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Password protect folders 1

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cbmudd

cbmudd

Technical User
May 4, 2004
75
US
Is there any way to password protect a folder shared on a network in XP PRO. I know about the permissions and security settings allready. I have been to several web sites and fourms that all say it is not possible.

Did microsoft do this because the thought it would be better to just not share things at all. Is that the only way to true network security.
 
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I thank you for the Info. Allthough I Did not want to have to use third party software. I just find it hard to believe that a O.S. like XP PRO would not give us that option. It was an option in earlyer versions of Windows.
I evan believe there was an option for a password for read only and another for full access.

Anyways the link yopu sent me had an interesting solution on the third link down, Here it is.
 
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cbmudd,
I agree with you. I believe that a simple password protection facility would be a valuble addition to Windows. While there are various ways of doing this via permissions, many people find them too difficult or do not have the time to set them up correctly.

Gives 2 possibilities one the same as your choice. However for those users using a FAT32 file system and do not wish to use compressed folders, there is no option for them.

That being said, I suppose MS can only do so much, if they add too many features to the O/S then they get taken to court. It must be a very fine line for MS to try and keep the right side of.

Greg Palmer
Free Software for Adminstrators
 
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Probably the reason they left Password protection of folder off in XP is that is a little redundant over setting permissions on the folder. By blocking permission of the user you do not want access to the folder, you are in effect password protecting it, with the password of your user account and the users that you allow access for it.

Just my two cents.

 
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The funny thing is I have seen some M$ web pages that describe creating user accounts that other network clients can log into with a username and password. Bur as far as I have seen a client can only log on thru network places and that connects thru the Guest account in XP Pro. Here is a link to one I read. Am I missing something or are they misleading?????

Here is a link that clearly states

"On a client running Windows 2000 or XP, there's more to the story. If XP Professional doesn't recognize the logged-in user name and password, it causes the client computer to prompt the user to enter a different user name and password."

I have been able to make this happen by adding a password to the guest account, thru computer management Local Groups and users, right click on Guest and add password.

But the Logon never works.

 
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It logs on through Group Guest, not the actual Guest account.

Setting a guest account password will do nothing, unless of course your username is Guest.
 
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Password protection of folders and devices under Win9x was not a feature, rather it was the fundamental security model for the OS.

Since Win9x the fundamental security model was changed to one were the resource owner authenticates valid users, and in addition can apply granular controls over the degree of access.
 
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Ok Lets say I have 3 XP Pro machens on a NAT Router. In a workgroup named workgroup on all three.
I have Client for microsoft networks and file and printer shareing binded to A Protocal on all three. I have folders in Shared documents shared with permissions for "everyone". And security with the stock settings. I can do the same with other folders on other drives and locations. If I take the everyone out of permissions and create a user account on the local machene, Set the permissions for that user, set the security tab for that user, and on anotrher machene on the LAN ???they can log in to that user acount and access the shared folder ?????
I am missing something......... I remember it this way on Win 2000.......
 
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My goal is to be able to have a user on another machene have to log on with a username and password to be able to access another machene. In other words they cant see anything untill they supply a username and password. Is this Posible??????
 
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How about this. Lets say you want to pasword protect a folder and then burn it to a CD, so that you have to have the password to view the contents of the CD.

Anyone know how to do that?
 
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cbmudd, try this on the folder you want to encrypt, right click go to properties. On the general tab click advanced check the box for "encrypt contents" click ok. then on the next box make sure the box for encrypt contents and sub-folders is checked, and click ok. This will encrypt the folder and the content to the logged in user.
 
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This is a good forum. As we all know security is a big issue these day. Elecronic information is Moving ahead in the world at an alarming rate. The reason why the U.S. is so powerful is we have the ability to comunicate great amounts of information with a number of technologies.

But security is the key otherwise all hell will break loose. As far as I am concerned. Xp Pro network security is no security at all. Any one on the network can brouse a shared folder. There is no way to stop it. That really sucks.........

 
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Oh to the person that wants to password protect a folder burned to a CD, use the double zip folder method descriped on one of the replies above. It will work.
 
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I did it. I figured it out. There is a way. It can be done.

If you go to administrative tools, computer management, Local users and groups, click on users, double click on Guest. Check acount is disabled. Go to control panel, user acounts. Make sure guest acount is off.

Create a new limited acount. Give it a password. Make sure simple file shareing is off. Go to my computer, Right click on shared folders or any other folder anywhere. Scroll to shareing and security. Click on share this folder. Click on prmissions. Group and user names click add. Type the name of the acount you just created and click check names. Click OK. Set to read only or whatever you want.
Do the same on the security tab.

Walla. Now when another person tries to access the folder from network neighborhood they will be propted for the user name and password.
 
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Wow... this thread has some great posts!

I've experimented with the ZIP folder password protection, and found it too cumbersome if you need daily access to the protected files. Contents are read-only. Another setback is the fact that the zipped folder contents are not invisible. You can open the folder and see its contents, and Windows won't prompt for a password until you attempt to open or copy the file out of the compressed folder.

This just simply isn't acceptable when I'm trying to find an easier solution for some of the less computer adept in my company.

Can anybody suggest what 3rd party software is good out there that will integrate seemlessly with WinXP/2000 giving the user just the option to add/remove a password, and prompt for password before contents of the folder are displayed? The more dummy-proof, yet secure, the better...

Earnie Eng
 
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