Hrm. To Network or not to network - That is the question

Okay Everyone - We have a wireless network set up at the house. All computers connect to the internet via the wireless network connected to RoadRunner.

Now - I have my entire CD collection ripped to MP3 format so I can create playlists and listen to whatever I want while I'm working.

Anyhow - What I want to do is this: Move all the MP3's to the spare computer so that I can listen to my MP3's from any computer in the house. (Kinda making the spare computer an MP3 server) - So I want all computers in my home to be able to see / use the MP3 server, but NOT have that server available on the internet. How can I do this?

Also -- Under Win98, if you right click on a folder, you can have the folder password protected on the network-- There is no option like this under WinXP however.. (Why would they get rid of this option?) All you can do is either share it, or not! (At least that's the only option I see in the 'sharing' tab. Can anyone suggest anything?

Thanks in advance for the help

 

If you only run a non-internet protocol (NetBeui, IPX/SPX, whatever) on the MP3 server and run that protocol plus IP on the others, you will be effectively keeping the MP3 server off the internet.

You don't say which file system or which version of XP but with XP Pro and NTFS, you have lots of folder security options. Certain users only and give them specific rights as well like Read-Only or Read & Modify or whatever. Not sure about XP Home but I am sure there must be security options with it as well.

 

Hrm. Well, I'm using XP Home -- But now that so many issues are popping up (see my other posts LOL) it seems that I'm gonna need XP Pro instead.. How much is the Pro upgrade?

 

The regular upgrade is listed at over $200 and discounted to as low as $170 that I've found.

However, you don't need the upgrade.

There is the "Professional Edition Step-Up" which lists for $125 and is designed for users that got Home Edition with a new PC and want to upgrade to Professional Edition. With that list, you can probably find it discounted some and may get in for $100 or so - and maybe less.