[LittleBassMan]

Does anybody here know how to set file permissions for individual files/directories in windows xp home? i cant figure it out.

[Hickeroar]

what you're referring to is essentially a linux only feature... you cant set specific file permissions on windows files like you can in linux... however:

if you are using (or if you convert to) the NTFS file system you can create separate user accounts and then encrypt files you want under your user account. with this, no one can access your encrypted files without your username and password

[3e3c3e]

Originally Posted by Hickeroar

what you're referring to is essentially a linux only feature... you cant set specific file permissions on windows files like you can in linux... however:

How can you not set specific file permissions with NTFS? I'm confused as to what you are reffering to. :kduh:

~3e3c3e

[Awesome Guy]

I thought you can set permissions and everything with the NTFS file system, thats atleast what I learned in my windows NT4.0 server class.

[LittleBassMan]

I am using ntfs. i know how to do this in linux, converting is not an option. what i want to do is say "user x can read the contents of directory y, but cannot write or execute anything in that directory".

btw, this is not a linux-only feature.

[3e3c3e]

Originally Posted by LittleBassMan

I am using ntfs. i know how to do this in linux, converting is not an option. what i want to do is say "user x can read the contents of directory y, but cannot write or execute anything in that directory".

btw, this is not a linux-only feature.

Now instead of talking about if NTFS can do it or not (which it can), lets answer you question. In windows explorer if you right click on a file or a directory. There you can setup the security for a group or a user. You can also select advance and choose even more specific rights. I've attached an image of the basic rights window.

~3e3c3e

[MisterAgreeable]

Originally Posted by 3e3c3e

Now instead of talking about if NTFS can do it or not (which it can), lets answer you question. In windows explorer if you right click on a file or a directory. There you can setup the security for a group or a user. You can also select advance and choose even more specific rights. I've attached an image of the basic rights window.

~3e3c3e

I thought the file permissions in XP home were sort of brain dead. Again, this is a linux user talking, but I thought XP pro windows 2000 type file permissions, and XP home had a much more lame "protected or unprotected" flag. It'll do what he wants if he just wants to keep others out of his stuff, but you don't have groups and all that.

And, for what it's worth, the granular level of permissions for files and other OS objects that even NT 4.0 had is vastly superior to the linux filesystem security model. There's finally a decent access control list sceme for linux, which I guess will be in the 2.5 kernels, but owner/group/user permissions are a pain in comparison.

[JerryLove]

NTFS supports file security. In XP, the windows that allow you to set that are not, by default, shown. You will have to go into control panel and enable file security if you do not have the security info when you properties a file or directory.

[LittleBassMan]

thanks for all the help. apparently to do it through the gui you need xp pro. in xp home i have to reboot in safe mode or use the command line program.

[Hickeroar]

lol looks like i misunderstood the question. i've been around the linux world too long i think... didnt remember that you could limit a file to a certain group or such. i'm used to stuff like:
chmod 777 file_name
and i was thinking thats exactly what he meant...

[LittleBassMan]

Originally Posted by Hickeroar

chmod 777 file_name

well, i was hoping for something that straightforward. but no, safe mode it is. the command line program is horrible.

[dungscooperdave]

Of course all a user has to do is boot up a Gentoo live installation CD, mount the NTFS partitions, and then all the file permissions don't mean diddlysquat anyway. The user has full access to all files regardless of permissions.