Re: Simplest fully open LAN configuration for XP Pro SP2

In article <7511D789-39E2-473B-AD6C-03F7C0A73C1C@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
"Kenneth Grome" <Kenneth Grome@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>I have a small office LAN with 8 XP Pro SP2 computers, and the networking
>problems are killing us.
>
>I have two or more user accounts on eacn of these computers and I'd like to
>get rid of all accounts on all 8 computers. This I believe will give each
>computer full access to share the data on the drives of all other computers
>without restriction -- and that's exactly wnat I want-- full unlimited
>sharing for everyone, without any required passwords and with no access
>restrictions whatsoever.
>
>My problem is that I don't know how to get rid of all the existing accounts,
>because it seems I cannot delete the LAST administrator's account on these
>computers. Do I have to reinstall the operating system from scratch on all
>these computerss just to get rid of all user accounts and have a totally open
>network? Or is there another way?
>
>Any help will me very much appreciated, thank you!

It isn't possible to eliminate all accounts, and eliminating accounts
won't solve network access problems.

For a fully open (and insecure) network, which allows access to shared
resources by all users on all computers, do this on each computer:

1. See whether simple file sharing is enabled or disabled:

a. Click Start | My Computer | Tools | Folder Options | View.
b. Scroll to the bottom of the list of advanced settings.
c. Look at the setting "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)."

2. If the box is unchecked, do these steps in this order:

a. Un-share all currently shared disks, folders, and printers.
b. Put a check mark in the box to enable simple file sharing.
c. Click OK.
d. After the Folder Options window closes, re-share the disks,
folders, and printers.

Simple file sharing has some restrictions: it blocks networked access
to the Program Files and Windows folders and to individual users'
folders within Documents and Settings. You can share subfolders
within those folders, e.g. you can share "C:\Program Files\Outlook
Express" or "C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Desktop" and access
that folder from another computer on the network.

If those restrictions are unacceptable, then you'll have to:

1. Disable simple file sharing on every computer.

2. Create matching user accounts on every computer, with the same user
names and passwords.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
.

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