I've made a small network between three computers that have windows XP and
the network work fine for a long time now without any password but a new need
to have some shared hard disks on the network must have password to let
others to reach to
how I can modify my network setting to put a password on some or all network
resources ( hard - computer - etc.)
Windows XP doesn't have passwords for network resources like Windows
95, 98, and Me do.
If you have Windows XP Professional, you can disable "simple file
sharing" and define access control lists that specify user names and
their allowed mode of access. Ron Lowe and I have written a web page
with details of this very powerful and flexible feature:
Windows XP Professional File Sharing
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_filesharing/index.htm
Windows XP Home Edition wasn't designed to control access to network
resources. Its normal behavior is to give access to all users on all
computers. Here are some ways to partially overcome the limitations
of "simple file sharing" and control access in Home Edition.
1. Create a hidden share and only tell selected people about it. I've
written a web page with details:
Windows XP Simple File Sharing
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm
2. Assign a password to the "Guest" account. When other people try to
access anything on your computer, they'll be prompted to enter the
password:
a. Click Start | Run.
b. Type "control userpasswords2" in the box and click OK.
c. Under "Users for this computer", click Guest.
d. Click Reset Password, enter a password, and click OK.
3. Create a compressed folder and define a password for it. Everyone
who accesses the folder, from the local computer or from the network,
must specify the password to access the files in the compressed
folder. This Microsoft Knowledge Base article has details:
HOW TO: Use Compressed (Zipped) Folders in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306531
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)
Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
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