I have a folder on my PC that I want to share on my home network,
however, I want to be the only person who can access it (specifically,
from my laptop PC). Is there a way I can password protect this folder,
or otherwise make it so that it can only be viewed from my laptop PC?
Thanks,
Doug
Windows XP doesn't have passwords for shared folders.
If you have Windows XP Professional, you can 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 of this very powerful and flexible feature:
Windows XP Professional File Sharing
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_filesharing/index.htm
Windows XP Home Edition wasn't designed to control access to shared
disks and folders. Its normal behavior is to give access to all users
on all computers. Here are some ways to partially overcome the
limitations of "simple file sharing" and control access in Home
Edition.
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 anything on 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
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)
Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
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