Remote Access to PC

[hc4361]

Both PCs have Windows 7.

Is it possible to watch a video file on the hard drive of one pc from a different pc, but block access to all other files?

[rojash]

I assume both PCs are on the same network.
Put the video in a folder (eg C:\VideoFolder)
share the folder and only that folder

[ChuckFickens]

Eh? ↑↑

[hc4361]

Not on the same network, not even in the same country.

[Squitty]

doesnt have to be the same network (the internet is your network) but both machines need to have the same workgroup to be able to share the files by just as rojash says - just share the one folder.

[hc4361]

Thanks, squitty.

How do I create a workgroup?

[hc4361]

On the Windows help page it says:

All computers must be on the same local network or subnet.

[Squitty]

My windows 7 machine is at home so I cant try it out but on my XP version I click the windows start button / right click 'my computer' choose Properties. Then one of the tabs says 'Computer name' and there is a change button which allows you to alter the workgroup.

Yours will be similar on w7

[hc4361]

Yes, Squitty, but that needs both pcs to be on a local network - can't be done that way over the internet, as far as I know.

[rojash]

"Not on the same network, not even in the same country. "
Shame you couldn't be @rsed to explain your problem properly in the first place

[ChuckFickens]

You almost certainly won't be able to do what you want either (and both computers being on the same workgroup over the internet is a load of rubbish)

To watch a video from a PC over the internet the PC with the video on it would need to have a higher upstream internet speed than the bitrate of the video, so if the video was at 1000Kb/s the computer with it on would need to be able to send the data at about 1200Kb/s..... most people only have about 500Kb/s upload speed.

If by chance the computer hosting the video has got enough bandwidth to make it feasible then setting up a VPN would be your best option, then you can treat the remote machine exactly the same as you would a machine on your local network.

[hc4361]

Thanks for that, Chuck.

Saved me a lot of time and bother.