Hiding a shared folder

I have a small 3 PC network here, 2 of the PC's are running XP Home, the
other - my main PC - is running XP Pro.

I want to share a folder on one of the XPH systems so I can see it on
the XPP one, but I want to hide it from general view over the network.

Am I right in thinking I can add a $ into the equation somewhere which
will ensure the folder isn't generally visible unless you know the UNC
path?

I have given the folder a share name, e.g. share$, which seems to have
worked, but I need to be sure.

TIA

"Tx2" <this.is.an.inv@lid_email_address.com> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ...
>
> I have a small 3 PC network here, 2 of the PC's are running XP Home, the
> other - my main PC - is running XP Pro.
>
> I want to share a folder on one of the XPH systems so I can see it on
> the XPP one, but I want to hide it from general view over the network.
>
> Am I right in thinking I can add a $ into the equation somewhere which
> will ensure the folder isn't generally visible unless you know the UNC
> path?
>
> I have given the folder a share name, e.g. share$, which seems to have
> worked, but I need to be sure.
>
> TIA

Yes, if you simply give any name ending in $, the share will be hidden from
view.

Cheers from Mke.

On Sun, 17 Dec 2006 00:41:07 GMT, "Mike Sun" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>
>"Tx2" <this.is.an.inv@lid_email_address.com> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed) T...
>>
>> I have a small 3 PC network here, 2 of the PC's are running XP Home, the
>> other - my main PC - is running XP Pro.
>>
>> I want to share a folder on one of the XPH systems so I can see it on
>> the XPP one, but I want to hide it from general view over the network.
>>
>> Am I right in thinking I can add a $ into the equation somewhere which
>> will ensure the folder isn't generally visible unless you know the UNC
>> path?
>>
>> I have given the folder a share name, e.g. share$, which seems to have
>> worked, but I need to be sure.
>>
>> TIA
>
>Yes, if you simply give any name ending in $, the share will be hidden from
>view.
>
>Cheers from Mke.
>
As an exrension to the OP:

I have a 3 PC network all XP Pro, what ways are there to prevent a
shared folder being accessed by 1 of the PC's ?

There seem to be 3rd part products whicg claim to do this.

I dont run a domain

Can I ( should I) edit the scope of the file sharing service in the
WIndows XP firewall settings.

Recommendations please !
Robert

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
:
> As an exrension to the OP:
>
> I have a 3 PC network all XP Pro, what ways are there to prevent a
> shared folder being accessed by 1 of the PC's ?
>
> There seem to be 3rd part products whicg claim to do this.
>
> I dont run a domain
>
> Can I ( should I) edit the scope of the file sharing service in the
> WIndows XP firewall settings.
>
No real need for 3rd paty products to do this.

In XP Pro, you can select which user(s) have access to shares using e.g.
"share permissions". Set up a named user on the XP Pro machine to be shared
out Give that user aceess to the the shared folder and don't tell the user
of the 1 PC login credentials for access. BTW: "use simple file shaing" has
to be disabled on the shared machine (under Toold - Folder Options - View
tab).

Cheers from Mike

On Mon, 18 Dec 2006 09:25:29 GMT, "Mike Sun" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>:
>> As an exrension to the OP:
>>
>> I have a 3 PC network all XP Pro, what ways are there to prevent a
>> shared folder being accessed by 1 of the PC's ?
>>
>> There seem to be 3rd part products whicg claim to do this.
>>
>> I dont run a domain
>>
>> Can I ( should I) edit the scope of the file sharing service in the
>> WIndows XP firewall settings.
>>
>No real need for 3rd paty products to do this.
>
>In XP Pro, you can select which user(s) have access to shares using e.g.
>"share permissions". Set up a named user on the XP Pro machine to be shared
>out Give that user aceess to the the shared folder and don't tell the user
>of the 1 PC login credentials for access. BTW: "use simple file shaing" has
>to be disabled on the shared machine (under Toold - Folder Options - View
>tab).
>
>Cheers from Mike
>

Thanks - nice straightforward instructions.
I assume there is no way then to easily control access by PC
name/IP/MAC address ?
Robert

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> Thanks - nice straightforward instructions.
> I assume there is no way then to easily control access by PC
> name/IP/MAC address ?
> Robert

Depends what you regard as "easily".

If you happen to have another spare router it would be possible to wire the
1 PC (the one you don't want to allow access) to the LAN side of the "main"
1st router (the router connected to the internet).

Your other PCs would be behind the 2nd router whose WAN port is connected to
another LAN port of the 1st router. Thus, you effectively utilise the
firewall of that 2nd router to block access for that 1st PC.

Come to think of it, without additional hardware you may also be able to
configure something similar on the built-in XP software firewall of the
shared PC but you would have to make sure IP addresses remain fixed. You
would do this under Control Panel - Windows Firewall - Exceptions - File and
Printer Sharing - Edit - Change Scope - Custom List - list your "allowed IP
addresses or range".

Hope the thoughts are of some help - Cheers from Mike

On Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:43:11 GMT, "Mike Sun" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>
><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>>
>> Thanks - nice straightforward instructions.
>> I assume there is no way then to easily control access by PC
>> name/IP/MAC address ?
>> Robert
>
>Depends what you regard as "easily".
>
>If you happen to have another spare router it would be possible to wire the
>1 PC (the one you don't want to allow access) to the LAN side of the "main"
>1st router (the router connected to the internet).
>
>Your other PCs would be behind the 2nd router whose WAN port is connected to
>another LAN port of the 1st router. Thus, you effectively utilise the
>firewall of that 2nd router to block access for that 1st PC.
>
>Come to think of it, without additional hardware you may also be able to
>configure something similar on the built-in XP software firewall of the
>shared PC but you would have to make sure IP addresses remain fixed. You
>would do this under Control Panel - Windows Firewall - Exceptions - File and
>Printer Sharing - Edit - Change Scope - Custom List - list your "allowed IP
>addresses or range".
>
>Hope the thoughts are of some help - Cheers from Mike
>
Thanks for the useful thoughts - especially using a router with
builtin firewall, now why didnt I think of that !
Robert