How do I do this?

[ls1995]

I have a laptop as well as a desktop. I would ideally like to have my desktop as the host for all files and just connect to the desktop from my laptop and be able to access any file i needed. what is the best way to do this?

 

[StarChief]

You can use a flash drive to transfer files back and forth...

 

[ls1995]

You can use a flash drive to transfer files back and forth...

obviously, but that is not what I want. I want to be able to work on word document on my laptop, save it, and then open the same file on my desktop with the changes made. I do not want any files on my laptop though, and I do not want to use any cloud services.

 

[joex444]

Assuming both are running Windows, then you simply want to share some directory on your desktop with the network. If the laptop is on the same workgroup as the desktop, and they're on the same network (ie, they share the same internet connection through the same router), then the laptop can connect to the desktop and mount that directory as a network drive.

This probably is helpful if you want to do that: http://www.wikihow.com/Map-a-Network-Drive

 

[USAFRet]

I have a laptop as well as a desktop. I would ideally like to have my desktop as the host for all files and just connect to the desktop from my laptop and be able to access any file i needed. what is the best way to do this?

Both systems connected to the same router, and Shared Folders.

This is the way I have my HTPC/house server set up.
On the HTPC, a folder named Movies is shared, and on my main PC it gets a mapped drive letter - M
Music folder gets to be the S drive
etc, etc.

 

[theyeti87]

On your desktop, in My Computer locate the drive you want to share.

-Right-click that drive > Share With > Advanced sharing settings
-Find Advanced Sharing at the bottom of the window that pops up. Click
-Select share this folder

Also, make sure that the internet connection type on both machines is private and not public.

If successful, you will be able to see and access the shared hard drive from your Network Locations within My Computer.


**You can do this type of sharing with any folder that you wish.

 

[USAFRet]

You can use a flash drive to transfer files back and forth...

If we were talking about systems 15 years ago, sneakernet might have been a viable solution.
Since modern OS's have networking functionality built in...not so much.

 

[StarChief]

Alternatively you can use a cloud service to share files between the two computers.

 

[theyeti87]

Alternatively you can use a cloud service to share files between the two computers.

Quit trolling the OP. That's two troll posts.

 

[ls1995]

Is there a way to set this up if they were not going to be connected to the same router all the time?

 

[USAFRet]

Is there a way to set this up if they were not going to be connected to the same router all the time?

Yes, but...

The shared folder status does not go away if you disconnect the laptop. But while it is disconnected, you can't access files back and forth. Unless you use some cloud solution. DropBox, for instance. Which you've stated you don't want to do.

 

[mmaatt747]

If you need to access the file on your desktop even when your laptop is not on your local network and you don't want to use cloud storage you might try using something like teamviewer. If you're just doing minor document editing this could work. But I would not recommend it for anything graphicly intensive.

 

[mmaatt747]

... plus your desktop would need to remain on while you are away