Win XP Pro and networking...

[TweakerXP]

I'm installing Windows XP Pro on my system this weekend, I have three systems networked at my house. Two of these systems have Win98 se on them.

QUESTION...

Will I be able to access my files on Win XP system "FROM" my win 98 systems? Or will there be a conflict because of the fat file system? (Fat 32 vs. NTFS):confused:

Thanks

[BipolarBill]

There should be no problem. Just don't activate the firewall.

Disk file systems have no real bearing on network connectivity or access. It all looks the same over the network. NTFS allows you to set file-level security and can be used to deny access to selected files/folders.

[Jimstep]

I'm into performance, so I recommend NTFS.

[michaeln]

Originally posted by BipolarBill
There should be no problem. Just don't activate the firewall.

While you're on the subject, is there any way to configure Win XP firewall to allow access from my home lan. I had the same problem with three Win98SE systems and 1 XP Pro. When the internet firewall is activated it refuses access to my lan.

[BipolarBill]

I'm not sure. The WinXP Firewall is not configurable. I think that the Home Networking Wizard may help with this.

[BipolarBill]

I quote from the Help System:

"You should not enable Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) on any connection that does not directly connect to the Internet. If the firewall is enabled on the network adapter of an ICS client computer, it will interfere with some communications between that computer and all other computers on the network. For a similar reason, the Network Setup Wizard does not allow ICF to be enabled on the ICS host private connection, the connection that connects the ICS host computer with the ICS client computers, because enabling a firewall in this location would completely prohibit network communications.

Internet Connection Firewall is not needed if your network already has a firewall or proxy server.

If your network has only one shared Internet connection, you should protect it by enabling Internet Connection Firewall. Individual client computers may also have adapters, such as a dial-up or DSL modem, that provide individual connections to the Internet and are vulnerable without firewall protection. ICF can only check the communications that cross the Internet connection on which it is enabled. Because ICF works on a per connection basis, you need to enable it on all computers with connections to the Internet, in order to ensure protection for your entire network. If you have enabled the firewall on the ICS host computer's Internet connection, but a client computer with a direct Internet connection is not using the firewall for protection, your network will be vulnerable through that unprotected connection.

The service definitions that allow services to operate across ICF also work on a per connection basis. If your network has multiple firewall connections, service definitions must be configured for each firewalled connection you want the service to work through."

[michaeln]

Originally posted by BipolarBill
I quote from the Help System:

[/i]"

I guess that means no so!

[BipolarBill]

I would assume just that. You'll need a configurable firewall like ZoneAlarm.

[michaeln]

I have used ZoneAlarm in the past so I suppose it's back to the old reliable again.