Password Protecting Folders and Files

[Corey C]

I currently have 2 computers running Windows XP Pro.
Both are on the same router. File and Internet sharing
works fine, but I would like to password protect the
shared files and folders. So when computer "A" trys to
access files from computer "B" I want it to ask for a
password before allowing computer "A" to gain access to
the folder and files.

In Windows 98, you could set a password directly in
the "Properties" window. I don't know how to do it in
Windows XP Pro. PLEASE HELP!

 

[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

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply Doug. When assigning access to
users and user groups, can I assign allow access from
across the network. For example, my desktop contains the
folder in which I would like to protect. My laptop,
connected through wireless would like to access the
files. I am making sure that anybody else who access my
wireless network will not have access to the files on the
desktop.

I understood your response, but when assigning users, I
can't seem to assign my laptop as one of the users. Any
suggestions?

 

[Roger Abell]

All permissions are granted to accounts.
So you would not grant access to the other computer,
but to an account on the granting machine that will be
used by someone when making access from the other
computer.
To access over the network, the account either needs
to be in the Users group or be granted the User Right
to Access this computer from the network (this assumes
that your settings are still at default for User Rights
grants to the Users group).
Then, on the Sharing tab in the properties of what you
are sharing, click on the Permissions button. This is
where you state which accounts may connect to that
share over the network.
If you are not using Simple sharing mode, then whatever
account you grant access to at the share level also needs
to have permissions granted at the NTFS level, but if you
have Simple sharing enabled, then it is the Guest account
that needs the NTFS level permissions grants.