Quickly Share Folders from Desktop

Last Update: Dec 03, 2024 | Published: Jan 07, 2009

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I want to be able to quickly create shares or manage shares from my desktop. How can I do that?
No problem. In Windows 2000/XP/2003 you can easily create new shares and manage existing shares from the Shared Folder MMC snap-in.
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You can access the Shared Folder MMC snap-in by opening Computer Management (Right-click My Computer > Manage), by running a custom-made MMC, or by running

​fsmgmt.msc

from the run command.
If you only what the New Share functionality and you want quick access to it you can follow this trick:
Create a new shortcut on your desktop with the following command:

​%SystemRoot%SYSTEM32Rundll32.exe ntlanui.dll,ShareCreate

Give it a name and run it:
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You can also gain quick access to the old, NT-style share management software (that used to be found in Server Manager) by creating a new shortcut on your desktop with the following command:

​%SystemRoot%SYSTEM32Rundll32.exe ntlanui.dll,ShareManage

Give it a name and run it:
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You can create, manage and stop sharing existing shares, but pay attention that you will get the old, NT-styled permission wizard, and you will not get the Active Directory Publishing feature found the the Windows Server 2003 Shared Folder MC snap-in.
Even with these limitations in mind, using these shortcuts can make folder sharing much easier for some of you.
Enjoy.

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