Set up an extra OS you have with a shared folder.
Please and thank you
Ok, so this method will assume you have another copy of a Windows OS around. If you have it, Windows 7 is the
easiest to use with this, though Vista is not too bad. XP is a pain though.
Ok, so in all three of those, the method is more or less the same. Here is a good way to set it up as a cheap home sever (if you have access to Windows Home Server, they have some good tools for this).
This is a little different in each OS, but you should be able to figure it out. These are written for Seven.
1. Get your spare computer, and install the OS of your choice on there. Name the computer something like SERVER (good choice there).
2. After installation is finished, go to Computer and open it up. There should only be one partition (drive) there. Right click on it, and select Share With... Click on advanced sharing.
3. Then, click on Advanced Sharing (in the properties menu that opened). Check "Share this Folder" and give it a name, and make sure that permissions are set to full for the Everyone group.
4. Click apply, and OK out of everything.
5. Here is the cool part. You can set this up as a true server. First, make sure it is hard wired to your router. Then go to another computer and go to "Remote Desktop Connection". Type in the name of your server (SERVER?) and hit connect. Then enter your password. Now, your server can hide in the corner with no mouse, keyboard, or monitor!
6. To connect to the shared folder, hit start and type \\SERVER to open up all of its shared folders. Then create a desktop shortcut.
All done!
~Lordbob
