Hi Just setting up a new office. Have two PC's one is XP pro SP1 the other XP pro SP2. Office is equipped with 2meg broadband via ethernet. Currently I have patch cable from broadband ethernet link to a netgear switch, then patch leads to each machine. Both machines can access the internet, but I want to set up file & print sharing. When using Network setup wizard I am choosing other option, then pc's connect through a hub etc. However when I prompt xp to turn on file and print sharing, it tells me that it is unsafe as files would be shared with internet too. Is there a way around this, or what other piece of equipment would I need? Both machines have Avast av & Xp's own firewall running. Previously had then connceted with yellow crossover and sharing ADSL conncetion from one machine which acted as a gateway with no problems thanks in advance for your help CJ

Buy a router with a NAT firewall, about 40 bucks, and then you should be able to share the files and printer safely.

Even using a software based firewall should be a reasonable security step. I know from my own experience that zonealarm free edition will block all traffic trying to use file and print sharing but you can specify certain hosts that you want to allow, ie. just add the IP address or host name of your other PC(s). If you installed this on all PC's that are using file and print sharing it should be ok but as alestram mentioned, it is a good idea to use a router with nat firewall included or even both