Sharing Files On A Windows 8.1 PC

Setting a Static IP for the PC (file server side)

Putting your PC on a static IP have various advantages. This step is optional but is strongly recommended to avoid problems in the future. Normally, the local IP is assigned by the router through a DHCP server. The router will assign any available IP and it may be different from time to time. Putting your PC on a static IP allows softwares to easily find your PC.

- Open up Network and Sharing Centre

- Click on your network name in connections

- Click Properties

- Open Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)

- Click Use the following IP address

- Here's the tricky part. You need to know the IP of your router. There are a few ways. First, it is the IP address that you use to login to your router settings. If you don't know that, refer to the previous image and click on details until you see the IP of the default gateway.

- You may pick an IP address of your choice. Just change the last 3 digits, the first 3 boxes must be the same with your router's IP address. Example, if your router is 192.168.0.1 use 192.168.0.xxx for your static IP. If your router is 192.168.1.1 use 192.168.1.xxx. Replace xxx with any number.

- Subnet mask will be filled in automatically, it will always be 255.255.255.0

- You can choose to use 8.8.8.8 (Google DNS) as your preferred DNS server or just leave it blank / auto.

Click OK and you're done setting static IP.

Creating a Local Account

It is strongly recommended that you create a local account with password and share files only to the accounts you created. This protect your files from unwanted guests. You should never share your files to "public" or "everyone", unless you are fine with others looking at the files being shared.

- Go to Control Panel

- Under User Accounts and Family Safety

- Click Change account type

- Manage Accounts will appear

- Click Add a new user in PC settings

- Click Add an account

- Click Sign in without a Microsoft account

- Click Local account

- Fill in the User name and Password of your choice and click next

- Almost done! Click Finish.

Sharing a Folder

- Right click on the folder that you wish to share

- Under Share with, select the user that you want to share with

- At this point of time, the person that you share with can only read.

- To allow write permission, read on.

- Right click on the folder and click properties

- Under the sharing tab, click Share

- Select Read/Write to the account that you'd like to grant write permission.

To access the shared folder from another Windows PC (or your own to verify), go to file explorer and look for Network. You'll be able to see connected devices / PC on the network. Open and you'll be able to see files that are shared on the network. When asked for User name and Password, just input the one that you've just created earlier on.

In the next post I will write on how to access the shared files from a mac and an android smartphone.

MagSafe Power Adapter - DIY Strain Relief

Frayed Cables

It's no surprise that most of us have seen a frayed Apple cable be it a charger or an earphone throughout our ownership of an Apple product. This is due to the lack of a strain relief in the design of the cable. Unless Apple decides to include a strain relief of some sort in their design, be prepared to fork out money for the purchase of a new charger from time to time. Fortunately, there are a few ways that may prolong the life of that cable. An easy way would be using a spring from a retractable pen as a strain relief. There are already quite a handful of guides on the Internet on this topic but I wish to share a few additional tips.

Extending the Spring

Prior to winding the spring onto the cable you have to extend the spring (especially on the ends) so that it can fit on the cable, doing so also makes the winding process easier. I do not recommend winding a spring that is tight onto the cable as it may damage your cable during the winding process. You can support the spring on the tube of the pen when extending to get a straighter and more evenly extended spring.

Winding the Spring

To wind the spring onto the cable, start from the thick end first. If you start from the thin side, the spring will tend to slide down when winding and this makes it difficult to cover the thick side. Estimate by yourself how much spring it takes to reach to the end of the cable. Take note, to make this work you need to make sure the spring covers both the thick side and the thin side. Some tutorials online only wind the spring onto the thin side of the cable and this has no meaning. The spring must be wound across the weak point to act as a support. As mentioned earlier, for maximum effect try to estimate so that the spring ends as near as possible to the end. Below is the finished product. Also make sure that the end of the spring does not have sharp ends poking into the cable. If there is, use a cutter to trim the end slightly.

Strain Relief Loop

In addition to adding a spring, I think that by making a loop and hold it down with the clip on the cable you can reduce some strain on the MagSafe connector. For better results, make sure the loop is pressing on the desktop. The loop should also be at the back if you need to use any of the ports on the side. This idea is actually inspired by antenna installations where a loop is usually made at the point of connection with the antenna as a mean of strain relief. Apparently the loop is known as a service loop.