Home
Free Newsletter
Home Network
Wireless Network
Internet Sharing
Remote Desktop
VPN
XP Router
Network Switch
Network Cable
Computer Networking Tips
Wireless Networking Tips
XP Networking Tips
XP Wireless Tips
Vista Networking Tips
Vista Wireless Tips
Network FAQ
Wireless FAQ
Wireless Products
Gadget Store
Networking Books
Useful Links
Folding @ Home
Site Blog
About This Site
Privacy Policy

[?] Subscribe To This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines

Custom Search

How to Share File with Group and User Permissions in Windows XP

Sometimes you might find out there is no group and user permissions control when you share file or folder in Windows XP.
Did you know why?? It’s because you use default simple file sharing, that way you don’t have user or group permissions control.

Below are step-by-step instructions on showing you how to share file and folder with group and user permissions in home network. Please note it only apply to Windows XP Professional Edition, you won’t be able to apply following steps if you are using Windows XP Home Edition. XP home edition users can only use simple file sharing.

Note: Make sure you've enabled File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks on network card's properties, if not you won't be able to share file or printer.

Enable File Printer Sharing

1) Open the folder which you plan to share, go to Tools and click Folder Options.

Folder Options

2) Folder Options window will appear. Click View tab, scroll down in Advanced settings section and uncheck Use simple file sharing. Click OK at last.

Note: Simple file sharing is enabled by default in Windows XP’s computer that is not part of Active Directory. It won’t work for those Active Directory users or computers.

Disable Simple File Sharing

3) Now Right click the folder and click Sharing and Security.

4) Your folder properties window will appear. Click Share this folder and proceed to change the quantity of users that allowed to connect to this shared folder at the same time. You can also change the shared folder name. Later click Permissions button.

Folder Shared with Permissions

5) Folder Permissions window will appear. Here is the place where you set the users or groups that can access this shared folder over the network. In this case, I only allow Alice to access this folder with read permission. Click OK at last.

Note: Alice must login using username Alice and Alice’s password when she tries to access this folder from other computers that runs Windows 2000/XP. She also needs to login Windows 95/98/Me on other computers with the same username and password that set on this computer in order to access that shared folder.

Note: Remember to remove Everyone from accessing this folder unless it’s really needed.

Network Share Permissions

6) Ok.. Back to your shared folder properties, select Security tab and here you can set the permissions for allowing the users and groups to access this folder from this computer. Here I only allow Administrators, my username Benny, creator owner and Alice (read permission only) to access this folder. Click OK at last

Note: You only able to set these permissions on local computer if you are using NTFS file system. This local security feature is available on every folder and file even you don't share them.

NTFS Permissions

Note: Please be noted that the shared folder might inherits permissions from parent folder. Click Advanced button and uncheck folder inheritance, after that you can only remove those permissions that inherits from parent folder. Check out here to learn more on folder inheritance.

Disable  Folder Inheritance

7) Once you have shared the folder, you will see there is a hand supporting your folder. You have successfully shared your folder. Finally you can share file by putting in this folder.

Shared Folder

Related Readings:

Simple File Sharing in Windows XP
How to Make Folder Private in Windows XP

-> back to top of "How to Share File with Group and User Permissions in Windows XP"


footer for share file page