How to share photos and files instantly

Download and install Windows Live Mesh

System requirements

Operating system: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP Service Pack 2, or Mac OSX 10.5 (Leopard) or later.

Browser: Windows Internet Explorer 8, Windows Internet Explorer 7, or Microsoft Internet Explorer 6; Firefox 2.0 or later; or Safari 3.0 or later.

Also: You need a broadband Internet connection and a free Windows Live ID to use Live Mesh.

Installation

On the Live Mesh home page:

• Click Sign in, and enter your Windows Live ID and password.

• On the Review and accept agreements page, click I agree.

• On the Devices page, click Add Device.

On the Devices page, click Add Device.

• Select your computer’s operating system from the drop-down menu, and then click Install

• When prompted, sign in again with your Windows Live ID, and enter a personalized name for the device that you’re adding.

After installation, your newly installed computer or mobile device appears in the Live Mesh Live Desktop. A Live Mesh icon is also added to the notification area of your Windows taskbar or your Mac’s menu bar.

Repeat these installation steps for each computer or device you want to add to your mesh— your network of devices and synchronized folders. When you've added your computers and devices, sharing photos and files between them— and between your devices and your friends' devices—is as simple as moving files between folders on your computer.

Share files and photos from your PC by using Live Mesh

Follow these steps to share files and photos by using Live Mesh from your computer.

Step 1: If you’re not signed in already, click the Live Mesh icon in the notification area of your Windows taskbar or open the Live Mesh home page to sign in to Live Mesh.

Step 2: On your computer, right-click any folder you want to share, and then click Add folder to Live Mesh. When prompted, you can rename the folder or keep its current name, and then click OK. The folder icon turns blue to indicate that the folder is now part of your mesh.

Step 3: Open the folder. On the right side of the window, the mesh bar appears. Click the Members icon, and then click Invite. Type in the email address of the friend you’d like to share the folder with, and use the drop-down menu to set the permission level (Contributor, Owner, or Reader). Click OK. An invitation to share the folder is sent to your friend.

Step 4: When your friend accepts your invitation, Live Mesh opens on his or her computer, and the shared folder opens for viewing. On the mesh bar of the shared folder on your computer, an orange dot icon indicates that your friend currently has the shared folder open.

Share photos from your mobile device

After you sign up for Live Mesh on your computer, you can follow these steps to share photos from a web-enabled mobile device by using Live Mesh.

Step 1: Take a photo using a mobile device with camera capability. Most mobile phones today include a camera. If you’re not sure whether your phone includes a camera, call your mobile device company and they can help you figure out if your phone has a camera, and how to use it if it does. And even if your phone doesn’t include a camera, you may be able to store photos on it from email or by syncing photos from your computer.

Step 2: On your mobile device’s browser, go to www.mesh.com, and sign in using your Windows Live ID. When you sign in, a folder named My Pictures is automatically added to your mesh.

Step 3: From the Live Mesh News screen on your mobile device, click Add Picture. Choose the picture you'd like to add from your phone—pictures are usually stored in an image folder—and then click Add. You can then easily synchronize and share them with other devices in your mesh.

If you need more help or troubleshooting information for Live Mesh, visit the Live Mesh home page.