How do I share a folder with only one computer on a network?

Question

I wish to share a folder with only one of the 20 computers on a windows network. This folder is required to run a program using data on the second computer and therefore password protecting the folder is not an option. I don't want the others computers to be able to even see the contents of this shared folder.

Answer 1

You can't grant a specific "computer" access to the folder, only users.

As the previous answer mentioned, you can create a user on that specific computer and give that user access to the share, there will be downsides, if that user ever logs off that computer and another logs on, the new user won't have access. Also, if that special user logs onto a third PC, that third PC will also have access.

If you don't need the PC for anything else, what I'd recommend is to create a special user account on the PC running the program, give it a password that only you know. Give that user account access to the share, run the program, and lock the computer. Noone will know the password to unlock the PC or log onto another PC with it.

That's about your only option.

Answer 2

Set up a seperate user on the machine with the folder on it, delegate permission to read that folder only to that user, and connect to the computer with that user account.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040