Add a Mac to Your Windows Network (Part I) San Francisco CA

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Originally published at Internet.com

Whether you've plopped down cash for the well-advertised MacBook Air or have had an Apple or two among your Windows PCs for ages, these two operating systems can share files, printers, and more. This tutorial will show you how to add an Apple computer to your existing network of Windows-based computers. Enabling Windows Sharing in Mac OS X First, Windows Sharing must be enabled on the Mac computer(s). This setting is on the Sharing preferences window, which is accessible in Mac OS X Leopard or Tiger by following these steps: 1. Click the Apple icon on the menu bar. 2. Click System Preferences. 3. In the System Preferences window, click the Sharing icon. Here's how to continue in Mac OS X Leopard: 1. On the Sharing window, make sure the checkbox for the File Sharing option is checked, and click the option to show its settings. 2. Click the OptionsÂ… button. 3. On the window that pops down, check the Share files and folders using SMB option (see below). 4. Check the checkbox(es) next to the account(s) that will be used to connect to the Mac computer from Windows computers, enter the password, and click OK. 5. Click Done. Here's how to continue in Mac OS X Tiger: 1. On the Sharing window, make sure the checkbox for the Windows Sharing option is checked, and click the option to show its settings. 2. Click the AccountsÂ… button. 3. On the window that pops down, check the checkbox(es) next to the account(s) that will be used to connect to the Mac computer from Windows computers, enter the password, and click OK. 4. Click Done. Setting the Workgroup for a Mac Since the Workgroup designations of all the computers on a network should be the same, it's probably necessary to change the default value in Mac (which is "Workgroup") to the Workgroup used by the existing computers on the network. Here's how to configure the Workgroup value in Mac OS X Leopard: 1. Click the Apple icon on the menu bar and select System Preferences. 2. In the System Preferences window, click the Network icon. 3. In the Network window, select the network adapter that's connected to the network, from the list of adapters and connections on the left. 4. Click the Advanced... button. 5. On the window that popped down, click the WINS tab. 6. Change the Workgroup field. 7. Click OK. In Mac OS X Tiger, here's how to configure the Workgroup value: 1. Click Go on the menu bar and select Utilities. 2. In the Utilities window, double-click the Directory Access icon. 3. On the Directory Access window, select the SMB/CIFS entry and click the Configure button. 4. Change the Workgroup field. 5. Click OK. Configuring Mac and Windows Firewall Settings