share. You can share those folders with either read or read/write permissions with the rest of the homegroup. You can also set permissions on a per-user basis to allow one person to access a folder or file but not others.

Only Windows 7 and Windows 8 computers can participate ...

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