For home network security if you already have a home network and a router at the base of the network then this article is going to teach you what to look for to keep your documents safe.

Windows XP home network security

If your home network consists of nothing but windows xp computers, then it will be easy to make sure home network security is in place. Windows XP Professional is loaded with great security features. If you do not have XP Professional, do not worry. You can secure Windows XP Home just as good.

One of the first things to do for home network security in windows xp you will want to have the NTFS file system installed. If you do not have it installed then go here and read these articles from Microsoft.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307881

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/winpreinst/ntfs-preinstall.mspx

So let’s assume you have the NTFS file system installed and you want to be able to share certain files on your computer. First of all windows xp will already make a shared documents folder on your computer. If you chose at install to share this folder then it will be available to your network. If you don’t want certain things shared in that folder, just do not put them in there.

If you would like to also share another folder then you will need to run the network setup wizard again. Windows as a default security measure will not allow this folder to be shared.

At this point all you have to do is locate the file you want to share and then right click and choose the sharing and security option. This will then bring up a dialog box. About half the way down you will want to choose network setup wizard. Run the wizard and choose the sharing options that you would like.

If networking is installed but you cannot share files.

If you have a network installed but you cannot share files. You may need to run the network setup wizard once again and look at your home network security. However there is also another way. You can go to my network places and choose view network connections. Choose install and then choose files and printer sharing for Microsoft networks. This will then allow you to share files.

At this point you can then select files that you want to share on the fly. All you need to do is locate the file you want to share and then right click on it and choose the sharing option.

You can also read this article from Microsoft about file sharing.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040

Windows 98 home network security

If you have windows 98 and your main computer is Windows XP, then you can create and use a network setup disk from XP. After you run the network setup wizard in XP it will give you the option of creating a disk for other windows versions. All you need to do then is run this disk on the other windows computers to set them up correctly.

To double check your work and to make sure your other folders are not being shared. Just go over to another computer on your network and choose view network places and then choose view workgroup computers. At this point choose your computer and here you will be able to see everything you are sharing from your computer.

Not sharing anything in XP.

Of course for the ultimate home network security you can choose not to share anything at all. If you have a router you will still be able to gain access to the internet. But if you do not want to share any files at all here is what to do.

Head over to my network places and choose view network connections. You will then see you local connection. Right click and choose properties. Once the box comes up, uncheck file and printer sharing for Microsoft networks. By doing this though you will not be able to share your printer.

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Home network security

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