Windows 7 Sharing
 

Okay, so two things that I want to do:

1) I have two computers at home. One is my main gaming rig, and the other is a media machine. My main gaming rig has most of my storage and contains all of my media files. It stays on 24/7 (as it is also a folding machine). Both machines are networked through LAN, but currently do not communicate to each other.

I would like to play media on my media rig without actually duplicating the file and transferring it from one machine to the other. How can I do this?

2) Same as above, but now the media computer will be in a different house across town.

Enable fire sharing on both systems.
make sure both systems share the same workgroup
then just share folders.

It's that easy? I'm assuming that's for 1). What about 2) Wouldn't I need some sort of remote access?

Its seriously that easy. As long as you are all on the same ip setup and workgroup sharing is that simple.

Google how to simple file share and you'll see.

Okay thanks, I'll give it a try.

what was said should work as long as both machines are windows 7 if your trying to share between windows 7 and xp you will need to make some changes in the network and sharing center.

Only change you need to make is tell Windows 7 to not use password sharing

They're both Win7 machines.

If it works and both machines are Windows 7 (assuming at least one is Win7 Home premium or higher.)

They're both 64bit Win7 Home premium.