Hide a Workgroup

**Pluto** · April 12th, 2006, 03:47 AM

Hi All

I'm working in a new Business Centre where several businesses rent offices. They all share a broadband connection which is working fine, and all have their own Workgroups set up. The problem i've got is that I want to hide my Workgroup (called Reception) from the other three Workgroups. At the moment, I can see all four workgroups, which means of course that they can all see me! Is there a way of doing this, or do I have to use a different switch for each office? And also, how do i stop others from joining my Workgroup?

Many thanks.

**PBase001** · April 12th, 2006, 07:59 AM

Try disabling Netbios over TCP/IP.

**Fubarian** · April 12th, 2006, 08:29 AM

if there's a wins server, remove the entries for the workgroup as well.

**PBase001** · April 12th, 2006, 08:38 AM

Keep in mind that Windows uses Netbios over TCP to announce itself on a Windows network especially if you don't have a DNS or Active Directory running and if you're sharing files, you'll probably lose browse ability and have to at least manually map shares.

**3fingersalute** · April 12th, 2006, 08:42 AM

Do you need server and file sharing services on your workgroup at all?

**Pluto** · April 12th, 2006, 08:52 AM

Hi

Yes the only share I need is the printer - and this is how the problem started - someone unknown sent a print of, shall we say, a part of the male anatomy, to their printer which understandably upset the staff. Then I noticed I could see all four separate workgroups. Unfortunately now I'm off for easter, so won't be at work til next Tuesday. However, I will check windrivers.

Thanks Guys

**3fingersalute** · April 12th, 2006, 08:56 AM

Do you have a server in place? If so, get some user groups set up and lock down those shares.

**Pluto** · April 12th, 2006, 09:16 AM

Nope - no server, just 3 PC's in the same Workgroup.

**3fingersalute** · April 12th, 2006, 09:31 AM

What are the OS's of the 3 pc's? Can you just do user/password level shares?

**Pluto** · April 12th, 2006, 09:41 AM

All XPPro SP2. The only share I need is the printer and I can't seem to restrict it to just the three users. When the rogue document was sent, in the printer properties it came up as "guest" who had sent it to print. All guest accounts are not enabled.

**shamus** · April 12th, 2006, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by Pluto

All guest accounts are not enabled.

As an aside to the advice given for your problem, I get rid of the Guest account entirely. Steps are here:
http://www.winguides.com/forums/show...nded&sb=9&part=

**PBase001** · April 12th, 2006, 10:43 AM

Network printer? Is there log keeping on the printer. Might be able to back trace IP or Mac address.

Was it ascii picture or an actual picture.

Someone could use <net print> to avoid some obvious detections.

Meaning, they have a valid login to your network, but use net print to indicate a seperate set of credentials.

Better to try to trace directly to IP or mac address if possible.

**CeeBee** · April 12th, 2006, 12:57 PM

Rename the group to Reception$.

**3fingersalute** · April 12th, 2006, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by CeeBee

Rename the group to Reception$.

Does the dollar sign hide workgroup names as well? I thought that only worked with shares?

Even so, if it only works with shares, that would still be a good option for hiding the printer share.