ICS Does Not Install File and Printer Sharing By Default

ID: Q227141

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) does not install File and Printer Sharing by default. Therefore, the ICS host is not visible in Network Neighborhood and cannot share files and printers.


MORE INFORMATION

To install File and Printer Sharing:

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Network.


  2. Click Add, click Services, and then double-click File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks.


  3. Double-click TCP/IP (shared)->External Adapter (or Dial-Up Adapter if a dial-up connection is used).


  4. Click OK, and then click the Bindings tab. Click to clear the File and Printer Sharing check box.


  5. Click OK.


  6. Click OK, and then restart the computer when you are prompted.


Sharing Folders or Printers

File and Printer Sharing must be installed on any computer on which folders or printers will be shared on the network.

To share a folder or printer, use the right mouse button to click a folder (Microsoft Windows 98 and Microsoft Windows 95 are unable to share specific files) or printer, click Sharing, click Share As, type a name for the share, select the access level, and click OK.

To map a network drive, use the right mouse button to click Network Neighborhood, and then click Map Network Drive. Type \\computername\sharename, where computername is the name of the computer sharing the folder or printer, and sharename is the name of the shared folder or printer.

NOTE: Binding File and Printer Sharing to the external adapter and opening the SMB ports on the ICS host makes all shared folders and printers accessible from the Internet and creates a possible security issue. Although ICS is not designed to function as a firewall or provide strong firewall protection, shared files and folders possess a reasonable level of security if configured in the manner described in this article.

To prevent the sharing of files to the Internet, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Network.


  2. Double-click the TCP/IP(Shared) listing. If you are prompted with a warning message, click OK.


  3. On the Bindings tab, click to clear the File and Printer Sharing for Micorosoft Networks check box, and then click OK.


  4. Double-click TCP/IP->Internet Sharing Connection, and then click the Bindings tab.


  5. Click to clear the File and Printer Sharing for Micorosoft Networks check box, and then click OK.


  6. Click OK, and then restart the computer.


Additional query words: 


Keywords          : kbenv kbnetwork kbfaq win98se 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: July 6, 1999