Passwording Folders

[r1zeek]

Hope someone can help
I have quite a few folders that I share over my network. I backup across my network onto my file server (its just a peer to peer network) and using windows, you have to set the folder so users can change the files. I don't want that because they could just go in and delete my backups. I want some kind of program that will be able to password shared folders. Is there such a program around on the net?
Cheers

[r1zeek]

Im running Windows XP on all my systems if that helps and I noticed it hasn't got a built in function

[bmh.01]

All you need to do is to disable simple file sharing under folder options and set the file/folder permissions using the permissions button on the sharing tab of the folders properties. Oh, and to make it really secure its best to be using NTFS as your file system so you can set file permissions as well as sharing perms.

[r1zeek]

And would that let me still share files freely to certain folders and have PW on others? I only need 1 or 2 folders with passwords, not all.

[Stoo]

yup, the easiest way is to do the above for the secure shares, then enable the guest account with something like guest/guest then share the "free" shares with "everyone" (The guest account is because you still need to be a valid user to use the winxp shares), then you can put the guest/guest info in the share information

[r1zeek]

yup, the easiest way is to do the above for the secure shares, then enable the guest account with something like guest/guest then share the "free" shares with "everyone" (The guest account is because you still need to be a valid user to use the winxp shares), then you can put the guest/guest info in the share information

A little confused by that but I get the jist of it.
I have 5 machines on my network, do I have to disable Simple File Sharing in all of them?
[edit: I'm still a bit confused by your post though stoo]

[bmh.01]

I think that to enable you to enter a username/password other than guest you need to disable simple file sharing on all them.

[r1zeek]

Yeah, i get that idea, but how do i disable simple file sharing. Under folder options (of the machine the folder is local to) it just says i can disable "Share this folder a network" cant find simple file sharing

[bmh.01]

Control Panel -> Folder Options -> View Tab -> Disable Simple File Sharing

My fault, first post was quite confusing.

[r1zeek]

Cheers. Just looked there though and I couldn't find anything even relating to that.
Am I just being blind or is that function not available on XP Home?

[r1zeek]

I just looked and I can't disable Simple File Sharing on any of my machines accept for my server, which is running windows professional.
What should I do now then, just disable it on my server (where i backup to anyway) and authorise everyone else appart from guest to access it?

[bmh.01]

Yeh unfortunatly simple file sharing can only be disabled in xp pro, you can disable it on the server and try setting some permissions but i've got a bad feeling that the xp home machines will only be able to logon as guest so the whole idea of setting file permissions becomes kind of pointless, but as i've never used xp home like this i'de just try it and see.

[r1zeek]

Yeah, im having trouble setting the permissions though. I really did want 2 users from 2 seperate machines accessing the the folder but it will only let me add Users of the local machine so i'll just have to use my VNC connection to backup securley.

[bmh.01]

You'll need to create the same users on the file serving machine as it uses its users/passwords to authenticate against.

[r1zeek]

Yeah, i think I worked it. I set everyone to allow read only and then set my username as full control it all works fine.
Glad I got this working now, cheers for the help