hi,
I use Windows XP Professional, SP1. I have a problem related to disk sharing. My C & D DRIVES are somehow automatically shared. It didnt happen before. I noticed this a couple of days ago. The drives are shared with a $ sign suffixed and I cannot access/change the permissions. I tried "Do not share this folder" option, but after I click ok, it shows a message that says that the drive will be shared again the next time (something like that). Can anyone tell me why this is happening. I don't want to share any file/folder on my computer. Recently I installed MSSQL Server 7. Would that have to do anything with this? Somebody please help me out here.
Thanks.
C$ and D$ are automatic shares created when XP is installed.  They are adminstrative shares so you have to be at least a local administrator to access the PC through these shares.  The $ sign indicates they are hidden shares and do not show up when a computer is browsed.

No, you can't remove them like a normal share.  If your local adminstrator(s) accounts are locked down with good passwords, etc. then these shares are not a problem.  If you have blank passwords or easy to guess passwords then you are leaving yourself open to attack.no, but it wasn't shared before. neither of the drives were shared.it just happened a couple of days before. and i cannot understand how.HJP:

Gary is right.  It's also a good idea to change the name of the DEFAULT administrator account to something you will remember, like THEMAN.  This way a TROJAN Horse that, or a hacker who, tries to take over the account may be thwarted.

To change the name of the administrator account...

1. Click Start > Run...

2. Type secpol.msc /s and press ENTER.

3. In Local Security Settings, click Local Policies to expand the tree and click Security Options.

4. In the right PANE, right-click "Accounts: Rename administrator account" and select Properties.

5. In Accounts: Rename Administrator Account Properties, type a new name for the administrator account in the textbox and click Apply and OK.

Regards,
Docok, i changed the name, but does that really help? and how to set local admin password? is it the same one that i use for login or is it different?  :-/HJP:

To change the administrator account password...

1. Click Start > Run...

2. Type lusrmgr.msc and press ENTER.

3. In Local Users and Groups, click Users.

4. In the right pane, right-click the administrator account (it should have the new name you just gave it) and select Set Password.

5. In Set Password for Administrator, type the password in the New Password textbox and retype the password in the Confirm Password textbox, then click OK.

I'd suggest using a password that is easy to remember but that contains at least one number and one special character.  For example: Pa$$w0rd (where $$ is substituted for the letters ss and the number ZERO is substituted for the letter o).  The passwords are case-sensitive.

If you are not worried about someone at your home getting the password, write it down and put it in a safe place (such as on a mailing label inside a desk drawer where it will not get lost).  Windows XP also gives you the option of saving your password on a floppy disk.

Regards,
Docok, i found on net how to disable the administrative sharing. now, about that local admin password, i found two admin accounts there. the one is with my computer's name i think, and another one is the one i just renamed. oh, and first one's description column empty, but the second one's description says "built-in account for administering the computer/domain". is that okay?

edit: when i tried to set password for either of them, it showed a warning, saying that changing the password might cause loss of data.  HJP:

Right, the warning states, "Resetting this password might cause irreversible loss of information for this user account... ." It's simply telling you that if you change the password and forget it, then you will have to forget trying to log on as that user. (In other words, make sure you don't forget the password!)

You should set a password for at least *every* administrator account on your computer.

Regards,
Doc