Shared folder password in Win XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Andy Desrosiers
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A

Andy Desrosiers

Hi!

I need to know how to password shared resources. This
option was easily accessible in Win98 through the
properties page of the shared resource, but WinXP does not
seem to offer this option. I need to restrict access to
certain resources from certain other computers on our
small office network.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Andy
(e-mail address removed)
 
"Andy Desrosiers" said:
Hi!

I need to know how to password shared resources. This
option was easily accessible in Win98 through the
properties page of the shared resource, but WinXP does not
seem to offer this option. I need to restrict access to
certain resources from certain other computers on our
small office network.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Andy
(e-mail address removed)
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but Windows XP doesn't have passwords for shared disks and
folders. That's why you can't find the option. ;-)

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

4. 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:

Windows XP Professional File Sharing

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_filesharing/index.htm
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
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Andy said:
Hi!

I need to know how to password shared resources. This
option was easily accessible in Win98 through the
properties page of the shared resource, but WinXP does not
seem to offer this option. I need to restrict access to
certain resources from certain other computers on our
small office network.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Andy
(e-mail address removed)
Click to expand...

XP does not have this capability; neither XP HE nor XP PRO.

There are some workarounds: for one, create a share with a
hidden sharename (e.g., SECRET$) and only tell your friends
the sharename.

For another, create a compressed folder and tell the compression
password to your friends; this does not always work -- I suspect
that installing a third-party zipper, such as WinZip, interferes
with XP's ability to create compressed folders, but I haven't
tried removing WinZip to explore my hypothesis.

Third, you can upgrade to XP PRO (if you have XP HE) and use PRO's
file protection mechanisms; look up ACLs in XP's Help facility.
 
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