Is there a way with winxp pro on fat 32 hard disk to share files on a network so that they can only be seen and browsable, but not copiable and executable (don't tell me about the winrar/ace compression with password which is a great loss of time)? And as my workstation network disables the file finder function in the windows 2k browser, is there a browser soft which has its own finder to use without windows one? Finally how can i set the num keys to be locked automatically at each windows start up?

Not sure of your network setup but the last one is simple. Go to start/run type in MSCONFIG Click on the BOOT.INI tab, then click the Advanced Options Box, Place a check mark in the NumLock Box, Make sure the Value is 1 and apply, restart and numlock will now be lit when you enter Windows. KTTD

you can change the fat32 to ntfs, like this, in the ms-dos, type : convert c:(d:,e:) /fs ntfs . and then the c: can be changed. Change the file proprity.

kttd, can u tell me where exactly is the boot.ini tab? and shion chu, are you sure there is no pblm with my system and datas safety if i convert in real time, into ntfs my fat 32 partition they are on in, because windows is always running with programs and tray tasks? or should i simply only convert the partition hlding only datas, and not any windows system and prgram files?