How do I Network Share Folders? (Windows 7)

sevenxbmc · 24 Feb 2012

Hi guys,

This is my first post, so please accept my apologies if i make any mistakes.

I've recently setup a media pc and have installed a program called XBMC, but my question is mainly related to Windows 7 and Network Sharing

SCENARIO
Currently i have the following:-

ONE Media PC with 2 user accounts (Administrator and MediaPC):

Windows 7 Ultimate & XBMC on C: (250gb hard drive)
Media files on D: (1TB hard drive)

ONE Office/Gaming PC (One user account - Billy) - only i use it
ONE Laptop (wireless) - (One user account - Family) kids/family use it

All the above computers are on Win 7 connected on the same homegroup to my virgin media superhub.

GOAL
I want to network share the Media PC - D: drive with my Office PC (Billy Account) which should have FULL READ/WRITE/MODIFY RIGHTS access.

At the same time, I want to Totally DENY ACCESS to the kids laptop (Family Account), so they cannot SEE the media drive.

Is this possible? If so, how do i go about implementing it? I've got a limited knowledge of networking, so please could you explain exactly what i need to do?

Thanks!

Anak · 24 Feb 2012

This should help follow step #5: Permissions - Allow or Deny Users and Groups

Since you have 7 Ultimate this may also help: Group Policy - Apply to a Specific User or Group

But if you use the Group Policy Editor you should also use this for security: Local Users and Groups MMC Snap-in - Enable or Disable

Apply the settings from the machine that has the media drive.

May I ask, are both machines Windows 7?

sevenxbmc · 24 Feb 2012

Thanks for the links Anak. I don't have any problems setting the permissions for the local users on the media pc, but how do i setup the permissions, so that users on a network can be given/denied access?

Where is the option to find the users on a network, so that i can grant/deny them permissions?

EDIT: Sorry didn't notice your question:- Yes, all machines are on Windows 7

Anak · 24 Feb 2012

While you have both machines on, open Explorer.

In the left view pane you should see Network below Computer.

Left click on Billy, and a Folder named Users should appear, then right click on the Users Folder.
Go to the bottom of the context menu, and click on Properties.

When that opens click on either the Sharing or Security tabs to make your changes.

sevenxbmc · 24 Feb 2012

Mate, your a star! I'm going to have to setup the 2nd pc as i'm putting in a new hdd into it, but as soon as i get it setup, i'm gonna give it a try and will let you know how i get on.

Thanks again!

Anak · 24 Feb 2012

Your welcome!

Just take your time it's easy to lose track when your setting permissions.

By the way, I forgot to welcome you to 7F, so I'll do it now. Welcome sevenxbmc! :)

sevenxbmc · 24 Feb 2012

Thanks for the warm welcome mate.

My main plan is to lock down the media pc, so that kids and family cannot easily mess it up. Also i want to be able to access the media drive on the network, so if i need to transfer any music or videos, then i can do that using my office pc. At the same time i want to deny access to my kids who use the laptop. Hopefully this should do it for me :)

There is one thing though. In order to see the folder on the network (left view pane), won't i have to give the everyone FULL ACCESS the first time, so that they can see it, in order to then setup permissions?

Anak · 24 Feb 2012

I had to re-read your original post to think this out, and I saw your edit.

Make your settings on the Media PC machine, from the Administrator account.

Deny access to the Media files on D by right clicking on the Drive, then Properties/Security Tab.

Find the Family Users account, and make your settings, leave Billy alone, apply, OK your way out.

Now go to the Family machine, and see if you can open the D: Drive.
You should see a dialog box pop up telling you, you have been denied access to that Drive.
You can see it, but you can't open it.

sevenxbmc · 24 Feb 2012

hi mate,

i just tried your technique, but without success

the problem i have is that when i right-click the media drive and then goto security tab, i can only find users that are on the local media computer NOT on the network.

How do i find a user that is located on a different computer within the same network? Would making a homegroup solve this problem?

sevenxbmc · 24 Feb 2012

okay, I've got it working.

I have shared the drive with EVERYONE (READ-ONLY) and ADMINISTRATERS (FULL CONTROL). What i didn't realise is that even though, i have given read-only access to Everyone, no one can simply access the folders as they need to know the administrator's password to access the media pc in the first place.

Since this is only a media pc and not my main pc, its more than enough to deny kids or family from accessing files/folders from their laptop, whilst allowing my office pc to map the shared media drive by login. I'm very happy with this setup, unless someone points me to any security issues?

Thanks very much again!