Make this folder private is grayed out!

[Ritter]

How can I enable file sharing for my user folder (and
subfolders) if the "Make this folder private" option is
checked but grayed out?

I have Windows XP Home installed on two computers with
NTFS partitions. On one system, my user folder is
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner. I need to share this
folder in order to back up to the other computer.

Unfortunately, I set a password on my User Account and
clicked "Yes" to make my files private. Now I cannot undo
this mistake.

If I select Properties/Sharing tab for the Owner folder,
the item "Make this folder private" is checked, but
grayed out so that I cannot change it. In the
section "Network sharing and security," the checkbox
for "Share this folder on the network" is also checked
and grayed out. Oddly, the item "Allow network users to
change my files" is accessibe, but unchecking it has no
effect on the problem.

All of the subfolders within "Owner" have the "Make this
folder private" box checked, but grayed out. And both
boxes in the section "Network sharing and security" are
UNchecked and grayed out.

LORD I hate the implementation of Simple File Sharing in
WinXP.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

You cannot password protect individual folders in XP. You restrict access by assigning permissions to drives, folders and files.

To do this, you must be running NTFS as your file system on the drive in question. If your hard disk/partition is not NTFS you will need to convert it. To do this, open a Command Prompt window and enter the following command:

CONVERT X: /FS:NTFS

Where X: is the drive letter you wish to convert. You may also want to see http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm to ensure that you're getting the optimal conversion.

After this step is completed and you've rebooted the computer, if necessary:

XP PRO: In Windows Explorer, go to Tools, Folder Options, View and uncheck Use Simple File Sharing. Now, when you right click on a drive, folder or file (on an NTFS partition) and select Properties, you'll see a Security tab. Here you can assign or deny permissions based on user name or user group membership.

XP Home: By default, you can only make files and folders under My Documents "private". This is done by right clicking a folder or file and selecting Properties, Sharing. To change the permissions on other folders, you need to boot the computer to Safe Mode and log in on the built in Administrator account. In this mode, you'll see the Security tab in Properties, and you can assign permissions based on user name or group membership.

How Do I Get the Security Tab in Properties - XP Home (makes the Security tab appear outside of Safe Mode)
http://www.dougknox.com, Win XP Tips section

HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308418

HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove Special Permissions for Files and Folders
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308419

HOW TO: Disable Simplified Sharing and Password-Protect a Shared Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307874