Password on shared folder

  • Thread starter Thread starter Daniel Byrnes
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Daniel Byrnes

Hi,
Does anyone know how to put a password on shared folders? I need to keep
some folders private from other computers on my network. I am using Windows
XP Home Edition.

Also, when I share the root of my hard drive (C), when other computers try
to access the Windows or Program Files folders, they get a message saying
they are in use by the system (or something similar). Is there some setting
somewhere that can be changed to allow access anyway?

Thanks heaps for any tips,
Daniel.
 
"Daniel Byrnes" said:
Hi,
Does anyone know how to put a password on shared folders? I need to keep
some folders private from other computers on my network. I am using Windows
XP Home Edition.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but Windows XP doesn't have passwords for shared disks and
folders the way that Windows 95, 98, and Me do.

Here are some ways to control access to your shared files:

1. Create a hidden share and only tell selected people about it. I've
written a web page with details:

Windows XP Simple File Sharing
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm

2. Assign a password to the "Guest" account. When other people try
to access your computer, they'll be prompted to enter the password:

a. Click Start | Run.
b. Type "control userpasswords2" in the box and click OK.
c. Under "Users for this computer", click Guest.
d. Click Reset Password, enter a password, and click OK.

3. Create a compressed folder and define a password for it. Everyone
who accesses the folder, from the local computer or from the network,
must specify the password to access the files in the compressed
folder. This Microsoft Knowledge Base article has details:
Also, when I share the root of my hard drive (C), when other computers try
to access the Windows or Program Files folders, they get a message saying
they are in use by the system (or something similar). Is there some setting
somewhere that can be changed to allow access anyway?
Click to expand...

That's how Windows XP Home Edition works when it's installed on an
NTFS disk partition. It blocks access to the Program Files and
Windows folders and to individual users' folders within Documents and
Settings. I don't know why Microsoft designed it that way.

You can share subfolders within those folders, e.g. you can share
"C:\Program Files\Outlook Express" or "C:\Documents and
Settings\Username\Desktop" and access that folder from another
computer on the network.

You can re-install the operating system on a FAT or FAT32 disk
partition -- those disk formats don't have any sharing restrictions.
However, that would lose the benefits of NTFS, which is more reliable
and efficient and can use larger disks. You'd also need to re-install
all of your applications.
Daniel.
Click to expand...
--
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
 
Don't share the root drive! VERY BAD practice.

There's also virtually no good reason to share the Windows
or program files directories. Anything in there has to be
installed on the target system, not copied. You don't
want to circumvent the messages you are getting, you need
to recognise you're causing problems/conflicts on the
target systems by trying to look at these files across a
network. DON'T!

If you share a "folder within a folder" then the maximum
security privilege will apply. i.e. if you share
C:\sharedfiles, and then also share
c:\sharedfiles\secretfiles (which also is really bad
practice sharing folders within one another) the more
general access rule will apply to the secretfiles.

You are also sharing based on account info... i.e what the
windows logon of the person accessing the file is....
You'll need to get into user accounts and set up the names
of the people coming into the folders; they will need to
log on uniquely at each PC (so no, you're not going to be
able to just auto logon at each PC at home with the same
account) and in the folder properties, grant specific
security rights to the logons for these folders.


Simple solution for you:
1. Remove ALL the shares completely, then
2. Only share a specific folder or two that you actually
DO want people to use across the network.

Then, you can avoid all the fancy stuff about user
accounts etc.
 
Does anyone know how to put a password on shared folders?
I need to keep some folders private from other computers on my network.
I am using Windows XP Home Edition.
[snip]
Click to expand...

You are also sharing based on account info... i.e what the
windows logon of the person accessing the file is....
You'll need to get into user accounts and set up the names
of the people coming into the folders; they will need to
log on uniquely at each PC (so no, you're not going to be
able to just auto logon at each PC at home with the same
account) and in the folder properties, grant specific
security rights to the logons for these folders.
[snip]
Click to expand...

Windows XP Home Edition can't control access to network shares based
on user accounts. It allows access by all users.
--
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
 
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