More and more, people find themselves with more than one computer. Microsoft's Windows 9x makes it fairly easy for people to hook up these machines in a little home network to share files and printers.
However, with this increased simplicity comes increased risk. If left at the default settings, Microsoft's "File and Printer Sharing" can allow people on the Internet to access your computer.
The problem becomes more urgent when combined with a dedicated, high-speed connection such as DSL.
StarNet has blocks that prevent Microsoft's File and Printer Sharing from being accessible. However, there have been occasional instances where that block has been dropped. Also, in most cases, you can increase the security on your end and sometimes decrease the time it takes Windows to load.
Note: These suggestions assume you are just using Microsoft's File and Printer Sharing on a home network. If you are running a more sophisticated network or are in an office environment, do not follow the steps below.
The following are steps you can take to improve security and/or decrease the time it takes Windows to boot when using "File and printer sharing".
Following these steps may make Windows come up a little faster.
NetBEUI (Part I)
These instructions will walk you through installing NetBEUI if it is not
already installed.
NetBEUI (Part II)
These instructions will have you set all communications between your
computers use the NetBEUI protocol and not use TCP/IP. This should
increase security and possibly make the computer boot a little faster.
1. Double click on My Computer.
2. Double click on Control Panels.
3. Double click on the Network control panel. You should see a window like the one below.
4. If it is in the list, double click on "Client for Microsoft Networks".
You should see a window like the one below.
5. Under "Network logon options", set it for "Quick logon".
Note: Doing this will tell Windows to not look for other computers/printers until you actually try to use them. This should help Windows start faster--especially if some of the other computers on your home network are not on.
6. Click on OK.
7. Repeat the above steps for each computer you have on your home network.
1. Double click on My Computer.
2. Double click on Control Panels.
3. Double click on the Network control panel.
5. Check to see if there is an entry for "NetBEUI" (pronounced "Net-buoy") for you Network card. If there is, skip down to the next section, NetBEUI (Part II). If not continue with the instructions below.
6. Click on the Add button.
7. In the window that comes up, double click on "Protocols".
8. In the next window, click on "Microsoft" under the list of manufacturers.
9. On the other side, double click on "NetBEUI".
10. You should end up back at the main Network control panel window with a NetBEUI entry for your network card.
Note: Doing this will allow the network cards to see and use the NetBEUI protocol to transmit and receive data. NetBEUI is used by Microsoft for their networks and is not used on the Internet.
11. You should repeat the above steps for each computer on your home
network.
1. Double click on My Computer.
2. Double click on Control Panels.
3. Double click on the Network control panel.
4. In the Network control panel, double click on TCP/IP for your network card.
5. In the window that comes up, click on the "Bindings" tab. You should see a window like the one below.
6. Take the check out of "File and printer sharing for Microsoft
Networks".
Note: What you are doing at this step is telling Windows it cannot use TCP/IP (the protocol used on the Internet) to share files or print. This should force Windows to use the NetBEUI protocol (which won't be carried over the DSL connection).
Note: Again, if you are in an office environment or have a more sophisticated network setup, do not do the above step.
7. Click on OK.
Note: If you still dial in to an Internet provider, you may want to repeat the above steps for TCP/IP for the Dial-Up Adapter (if it exists).
8. Double click on NetBEUI for the network card.
9. It should open a window already on the Bindings tab. Make sure "File and printer sharing..." is checked.
10. Repeat the above steps for every computer on your home network.
Note: If you haven't done so already, you may want to go to the Identification tab. In there you will want to make sure each computer has the same thing for Workgroup. If they have different things, the computers will not be able to see each other.