A. The way I share files between my two computers in Windows XP is by using the Windows Explorer. The file you want to share MUST BE IN A FOLDER. On the computer that has the files you want to see or work with from the other computer, right click on Start > Explore--browse to the folder in which a file to be shared is located. Click on the folder name to select it, then in the sidebar menu on the left, beneath File and Folder Tasks, click on Share this folder. A Properties window opens with two sections: Local sharing for when several accounts/people are sharing the same computer and Network sharing and security. Under Network sharing and security, click on the box beside Share this folder on the network. This makes available the option to Allow network users to change my files; if you want the other person to be able to make additions or changes to the file you must check this box also. Otherwise, when you go to Save the file, a message appears that the file is Read Only. Click OK.

On the other computer, click on Start > My Network Places and you should see the shared folder listed. Double clicking on the folder will open it and you will be able to open and/or work with the file/s. Opening My Documents displays a sidebar menu and under Other Places you will see My Network Places. Click on My Network Places and the shared folder will be available also

A. It IS possible to share a whole drive-even floppy drives, CD ROM's and DVD ROM's. Open My Computer, right click on the drive and click on Sharing and Security. The drive Properties window will open to the Sharing tab and you will see an underlined message, "If you understand the risk but still want to share the root of the drive, click here." Clicking on the link brings you the Properties window with the same two sections as for individual folders listed above. Click in the Share this folder on the network box. Again, you have the choice to Allow network users to change my files. Click OK.

With the drive shared, you will be able to see and/or work with files on a floppy disk, CD, or DVD. You would not be able to change files on the CD unless the drive is a CD burner and the CD is a rewritable one. You CAN Save As: the files to the computer you are working on, and you CAN install programs from a shared CD or DVD drive. Example: Networked Computer #1 has a CD ROM drive and networked Computer #2 does not. You need to install Quicken on Computer #2. Set up Computer #1 to share the CD ROM drive, insert the Quicken program CD, locate the shared CD ROM drive in My Network Places on Computer #2, double click to list the programs and files on the CD and double click on the setup or install program.

The risk referred to is that all folders and files on the disk are now available to anyone who wants to look at them. That could be anyone else using your computer or it could be a hacker if you're connected to the Internet.