Compared to Windows NT4 and Windows 2000 professional, Microsoft has changed on
Windows XP some of the default behaviours of the system related to "Disk and Folder Security"
and Network access.
Disk and Folder Security :
When installing Windows XP Professional, it will configure the system by default for
"Simple Security and File Sharing" (as in the Windows XP Home Edition ) :
- when right-clicking to get the popup-menu:
 | tab: Sharing |
 | Microsoft likes you to use the "Network Setup Wizard". You can ignore that and select to share files without the wizard. |
 | Very limited selection, and no detailed Security settings. |
 | To change to the "full" Security and Sharing : Open "My Comuter" and select from "Tools" to Display the "Folder Options..." : Tab : "View", section "Advanced settings" : To deactivate the "Simple File Sharing", uncheck the option :  |
 | The system will then use the same method to share a disk or folder as Windows NT4 and Windows 2000. |
 | Once "Simple File Sharing" is turned off, then also the tab "Security" becomes available , allowing to assing security based on usernames and usergroups. Note : only the Administrators have full Access permissions for the disks ! Members of the group "Users" have only "Read" accesss, Members of the group "Everyone" have no access . |
 |  |
 Windows 2000: | This is a change in the default behavior of Windows : Under NT4 and Windows 2000, the security allows "Everyone" to have Full Access rights to a disk. |
Network Access :
When accessing via the network a shared disk or folder on Windows XP, you will get now
an error message when using Usernames defined without passwords :
While Windows XP Professional allows the use of Usernames without password when working
on the system ("logon locally to console"), network access requires now the use of passwords.
(see Group Policy Editing )