We have 1x XP Home PC and 2x XP Pro PCs. One XP Pro PC is connected to
a Cable Modem (Card#1) and Local network (Card#2) providing Internet
Access to the two other XP computers via ICP (Windows Internet
Connection Sharing). So the PCs are not on a Domain.
While XP is a joy to use, we longed for the days of Win95 where you
could setup a simple home network with no guest password prompts and
everyone could share root folder and printers with no fuss.
".
- Policy Editor: Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Local Security Policy
- Policy: Local Policies > Security Options > Network Access: Sharing and security model for local accounts
Note: Windows XP Home does not have a Policy Editor. This is probably always set to Classic on XP Home.
2. Disable Simple File Sharing on all PCs
Disabled Simple File Sharing on all PCs (not available on XP Home). To do this go to:
- Control Panel > Folder Options > View page > Simple File Sharing (uncheck this option)
Note: Windows XP Home does not have this option. Simple file sharing is always enabled.
3. Main XP Pro PC & Other PC - Enabled Logon with Blank Password
(I can't remember if this step was really necessary in the end)
If you try to log onto Windows XP Professional with classic file
sharing (Simple File Sharing disabled), without a password, you
normally get an unknown error 31. To enable logon with no password find
the following policy and
Disable it.
- Policy Editor: Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Local Security Policy
- Policy: Local Policies > Security Options >
Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console login
only, which is enabled by default.
Note: Windows XP Home does not have a Policy Editor.
4. Add Accounts
At this stage PC2 can see my Main PC (yeah!) shared drives. But Main PC cannot see other PC2 drives yet.
What I had to do was Add the same account to the PC2. eg. If I'm
logged into my Main PC as Administrator "Robert" then I have to also
add an account "Robert" (Administrator & No password) to PC2.
- Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Managment
- Computer Managment (local) > System Tools > Local Users and Groups > Users
and add the user as an administrator
Conclusion
What a load of stuffing around. MS got this wrong in my opion. Lets Hope that Longhorn Home Networking is better.
Comment from Paul Nashamkim:
When I switched my home network to XP ages ago, I found that I couldn't
share anything (files, printers) until I set the same password to each
account on each PC (even though one was set up as Administrator and one
as Paul (with administrator rights). I just wrote it off to my own
stupidity for not finding some obvious setting, and since it worked
fine, I forgot about it.