Re: new to home networking

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Chuck (none_at_example.net)
Date: 06/16/04 

Date: 16 Jun 2004 17:28:24 -0500

On 16 Jun 2004 11:10:35 -0700, *email_address_deleted* (geoff) wrote:

>Chuck, thanks for the tips. I have set up both computers to use the
>Classic security. You mentioned ...
>
>If "Classic", setup and use a common account with identical,
>non-blank, password on all computers.
>
>How do I do this? Also, do I need to do anything with the guest
>account and if so, how?
>
>Finally, I believe my router has a built in firewall and I'm also
>running zone alarm. How do I open the ports I need? Thanks again for
>your help.
>
>Geoff
>
>
>
>Chuck <none@example.net> wrote in message news:<v8ovc092q96qsfmmgluj0tljrm1rrl4035@4ax.com>...
>> On 15 Jun 2004 20:06:24 -0700, *email_address_deleted* (geoff) wrote:
>>
>> >I just got a new laptop and a wireless router. My desktop is
>> >connected (via cable) directly to the router and my laptop uses a
>> >wireless card to connect to the internet. I was hoping I could
>> >network my desktop and my laptop, but I can't seem to get them to see
>> >each other. I'm running xp pro on both machines and I've run the
>> >network setup program on the desktop machine. I tried to right click
>> >a folder on each machine and share it, but it doesn't have an option
>> >to set a password, so how is that secure? How do I get the computers
>> >to see each other and securely share folders? Thanks.
>>
>> Geoff,
>>
>> Windows XP doesn't use mere password protection on its shared folders - it lets
>> you set Access Control Lists. Here's a Microsoft document that explains all of
>> it:
>> <http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=87c0a6db-aef8-4bef-925e-7ac9be791028&DisplayLang=en>.
>>
>> On both XP Pro computers, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel -
>> Folder Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled. With XP Pro,
>> you need to have the SFS settings properly set on each computer.
>>
>> With XP Pro, if SFS is disabled, check the Local Security Policy (Control Panel
>> - Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security Options, look at
>> "Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's set to "Classic -
>> local users authenticate as themselves".
>>
>> With XP Pro, if you set the Local Security Policy to "Guest only", make sure
>> that the Guest account is enabled, and has an identical, non-blank, password on
>> all computers. If "Classic", setup and use a common account with identical,
>> non-blank, password on all computers.
>>
>> For XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the Guest account is
>> enabled, on each computer.
>>
>> Do any of the computers have a software firewall (ICF or third party)? If so,
>> you need to configure them for file sharing, by opening ports TCP 139, 445 and
>> UDP 137, 138, 445, and / or by identifying the other computers as present in the
>> Local (Trusted) zone. Firewall configurations are a very common cause of
>> (network) browser, and file sharing, problems.
>>
>> And Geoff, please don't contribute to the spread and success of email address
>> mining viruses. Learn to munge your email address properly, to keep yourself a
>> bit safer when posting to open forums. Protect yourself and the rest of the
>> internet - never post your address unmunged.
>> http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm

Geoff,

With Windows XP Pro, you can add accounts, and assign passwords, either thru
Control Panel - User Accounts, or Start - Run - "lusrmgr.msc". Just be sure to
use an identical, non-blank password on both computers.

Once you have your new account working, it's a very good idea to disable the
Guest account, using lusrmgr.msc (only) (do not disable thru Control Panel).
Guest is a trivial (well known) account, and can be useful to any intruders if
not disabled.

You don not want to open ports in your router - the router prevents your file
sharing from leaking onto the internet.

With Zone Alarm V5 (YMMV if other version) you go to Firewall - Zones - Add. Is
this a wired or wireless network? If wired, you're safe adding your entire
subnet - if it's a wireless router then please use fixed ip addresses, and enter
individual ip addresses into the Trusted Zone.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

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