Strange public network behavior?

[Gem]

My work and home networks of Vista, XP, and 7 are all happily sharing with each other, my question is about 7's public network configuration.

When I am on a public network I turn off file sharing including public folders, media, etc., enable 128 bit and user passwords, but then I find I am unable to log onto any secure remote sites unless I enable file and print sharing. What am I missing here, can someone explain what I am doing wrong?

 

[acurasd]

Well you can keep the file sharing on, just turn off publick folders.

that should fix your problem.

 

[Gem]

Thanks for replying, that is what I have been doing, but I wanted to know why, as it doesn't make sense to me to have to turn file and print sharing on just to log on to a secure site. I have to assume turning on file and print sharing apparently triggers some other necessary protocol and I was hoping I could find an explanation for that here, as web searches in general and on MS site haven't been very successful. Thanks again for your reply.

 

[acurasd]

This would be my guess...
by you disabling the file and printer sharing.
you are also disabling the ports as well that the website is using
to connet between you and their remote site.

*NOTE*
this is only a guess...but i wouldn't rule it out

Rule Name:File and Printer Sharing (NB Name In)
Port:137
Protocol:UDP
Notes: Used for NetBIOS Name Resolution



Rule Name:File and Printer Sharing (NB Datagram In)
Port:138
Protocol:UDP
Notes:Used for enabling NetBIOS Datagram transmission and reception.
Rule Name:File and Printer Sharing (NB Session In)
Port:139
Protocol:TCP
Notes:Used for enabling NetBIOS session Service.
Rule Name:File and Printer Sharing (SMB In)
Port:445
Protocol:[COLOR=#0000ff !important][COLOR=#0000ff !important]TCP[/COLOR][/COLOR]
Notes: Used for enabling Server Message Block transmission and reception via Named Pipes.