File Sharing between XP Pro and XP Home

[T Gill]

I have a few questions concerning file sharing between XP Pro and XP Home in
a Workgroup environment. I would really appreciate any help.

1)From what I'm gathering on the internet (I've read multiple articles) you
cannot even connect a Windows XP Home computer to a domain. I'm I
interpreting this correctly?

2)I have a new server with XP Pro and 5 other computers with XP Home. I
only have 3 computers (which includes the new XP Pro server) that really
need access to everything (or the main folders) on the server. The other 3
computers need limited access. If I purchase XP Pro for just the 2 computers
that need access to everything then I set up the folders to only allow access
to those computers can I accomplish special file/folder permissions just for
the 3 XP Pro computers without without having to purchase XP Pro for all the
computers? The computers that need limited server access might be able to
see the folders in network places but it doesn't matter as long as they
cannot access the folders. This would still be in a workgroup instead of a
domain. Would this work to allow only my XP Pro systems the full access and
have my XP Home systems with only limited access?

3. If I decide to purchase XP Pro for all my computers and set up a domain
is this a difficult task knowing I already have a workgroup established.

Thanks!

 

[Clive Huggan]

Dear T,

You have hit on a newsgroup for Macintosh versions of Microsoft Office. It's
unlikely that anyone will answer your query, because we use the very
different Mac OS.

Cheers,
Clive Huggan
=============

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]]

Hi Tom:

I have a few questions concerning file sharing between XP Pro and XP Home in
a Workgroup environment. I would really appreciate any help.

1)From what I'm gathering on the internet (I've read multiple articles) you
cannot even connect a Windows XP Home computer to a domain. I'm I
interpreting this correctly?

That's correct. Windows XP Home will refuse to authenticate to a domain
server. However, it will connect just fine to a Work Group.

2)I have a new server with XP Pro and 5 other computers with XP Home. I
only have 3 computers (which includes the new XP Pro server) that really
need access to everything (or the main folders) on the server. The other 3
computers need limited access. If I purchase XP Pro for just the 2 computers
that need access to everything then I set up the folders to only allow access
to those computers can I accomplish special file/folder permissions just for
the 3 XP Pro computers without without having to purchase XP Pro for all the
computers?

You won't need XP Pro for ANY of the computers unless you decide to
configure one of them as a domain controller.

The computers that need limited server access might be able to
see the folders in network places but it doesn't matter as long as they
cannot access the folders. This would still be in a workgroup instead of a
domain. Would this work to allow only my XP Pro systems the full access and
have my XP Home systems with only limited access?

No: The User ID does that. You need to assign each user their own User ID
and Password on the server. That will determine what they can or cannot
see.

For more fine-grained control, disable "Simple File Sharing" in Windows
Explorer, then use the Administrative Tools control panel widget to
explicitly set up ownership groups. Then assign the user IDs to the groups,
and adjust the folder access permissions for each group.

3. If I decide to purchase XP Pro for all my computers and set up a domain
is this a difficult task knowing I already have a workgroup established.

It's like anything else: it's not difficult if you know what you're doing.
It's impossible if you don't. You will have to repeat your setup procedure
for the domain.

If you like the easy life, you might consider a copy of Windows Small
Business Server. It's exactly designed for this kind of situation and it
really is just a matter of plugging the CDs in in the correct order to get
it up and running. It includes a wizard that will set up all the user IDs
and their permissions for you

Those who know me at home will now be suffering a laughter-based injury
after all the rude things I have said about SBS and its pundits. But
really, it was made for just the application you have.

Of course, you may find a Macintosh OS X server cheaper and requiring less
attention

Cheers

--

Please reply to the newsgroup to maintain the thread. Please do not email
me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie <[email protected]>
Microsoft MVP, Word and Word for Macintosh. Business Analyst, Consultant
Technical Writer.
Sydney, Australia +61 (0) 4 1209 1410