This procedure will make the computer a little less secure but it works because no passwords are used and everyone is allowed access. I’ve listed the procedure in full as the terminology is slightly different between operating systems. Optionally, you can put the computers in the same workgroup (Win98 onwards). On the Windows 7 machine, don’t use HomeGroup as this feature only works if all the computers are Windows 7.

Vista
Go to Control Panel > Classic View > Network and Sharing Center and make sure you have Network Discovery, File Sharing and Public Folder Sharing all set to ‘On’ and Password Protected Sharing to ‘Off’.

To share a Vista folder, click it > Share on the Toolbar > Advanced Sharing, click ‘Share this folder’ > Apply > OK, etc. You only need to share the highest level folder, e.g. not every sub-folder. Two little people should appear on the icons of the folders that are shared. An alternative way of sharing is to drag the folders you want to share to the Public folder.

Windows 7
Go to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Network and Sharing Center > Change Advanced Sharing Settings. In the Home or Work profile, make sure you have Network Discovery, File and Printer Sharing and Public Folder Sharing all set to ‘On’ and Password Protected Sharing to ‘Off’.

To share a Windows 7 folder, right-click it > Properties > Sharing Tab > Advanced Sharing > Share this folder > Apply, OK > Close. You only need to share the highest level folder, e.g. not every sub-folder. Two little people should appear on the icons of the folders that are shared. An alternative way of sharing is to drag the folders you want to share to the Public folder.

Both
As you don’t have Password Protected Sharing turned on, you have to change the security permissions on your folder(s) to allow Everyone access. Right-click the shared folder > Properties > Security Tab > Edit > Add and type ‘Everyone’ (not the quotes) into the box and OK. Tick the boxes next to the permissions you want to allow (e.g. Read or Write, etc.) then Apply > OK, etc. You may see some screens coming up with message 'An error occurred while applying ……..'. This is not unusual and can be ignored by clicking Continue.

General
Windows firewall is normally set to allow file and printer sharing but if you have a third-party firewall make sure file and printer sharing is enabled so that each machine can talk to the other(s). Don’t disable the Windows firewall if it’s the only one you’re running.

To see or copy files, click the Windows Orb (Start) > Network and the computers/folders/files should appear. Using two Windows Explorer windows, right-click the Taskbar, click Show windows side by side and drag them from one PC to the other.

thanks for the detailed reply, saved it as a word doc for future ref.
Strawballs
thank you too.