I was looking for how to limit the sharing of folders on XP Pro. I found this nice MIT page on Security Guidelines that had the answer to my question of why I couldn’t limit the users having access to a shared folder. Turns out there is a thing called “Simple File Sharing” and if it is turned on then features of sharing are limited. One SFS is turned off the Sharing and Security menu (right click on a shared folder) includes additional features. Following is a piece of that page:
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Turn Off Simple File Sharing
Simple File Sharing (SFS) is a new feature in Windows XP that was intended to make it easier to share files on small networks. SFS is enabled by default on Windows XP Professional systems that are members of a workgroup.
With SFS enabled, you cannot specify an Access Control List (ACL) for each shared disk or folder. As in previous versions of Windows, the ACL specifies which users are allowed to have access. With SFS turned on, there are no passwords or access restrictions and most everything that’s shared is accessible by everyone on the network. By disabling SFS, you have more control over who can access your shared disks and folders.
To disable SFS on Windows XP Professional:
- Click Start>My Computer>Tools>Folder Options>View.
- Scroll to the bottom of the list of advanced settings and un-check Use Simple File Sharing (Recommended).
- Click Apply, then OK
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