I'm sorry if I misunderstood your first question, and I'm still not
sure that I understand what you want to do.
If you make a folder private, so that other users on the same computer
can't see it, that also prevents it from being shared over a network.
Windows XP doesn't have passwords for shared folders, and it doesn't
have a way to allow access by specific computers.
If your desktop computer has Windows XP Professional, you can disable
simple file sharing and specify folder access permissions based on
user accounts. This web page has details:
Windows XP Professional File Sharing
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_filesharing/index.htm
If your desktop computer has Windows XP Home Edition, you can't
specify folder access permissions. You can get some control over
access to shared folders by creating a network password for the Guest
account. When you do that, anyone who wants to access a shared folder
from another computer will have to specify the password. To create a
network password for the Guest account:
1. Click Start | Run.
2. Type "control userpasswords2" in the box and click OK.
3. Click Guest.
4. Click Reset Password.
5. Enter a password.
--
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