Closed LAN: want WORKGROUP to share w/o passwords

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

I have four XP PRO with latest downloads. I want them to boot to a running
system and share all their files as part of a work group. How do I set up
the passwords and permissions? I'm lost in PERMISSIONS and PASSWORD "hell"!
 
viperpilot said:
I have four XP PRO with latest downloads. I want them to boot to a
running
system and share all their files as part of a work group. How do I
set up
the passwords and permissions? I'm lost in PERMISSIONS and PASSWORD
"hell"!
Click to expand...

In your subject line, you say "without passwords" but in the body of
your post, you ask about setting up passwords. Here's what you should
do:

1. Create identical user accounts and passwords on all four machines.
IOW, if one machine has user "Viperpilot" and password "xyz32" this
user account and password should be created on the other three
machines. Etc.

2. Disable Simple Sharing (Folder Options>View) on all four machines.

3. Set each machine to automatically log into the desired account if you
would like that convenience. See:
Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm

4. Now see the rest of this networking advice:

Run the Network Setup Wizard on all computers, making sure to enable
File & Printer Sharing, and reboot. The only "gotcha" is that this will
turn on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you aren't running a third-party
firewall or have an antivirus with "Internet Worm Protection" (like
Norton 2005/06) which acts as a firewall, then you're fine. If you have
third-party firewall software, configure it to allow the Local Area
Network traffic as trusted. I usually do this with my firewalls with an
IP range. Ex. would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would
substitute your correct subnet.

Then create shares as desired.

Malke
 
Malke said:
In your subject line, you say "without passwords" but in the body of
your post, you ask about setting up passwords. Here's what you should
do:

1. Create identical user accounts and passwords on all four machines.
IOW, if one machine has user "Viperpilot" and password "xyz32" this
user account and password should be created on the other three
machines. Etc.

2. Disable Simple Sharing (Folder Options>View) on all four machines.

3. Set each machine to automatically log into the desired account if you
would like that convenience. See:
Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm

4. Now see the rest of this networking advice:

Run the Network Setup Wizard on all computers, making sure to enable
File & Printer Sharing, and reboot. The only "gotcha" is that this will
turn on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you aren't running a third-party
firewall or have an antivirus with "Internet Worm Protection" (like
Norton 2005/06) which acts as a firewall, then you're fine. If you have
third-party firewall software, configure it to allow the Local Area
Network traffic as trusted. I usually do this with my firewalls with an
IP range. Ex. would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would
substitute your correct subnet.

Then create shares as desired.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Click to expand...
Tx for the quick response.

I'll give it try in morning at work and let you know.

Cheers
 
I have four XP PRO with latest downloads. I want them to boot to a running
system and share all their files as part of a work group. How do I set up
the passwords and permissions? I'm lost in PERMISSIONS and PASSWORD "hell"!
Click to expand...

By default, XP Pro file sharing in a workgroup doesn't use permissions
or passwords. It allows all users on all computer to access all
shared files. if that's what you want, just make sure that simple
file sharing is enabled:

1. Open My Computer.
2. Click Tools | Folder Options | View.
3. Scroll to the end of the list of Advanced settings.
4. Make sure that the box "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)" has
a check mark.

If you want to use permissions and passwords, un-check that box, and
see this web page for 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
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
Thanks, I tested both options and decided on the common user and password
with autostart up. The Simple File Sharing was easiest but I needed full
access to all files on each computer including program and windows files. I
therefore needed the common user/password approach with full sharing which
was also easy...once I understood how it worked.
 
viperpilot said:
Thanks, I tested both options and decided on the common user and
password
with autostart up. The Simple File Sharing was easiest but I needed
full
access to all files on each computer including program and windows
files. I therefore needed the common user/password approach with full
sharing which was also easy...once I understood how it worked.
Click to expand...

Glad you got it sorted. Thanks for taking the time to let us know.

Malke
 
Thanks, I tested both options and decided on the common user and password
with autostart up. The Simple File Sharing was easiest but I needed full
access to all files on each computer including program and windows files. I
therefore needed the common user/password approach with full sharing which
was also easy...once I understood how it worked.
Click to expand...

You're welcome. I think that you made a good choice. Simple file
sharing imposes some unreasonable restrictions on what you can do.
--
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
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
 
Back
Top