Tech Tips

Enable Advanced Filesharing in Windows XP

Question: How do I configure security for shared folders in Windows XP?

Answer: With Windows XP, Microsoft included a "simple file sharing" mode to simplify sharing files over a network. This mode, however, does not allow you to configure security or permission settings and this can make it less useful in some situations. Fortunately, Microsoft also included an option to disable simple file sharing (XP Pro only, not available in XP Home Edition).

To do this, open your My Documents or My Computer window, click on the Tools menu at the top of the window and then click "Folder Options" from the menu that appears. In the Folder Options window, click on the "View" tab and scroll down the list of items - the last one should be called "Use simple file sharing." Click on the checkbox beside it (it should now be un-checked) and click the OK button. Simple file sharing should now be disabled.

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