combining differnt workgroups but denying file and folder sharing on both

[wizzy]

Hi members, i have a problem which has been dangling in my mind not getting a  solution.I am operating on Windows xp professional and i would like to network 4 computers on a different workgroup and share the existing internet connection.The problem is, how can i do that while denying other network users from accessing my folders and printer?

any help will be appreciated........

[EEVIAC]

how can i do that while denying other network users from accessing my folders and printer?

I think this will get you in the right direction.

http://www.wellesley.edu/Computing/FileSharing/Windows/facstaffxp.html

[wizzy]

I think this will get you in the right direction.

http://www.wellesley.edu/Computing/FileSharing/Windows/facstaffxp.html

the answer was helpful but this gives the normal file sharing across the network in all workgroups but can files in aworkgroup denied acess from other workgroups?

[midsail]

U can always encrypt the file and have a password to access them. What u r describing is more along a Sever/Client relationship. Win Win XP Home or Pro really doesn't offer much help in this area.
Going back to the link provide by  EEVIAC.

Section II Step 1 select the Do Not share this folder option. Do this on the folders u do not want to share.
Another thing u can try is:
Go>My Computer Rt click the C: >Properties>Sharing. U will see a warning about the risk of sharing, select it. U should see a option/box that states Make this folder Private.

One solution is a Linux box. The PC doesn't have to have the power of a full server, but u can still control permissions, right, access control to users. Now a days Linus flavors are ez to configure.
Wrie back and let us known if this works for.

[BC_Programmer]

the answer was helpful but this gives the normal file sharing across the network in all workgroups but can files in aworkgroup denied acess from other workgroups?

I believe this can be done in a roundabout fashion.

Each PC has a name in the workgroup- for example, my small network consists of my computer "TERATRON" and my laptop, "SATELLITE".

my TERATRON PC has several shares- Only SATELLITE can access them. The key was in the security settings- I added SATELLITE//bc_programming as a full access user on the share. With more PCs, you could make it so the shared items in each workgroup are  shared only within the same workgroup by adding ACLs to each shared item for all the other PCs in the workgroup.

This is sort of a "brute force" approach to the problem, but if you have 5 or fewer PCs it's probably doable.

[Spoiler]

Why do you need to share the internet access though your machine? Why not just get a router?