Switching to a Mac For Dummies
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If you allow a Windows PC to access your Snow Leopard files, you’ll also probably want to putter around with files on a Windows PC. Accessing files on Windows computers relies on the Samba component (a part of the UNIX foundation of Mac OS X). Follow these steps:

  1. Choose Go→Connect to Server from the Finder.

    Open the Connect to Server dialog.
    Open the Connect to Server dialog.

    The Connect to Server dialog opens.

  2. In the Address box, enter smb://<ip address>.

    Here ip address is the IP address of the Windows computer that you want to connect to.

  3. Click the Connect button.

    Enter a username and password if necessary.
    Enter a username and password if necessary.

    Depending on the type of account you have on the Windows PC, Mac OS X might display an SMB (Server Message Block) authentication dialog in which you can enter your username and password.

  4. Select the desired shared drive to mount from the pop-up menu.

    Select the drive.
    Select the drive.

    If you’re accessing a file shared on a Windows 95 or Windows 98 computer, simply click OK to mount the share.

  5. Mount the shared drive according to the Windows version.

    If you’re accessing a file shared on a Windows NT, 2000, XP, or Vista computer: Click the Authenticate button. Then enter your username and password, click OK, and then click OK again to mount the share.

After you mount the shared drive, you’ll see it appear on your Desktop, just as you see a Mac volume. You can use this drive just as you do any other drive on your system. To disconnect from the Windows share, you can

  • Drag the icon to the Trash in the Dock (which changes to an Eject icon when you start dragging).

  • Press Command+E.

  • Hold Control, click the icon, and then choose Eject from the menu that appears. (If your pointing thing has multiple buttons, right-click the icon instead.)

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