Temporarily Stopping File, Folder and Printer Sharing in Windows Server 2008

Question

_{Thursday, August 19, 2010 9:07 PM}

Is it possible to temporarily turn off file, folder and printer sharing in Windows Server 2008? I would like to perform a firmware update to a Dell MD3000 that is hosted by two servers directly attached to it and want to be sure that no one can access the shares on them from different computers during the procedure. After the upgrade is complete and the firmware is updated, I would like to turn on all file and folder and printer sharing to the previously shared locations.

All replies (4)

_{Friday, August 20, 2010 5:18 AM ✅Answered}

Hi damondixon,

There is a simple method you may consider to temporarily turn off file folder and printer sharing in Windows Server 2008. That is to STOP Server service in Services.msc becasue server service is to support file, print and named-pipe sharing over network. You can Start the server service after you update your Dell firmware.

Hope it helps.

Scorprio

TechNet Software Assurance Managed Newsgroup MCTS: Windows Vista | Exchange Server 2007 MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician | Server & Enterprise Admin

_{Saturday, August 21, 2010 5:21 AM ✅Answered}

Hi,

You can also disable File and Printer sharing in Network and Sharing Center (under domain list) to disable it.

Shaon Shan| TechNet Subscriber Support in forum| If you have any feedback on our support, please contact [email protected]

_{Monday, August 23, 2010 7:02 AM}

Hi,

How are things going? Is there anything further we can help?

Shaon Shan| TechNet Subscriber Support in forum| If you have any feedback on our support, please contact [email protected]

_{Monday, January 14, 2013 4:18 PM | 1 vote}

This feature does not work reliably.  While it worked in our test lab, it did not work on our production domain file & print server (2008 R2 SP1).  To get it to work in our lab I had to reboot the Server after setting File and printer sharing to "Turn off file and printer sharing" on all three network profiles (Home or Work, Public and Domain).  The shares were still accessible until the reboot.  In our production environment Server I noticed that after the reboot File and Printer sharing kept coming back to "Turn on" under the Public network profile.  I had to revert to stopping the Server service which complicated P2V conversion. 

- Robert Buckmaster