Network Drives

[Guest]

I have a computer connected to my router through a CAT5e cable. I set it up
so that the 3 hard drives were shared and i set one of them up with folders
used as "Home Directory's" for each member of my family. I went into each
computer (each person in my family had their own computer) and mapped a
connection to their home drive so they could store files there. The only bad
thing is that every one can go into everyone elses home drive and see their
files. How can i create a password on each persons home drive so only they
can connect. Any help is appreciated!

 

[Chuck]

I have a computer connected to my router through a CAT5e cable. I set it up
so that the 3 hard drives were shared and i set one of them up with folders
used as "Home Directory's" for each member of my family. I went into each
computer (each person in my family had their own computer) and mapped a
connection to their home drive so they could store files there. The only bad
thing is that every one can go into everyone elses home drive and see their
files. How can i create a password on each persons home drive so only they
can connect. Any help is appreciated!

Windows XP doesn't support password protecting anything.

More about file sharing, between all different versions of Windows:
<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...db-aef8-4bef-925e-7ac9be791028&DisplayLang=en>

Is this "server" (the computer with the "Home Directories") running XP Home or
Pro? If XP Home, then you're wasting your time - folders can be accessed by
everybody, or by nobody.

If XP Pro, then if you turn off Simple File Sharing (Control Panel - Folder
Options - View - Advanced settings), and setup a unique account for each family
member, you can setup each of the "Home Directories" to be accessed by only that
account (family member). Then setup a share of that "Home Directory".

Finally, setup an identical account / non-blank password on the computer owned
by that family member, and create a link to the share on the "server".

It's simpler than it sounds. Depending upon how many family members we're
talking about, you could do the whole thing in under 1/2 hour.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net

 

[Lorne]

If the computer you use to store the files is an old one that you seldom use
you could always install windows 98 on it. Then each shared folder can have
its own password.

Otherwise send an email to Microsoft complaining that they disabled the
password protection option from networking on XP home. It will probably get
lost with several hundred thousand similar complaints but eventually they
may work out that they made a mistake and re-enable it.

Personally I want to freely share all the music + photos on my home network
but password protect my personal files (who want their kids to access
financial info etc?) which seems to be a reasonable request for a home
network.

Just for info, you can password protect shared folders on XP home if you
want all shared folders to have the same password. Go to Start-Run and
enter Userpasswords2. It opens a back door to set a password on the guest
account.