Take the 2-minute tour ×

What's the difference between "file sharing" (first image) and "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" (second image) ?

enter image description here

enter image description here

Initially I thought they were the same thing - just a different UI - so turning one off would turn the other off and turning one on would turn the other on.

However after experimenting, I found that they are in fact independent of each other. What's the difference between them?

share|improve this question

1 Answer 1

up vote 1 down vote accepted

The "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" component is the software that provides the file sharing functionality. However, just because the software is installed doesn't mean that sharing is enabled.

The first dialog box says "To turn off file sharing, Windows Firewall will be enabled" so I conclude that the function of that dialog is to configure the Windows Firewall to either allow or disallow file sharing.

Functionally, this means that file sharing has to be on in both places in order to work.

share|improve this answer
What's the difference bteween them? –  Pacerier Oct 17 '11 at 18:50
Well, for one example, if the file sharing component is installed and associated with a network connection (second dialog) but turned off (first dialog) then file sharing will still work for connections coming from the machine itself. The firewall only blocks connections that are coming from other machines. –  Harry Johnston Oct 17 '11 at 21:07
Do you agree with the answer in this question?: superuser.com/q/347545/78897 –  Pacerier Oct 18 '11 at 1:19
Yes, it says the same thing as my answer here. –  Harry Johnston Oct 18 '11 at 1:57
take a look at my comment over there –  Pacerier Oct 18 '11 at 2:57

Your Answer


