passwords over a local network

[Andrea Bryant]

I have a strange situation that hopefully someone can help
me with. Using XP Home edition I have 4 computers using a
router for internet access. However, I do not want 2 of
the computers to access the files of the other 2. How can
I protect the files in the other 2 so that they can only
access each other and no other computer can access them?

[Tom]

Hi,
I'm afraid that if you have Home Edition simple file sharing is always
enabled, and can not be disabled.
Though, I have found a way to add a password to a network share with, simple
file sharing. In Home Edition the guest account seems to be the network
handler for a peer-to-peer network. If you add a password to your guest
account all communications outbound from the computer would be protected.
Then, if you access a share to this computer, a password will be asked for.

To change Guest account password:
1. Make sure the guest account is enabled. (USERS applet in ControlPannel)
2. Then change the Guest password.
NB. If when logged on to guest it refuses to let you add a password use the
"NET USER" command in an administrator account.
eg. If I want to set a password for the guest account and the network shares
to "1234". Goto CommandPromrt (START->RUN->CMD) and type "net user guest
1234"
If you later wish to remove the password , goto the USERS applet, select
Guest and click "Remove Password".

NET USER -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;251394&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

I hope it works out.
TOM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Andrea Bryant" > wrote in message
...
> I have a strange situation that hopefully someone can help
> me with. Using XP Home edition I have 4 computers using a
> router for internet access. However, I do not want 2 of
> the computers to access the files of the other 2. How can
> I protect the files in the other 2 so that they can only
> access each other and no other computer can access them?