file sharing with password/specific computers

so i have this problem. here's the situation:
i would like to set up file sharing with specific computers. it doesn't matter if it's by using password or by granting access to my computer only with password (although i would prefer first option).

I have already tried few things but it didn't work. first i tried with right clicking on one folder -> properties -> sharing tab -> advenced sharing -> permisions -> add and i thought that somehow i would be able to add specific computer through "locations" button. but only computer i can find here is my computer. is there any way to add some computer here? or is there any other way to solve that this way?

I also tried with password. i changed in network&sharing center -> change advenced sharing setting and turned on password protected sharing. aaand when someone tries to acces this folder i share, they have to type in username and password. but first I didn't have password and it didn'd go with just username, then I added password to my account, and they still couldn't access folder, computer said that username/password is wrong. anybody knows what do to here??

we all have windows 7
it would be nice to somehow fix that. some 3rd party software is also an option, but i would prefer that native windows solution.
btw homegroup is NOT an option since this is big network and somebody already created it.

First, I believe that the Microsoft Username/Password sharing option requires users to be on the same domain. The only Windows 7 versions which can join a domain are Pro, Enterprise, and Ultimate, ruling out Starter, Home Basic, and Home Premium.

The Public folders should be accessible without having to enter in credentials. I believe the command is:

Code:

net use x: \\COMP-NAME\Users\Public

to mount it as a drive.

You should also be able to see the other machines on the domain via the Network link in the left pane of Explorer (So long as Topology Mapper and Responder are turned on. This is a tick box near the bottom of the list if you go to Change Adapter Settings > Right-click Adapter > Properties). You should be able to access the remote computers' Public folders this way, assuming you have the sharing settings on all the machines set as you've described.

In order to access the User folders, you will need to provide Username/Password combinations in the format of COMP-NAME/Username for the user account on the remote machine. I believe you can mount the folder as a network drive in the same manner described above, though I always just open the start menu and type in the search field \\COMP-NAME and hit enter. Windows should look for the machine and present you with a prompt for the remote machine's credentials.

Feel free to correct guys, if I'm off on the command or procedure at all. But @brdnacer, I've done this several times, and I'm pretty sure that's all there is to it.