I have five computers at home all networked and setup wth WinXP Pro. For backup purposes, I have four folders being shared and a drive letter mapped on their computer to a folder on my computer. I have added these four user accounts to my computer but have enabled a policy so they cannot logon to my computer. These users can access a folder I share called Help Desk so I know the policy is not affecting the access. I only want each individual to access their own folder that is mapped to my computer. I have added their user account [only] to the permissions of that folder, not using NTFS permissions. I have removed the everyone group. It should work, but I get access denied. If I add the users group or the authenticated users group, they can access their folder. It seems logical if I have their user account on my computer, the same as they login on their computer, with the same password, they should be able to access through share permissions their folder mapped to my computer. I do not want others on the network to be able to access each others folder, hence why I am trying to leave users group and authenticated users group out of the share permissions. What am I missing please? For example, I have John Doe as a user on my pc. John Doe is listed under share permissions with full control. He is the only one in that list, having removed everyone. Why can't he access it, and only can when I add the users group or authenticated users.

The standard way is to enable cifs shares read write to all, you then fine tune permissions by using NTFS permissions. You also have to disable simple file sharing. (dunno why a distro named pro would ask you to do that!) "Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, antivirus, anti-spyware, Live CD's, backups, are in my top 10

"but have enabled a policy so they cannot logon to my computer." Wrong policy I will bet. You want them to be able to logon via the network but not locally. Sounds like you disabled their ability to logon via the network. It works when you make them a member of a group with logon rights enabled.

I appreciate your inputs. I do think the issue is something else and here is why. I have a folder I share called Help Desk. No one has NTFS permissions except the adminstrator(s)and my account. I have set the Share Permissions to Authenticated Users and everyone can access that folder. However, if I remove that account, and instead put my spouse's account in its place, she receives "access denied." I mentioned previously, her account and password are setup on my computer so they match her computer login as well. What I am not understanding, is why won't Windows XP Professional allow this access, when I have granted her specific account to that folder. Also, the policy I have on my computer does not keep anyone from accessing the shared Help Desk folder, so I do not believe that is the problem in her accessing her folder on my computer under her login. Simple File Sharing is turned off.

"I have a folder I share called Help Desk. No one has NTFS permissions except the adminstrator(s)and my account." What are your wife's ntfs permissions when you have only assigned her? If she has no ntfs permissions she will get access denied.