Passwords for Shared Folders

[Guest]

I have Windows XP Home Edition. Is there any way I can setup passwords for my shares?

I share on a local wireless network with a Win98 and another WinXP Home Edition PC.

 

[Guest]

I do not think there's any way you can do it in XP home. You can do it in Pro though.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I have Windows XP Home Edition. Is there any way I can setup passwords for my shares?

I share on a local wireless network with a Win98 and another WinXP Home Edition PC.

I'm sorry, but Windows XP (Home and Pro) 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:

HOW TO: Use Compressed (Zipped) Folders in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306531

4. If you had Windows XP Professional, you could disable Simple File
Sharing and define access control lists that specify user names and
their allowed mode of access. Ron Lowe and I have written a web page
with details:

Windows XP Professional File Sharing

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_filesharing/index.htm
--
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

 

[Bob Willard]

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:

HOW TO: Use Compressed (Zipped) Folders in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306531

I've tried this on both of my XP HE PCs, without success. I've
created Compressed folders (and both folders and files therein properly
show in blue), but there does not seem to be any way to add a password
to those folders or their files. The procedure listed in the M$KB
article ref'd above -- double-click on the folder -- does exactly the
same as a single-click: it merely opens the folder.

I've tried to password-protect compressed folders and compressed files,
both with account passwords enabled and disabled; no diff. (And, yes,
I've tried changing the double-click timing to be sure that isn't it.)

I know the M$KB article does not so state, but does this capability
to password-protect compressed folders only work with XP PRO? Or, is
there some other XP param that enables the capability?

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I've tried this on both of my XP HE PCs, without success. I've
created Compressed folders (and both folders and files therein properly
show in blue), but there does not seem to be any way to add a password
to those folders or their files. The procedure listed in the M$KB
article ref'd above -- double-click on the folder -- does exactly the
same as a single-click: it merely opens the folder.

I've tried to password-protect compressed folders and compressed files,
both with account passwords enabled and disabled; no diff. (And, yes,
I've tried changing the double-click timing to be sure that isn't it.)

I know the M$KB article does not so state, but does this capability
to password-protect compressed folders only work with XP PRO? Or, is
there some other XP param that enables the capability?

It works for me in XP Home Edition, Bob.

I don't think that double click vs. single click is the issue, because
you can configure XP to open objects with a single click. After
opening the compressed folder, go to the menu bar and click File | Add
a Password.

That procedure doesn't work if you've installed a program, like
WinZip, that takes over the file association for compressed files.
--
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