WinXP File Sharing Question

Babalou · Jun 25, 2007, 04:21 PM

Hi Guys,

Just curious about something that I can't seem to find an answer for.

My network consists of mainly Windows XP Home PCs, and 1 XP PRO.
I have network shares setup on my PC mainly to provide a backup location for my other PCs
I have setup simple file sharing folders, and would love to be able to restrict them towards other remote users.
I am aware of 3 methods that can be used to bypass simple file sharing in WinXP Home,
(to allow use of permissions) and have tried them with little success.

I can easily setup permissons locally, what i'm wondering is if it is outside the realm of possibility to setup which remote users have access to what?

(I'm guessing this cannot be done unless i'm part of a domain.. to which WinXP Home cannot do.)

**temeteus82** · Jun 25, 2007, 04:40 PM

Yeah you need Windows 2003 Server sunning as Domain server and Active Directory to provide the group policy to the computers. So that you could manage shares and their rights.

Babalou · Jun 25, 2007, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by temeteus82

Yeah you need Windows 2003 Server sunning as Domain server and Active Directory to provide the group policy to the computers. So that you could manage shares and their rights.

Thanks!
I was afraid of that..
It seems MS doesn't like people to use secure file sharing

Could a person use a Win98 machine to host shared folders and simply password protect them?
Would the NTFS file system get along with FAT32?
My network is just amongst family and a roomate so its not mission critical or anything.
But I would like to protect me & my wifes shared data to prevent deletion.

**temeteus82** · Jun 25, 2007, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babalou

Thanks!
I was afraid of that..
It seems MS doesn't like people to use secure file sharing

Could a person use a Win98 machine to host shared folders and simply password protect them?
Would the NTFS file system get along with FAT32?
My network is just amongst family and a roomate so its not mission critical or anything.
But I would like to protect me & my wifes shared data to prevent deletion.

Well, XP pro has the feature where you can have more security. But in home it's no go.

Person with win9x system can do that.

What you mean getting along? Since all windows versions from Win95 OSR2 supports FAT32 I don't see problem in that.

What version of Win XP is installed on your PC and your wifes PC?

Babalou · Jun 25, 2007, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by temeteus82

Well, XP pro has the feature where you can have more security. But in home it's no go.

Person with win9x system can do that.

What you mean getting along? Since all windows versions from Win95 OSR2 supports FAT32 I don't see problem in that.

What version of Win XP is installed on your PC and your wifes PC?

Thanks Again!!

What I meant with not getting along, is as far as I understood FAT cannot read NTFS.
Though NTFS can read FAT.
I could be wrong here of course. I haven't tried it to confirm or deny.
I just thought I had read that quite awhile back.
But the fileserver would be Win98, so all other Pcs should be able to read no prob.

I use WinXP Home, she uses WinXP Pro.

Tipstaff · Jun 25, 2007, 10:31 PM

If you have $25 you could go with a program called 'File Security Manager'. Pretty much does everything permissions wise, and it's better than paying $100 for an XP Pro license. The only thing is I don't know if it will work in 98/ME, but you can download the trial version to try out.

**temeteus82** · Jun 25, 2007, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babalou

Thanks Again!!

What I meant with not getting along, is as far as I understood FAT cannot read NTFS.
Though NTFS can read FAT.
I could be wrong here of course. I haven't tried it to confirm or deny.
I just thought I had read that quite awhile back.
But the fileserver would be Win98, so all other Pcs should be able to read no prob.

I use WinXP Home, she uses WinXP Pro.

ok, I see you messed up FAT and NTFS they are file systems. FAT in Wikipedia and NTFS in wikipedia. They are just file systems and OS is the one accessing them so you need OS to support them to have access. File server would be better on Win XP Pro with easy file and folder sharing disabled. Since you can create user accounts on it and configure their rights on the share permissions tab.

Babalou · Jun 25, 2007, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tipstaff

If you have $25 you could go with a program called 'File Security Manager'. Pretty much does everything permissions wise, and it's better than paying $100 for an XP Pro license. The only thing is I don't know if it will work in 98/ME, but you can download the trial version to try out.

Thanks!
I got a trial to mess around with.
It does have alot of options to set attributes, and even to set permissions.
(Currently I have my important data set to a hidden folder, but thats easily beaten if you
set your folder options to view hidden files and folders)
The downfall it seems is that you can only set local permissions from the looks of it.
For the permissions, it is possible to get those options with WinXP Home, you just have to
use one of three methods (I boot into safe mode to get it) and you can set you share.
As far as permissions go, i'm set.. but the problem with it is I can only set local accounts.
There doesn't seem to be a way to add accounts from a remote location.
This is where I thought a Domain was needed to get the remote accounts added to my PC.

As far as Win98, thats no biggy.. I haven't got a Pc setup yet with it, that was just a last hope in case I needed to.

I miss the Win98 days where one could just password protect a folder

**temeteus82** · Jun 25, 2007, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babalou

As far as permissions go, i'm set.. but the problem with it is I can only set local accounts.

Yeah they must be local accounts on the computer so that you can have good access control. Remotes accounts are used when computer is part of domain that has domain controller. But hey Microsoft is giving 180 days of trial for server 2003 R2

Babalou · Jun 25, 2007, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by temeteus82

ok, I see you messed up FAT and NTFS they are file systems. FAT in Wikipedia and NTFS in wikipedia. They are just file systems and OS is the one accessing them so you need OS to support them to have access. File server would be better on Win XP Pro with easy file and folder sharing disabled. Since you can create user accounts on it and configure their rights on the share permissions tab.

Thanks!

I'm not good at explaining myself sometimes, sorry

I realize they are filesystems, I guess what I was trying to say was that as far as I knew
a FAT system cannot read an NTFS system. But an NTFS system can read FAT.
So the Win98 system could not look at a folder shared on a WinXP system unless they are
both FAT filesystems.
But the WinXP NTFS formatted system can read from anything.

I'd easily consider the WinXP Pro system as the fileserver, but I beleive my problem would
still be adding remote user access, since the permissions only seem to allow local accounts.

Babalou · Jun 25, 2007, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by temeteus82

Yeah they must be local accounts on the computer so that you can have good access control. Remotes accounts are used when computer is part of domain that has domain controller. But hey Microsoft is giving 180 days of trial for server 2003 R2

That would be the answer I wasn't sure about

I would need a domain to set remote accounts.

Man its a mess, even if I had that, my WinXP Home PCs can't connect to a domain

(though I think there might be a way to do it)

So maybe setting up a Win98 PC is the easiest choice.

Either case, thanks for your help and patience!

(I've got some thinking to do)

Jun 25, 2007, 04:21 PM	#1
Babalou HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 132 Rep Power: 0	WinXP File Sharing Question Hi Guys, Just curious about something that I can't seem to find an answer for. My network consists of mainly Windows XP Home PCs, and 1 XP PRO. I have network shares setup on my PC mainly to provide a backup location for my other PCs I have setup simple file sharing folders, and would love to be able to restrict them towards other remote users. I am aware of 3 methods that can be used to bypass simple file sharing in WinXP Home, (to allow use of permissions) and have tried them with little success. I can easily setup permissons locally, what i'm wondering is if it is outside the realm of possibility to setup which remote users have access to what? (I'm guessing this cannot be done unless i'm part of a domain.. to which WinXP Home cannot do.)

Jun 25, 2007, 10:31 PM	#6
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 191 System Specs	If you have $25 you could go with a program called 'File Security Manager'. Pretty much does everything permissions wise, and it's better than paying $100 for an XP Pro license. The only thing is I don't know if it will work in 98/ME, but you can download the trial version to try out. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.