Password for sharing files/folders?

[Ken Isaacson]

XP Pro

Is there a way to require a password to access folders/files that are being
shared. I think I remember back in Windows ME that when you set up a folder
or file to be shared, you could set the level of access, and you could
require a password in order to allow a user of another computer access. I
think you could even set two levels -- one password could let you view but
not change, and another would let you view and change.

With Pro, unless I'm missing something, although you can decide on the share
level (i.e. view only, or view and change), you can't require a password.
One you mark it "shared," anyone on the network can get at it.

Wouldn't it be more secure if you could require a password? Can it be done?

Thanks.
Ken

 

[Chuck]

XP Pro

Is there a way to require a password to access folders/files that are being
shared. I think I remember back in Windows ME that when you set up a folder
or file to be shared, you could set the level of access, and you could
require a password in order to allow a user of another computer access. I
think you could even set two levels -- one password could let you view but
not change, and another would let you view and change.

With Pro, unless I'm missing something, although you can decide on the share
level (i.e. view only, or view and change), you can't require a password.
One you mark it "shared," anyone on the network can get at it.

Wouldn't it be more secure if you could require a password? Can it be done?

Thanks.
Ken

Ken,

When you mention "One you mark it "shared," anyone on the network can get at
it.", you're talking about Simple File Sharing. With XP Pro, you can disable
SFS, giving you get Advanced File Sharing, which is equivalent to file sharing
in Windows 2000.

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

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Ken Isaacson]

Thanks.

How do I switch from "Simple" to "Advanced?"

 

[Chuck]

Thanks.

How do I switch from "Simple" to "Advanced?"

DOHH. Forgot the most important detail.

Control Panel - Folder Options - View - Advanced settings. Uncheck "Use simple
file sharing" at the end of the list. Reboot.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Guest]

i am running windows xp pro and i want to share a folder over the network but
i want it to require a password to access the folder could you explain the
whole process please.

 

[Chuck]

i am running windows xp pro and i want to share a folder over the network but
i want it to require a password to access the folder could you explain the
whole process please.

John,

Windows XP doesn't use simple password protected file sharing, like Windows 9x
did. But you can use Advanced File Sharing, and non-Guest authentication.

On an XP Pro computer, disable Simple File Sharing (Control Panel - Folder
Options - View - Advanced settings).

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, check the Local Security Policies (Control Panel -
Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security Options, look at
"Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's set to "Classic -
local users authenticate as themselves".

With SFS disabled, and Classic authentication enabled, setup a non-Guest
account, with password, with access to the folders that you need to share.

When anyone maps a connection to the share you just created, they need to select
"Connect using a different user name", and specify the account and password that
you just setup.

There's a nice graphic guide to this at <http://www.practicallynetworked.com/>.

And John, posting your email address openly will get you more unwanted email,
than wanted email. Eventually this will overwhelm the capability of GMail,
maybe not now but soon. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep
yourself a bit safer when posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest
of the internet - read this article.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.