Windows 7: HDD sharing

Hi new here so be patient.
Have a PC running windows 7, this has a external HDD connected via usb. Using this HDD to backup files etc. to. Also have 2 laptops running Vista, connected to the windows 7 machine via home network.
Both laptops share a printer which is connected to the 7 machine.
What i would like to do is backup both laptops to the external HDD using a scheduled backup within windows.
Is this possible and if so how.
Thanks in advance

The links below shows you how to perform scheduled back ups onto another drive. Looks pretty easy to me but I haven't tried it yet.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...-up-your-files

Backup Files Schedule - Turn On or Off

Backup User and System Files

Thanks Chev65.
I know how to backup the 7 machine to the external HDD, what i would also like to be able to backup the 2 Vista laptops over my home network to the same external HDD which is connected to the 7 machine.

It's safer to share only the C:\Users folders rather than sharing from the actual drive letter so that is what the first picture represents, this is the default Windows setting and there is good reason for this.

Just open the drive then right click the Users folder click on properties then the Security tab.

I assume default C: drive here or which ever drive you have the Users folder installed on. The users folder is where the sharing permissions are controlled from by default so that is the folder I'm showing here.

To add write access on a network drive for the Everyone group just highlight Everyone then click Edit, then add the one check mark for write access which is highlighted in yellow on the second picture. You may also need to add check marks for read and execute, list folder contents and read as well depending on the initial settings.

Hit apply after adding the check mark then ok etc. and see if this works to fix the problem.

It might be required to add check marks for full control and modify permissions but try just the other permissions first then add check marks for full control and modify if required for full access.

This is with the Security tab as opposed to the Sharing tab which should already have sharing enabled per the lower three pictures of the Sharing tab settings, hit the Advanced Sharing button to check those settings.

Thanks chev65, will try.

Thanks chev65 I will try also. remguy