Local Area Network HELP!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tom
  • Start date Start date
T

Tom

On prior versions of Windows, when sharing out drives,
one could password-protect a computer on a local area
network (LAN), thus without the user name and password
one could not access the computer on the LAN. I can't
find any stitch of a clue as to how to set this up on
a "Windows XP Home" machine. It seems that it is either
all shared or not at all. Can it be done and if so, how?

Thanks....tom
 
You can't do it in Home. You can limit the folders that
are shared by not sharing the entire drive. Instead, you
drag the folders you want to give public access to the
shared folder. I don't have a Home edition computer
anymore, so I cannot remember the exact name or location,
but you will see instructions for this when you go to
enable drive sharing. Pro has the ability to use
individual password protection, but Home does not. Good
luck.
Km
 
"Tom" said:
On prior versions of Windows, when sharing out drives,
one could password-protect a computer on a local area
network (LAN), thus without the user name and password
one could not access the computer on the LAN. I can't
find any stitch of a clue as to how to set this up on
a "Windows XP Home" machine. It seems that it is either
all shared or not at all. Can it be done and if so, how?

Thanks....tom
Click to expand...

You're right, Tom: Windows XP Home Edition doesn't have passwords for
shared disks and folders the way that Windows 95, 98, and Me do.

Here are some ways to control access to your shared files:

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 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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