I want to know what i need to do in order to be able to allow access to files on my computer running win xp pro but require a username and password to access the files i know you can do this with win vista but was wondering what settings i needed to change on win xp pro

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306531 http://www.computerhope.com/issues/...

Open My Computer, and select Tools, then click Folder Options. Go to the Advanced tab, and scroll to the last entry, "Use Simple File Sharing (recommended)," and uncheck it. Now there is a Security tab when you right click a file or folder and click Properties. From here you can customize permissions and access rights for files and folders. You can give people specific access rights, or block people from accessing files. You might want to create a few new users with passwords for accessing these files if your user name does not have a password, or you do not want to tell everyone your logon password. When network users connect to your computer, they will be prompted to enter a user name and password .when they access shared resources that you have customized security settings for

I'm trying to follow the steps you gave me and when i go into the my computer and tools under folder options there is no advanced tab i have win xp pro sp2 do i need to be in safe mode or something i dont understand

Sorry, I meant to say go to the View tab. Under the View tab, uncheck the check box that says "Use simple file sharing (recommended)". Then you can customize security permissions and access rights by right-clicking a folder and selecting the Security tab (it appears when Simple File Sharing is disabled)

after i unchecked this box i go to the other computer where i want to access the files and its telling me is not accessible might not have permissions so i guess i dont have it setup right but i dont understand its not showing the other computer or where the network is to add it as a user with access