Can XP Home join a domain and access the network resources
Can I disable Simple File Sharing
Different between XP Pro and Home
How can I use XP Home to access a domain network
How can I view Security tab without joining a domain or running WinXP Home?
My XP Home Edition does not automatically create any special shared ($) folders.
XP Home doesn't store credentials

Can XP Home join a domain and access the network resources

You can't join XP Home Edition to a domain. However, you may have two options to access the domain network resources. 1) Logon local machine using a domain user account. 2) create a workgroup to match the domain name and also use the domain user account to logon.

Can I disable Simple File Sharing

You cannot disable simplified sharing in XP Home Edition.

Different between XP Pro and Home

1. Corporate management: Computers running Windows XP Home Edition cannot join corporate domains. For this reason, features that require machine accounts within a domain, such as Group Policy, are not available in Windows XP Home Edition.

The features that make up IntelliMirror — including Group Policy, Group Policy Editor (Gpedit.msc), roaming user profiles, and folder redirection — require computers to have accounts in a domain that uses Active Directory. Those features are not included in Windows XP Home Edition. Also the following corporate management features are not included with Windows XP Home Edition: Local Policy settings; System Policy settings (Poledit.exe); Offline Files and Folders; Software Installation and Maintenance; Remote Installation Services (RIS).

2. Corporate security:  Corporate Security features such as Features such as Encrypting File System (EFS). Backup Operators, Power Users, and Replicator groups are removed from Windows XP Home Edition. Instead, Restricted Users are added as a group to Windows XP Home Edition, and the Administrators group is replaced by the Owners group. By default, all interactive users are logged on as members of the Owners local group and have rights to install software and modify the system. Network logons are allowed only for the Guest account, which is enabled by default. In addition, in Windows XP Home Edition, users can log on to the Owners account only by using Safe Mode.

Also domain-based credentials cannot be stored on a computer running Windows XP Home Edition. However, when connecting to a domain by using Remote Access or virtual private networking (VPN), the user's remote access credentials are stored during that session to allow user access to domain resources. In addition, you cannot control access to local shares on a computer running Windows XP Home Edition from the domain's user-level security.

3. Networking: Many networking features are identical in Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Home Edition. The main differences involve connection limits and simplification. While Windows XP Professional allows up to 10 simultaneous file-sharing connections, Windows XP Home Edition allows up to five connections only.

The user interface for the IPSec manual configuration, for example — are not included in Windows XP Home Edition. Also, Client Service for NetWare is not included.

4. File system: Automated System Recovery (ASR), which is designed for computers such as servers and advanced workstations that have complex disk configurations, is not included with Windows XP Home Edition. Dynamic disks are not supported in Windows XP Home Edition, and you cannot convert disks to dynamic disk or import dynamic disks from another computer. Backup is included with Windows XP Home Edition but not installed by default. Users who want to use this feature must install it from the installation CD.

Also Windows XP Home Edition does not support EFS, and it allows only limited control over Access Control Lists (ACLS) to allow simple file sharing. Simplified file sharing in Windows XP allows for three states: Me Only, Local Users, and The World, either the user's network or the Internet, by using the Guest account.

5. User Interface:  Most of the user interface differences between Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Home Edition are in the default settings. Default Settings in Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Home Edition

6. Advanced and power-user: The following advanced features are not included in Windows XP Home Edition:

• Remote Desktop Service
• Multiprocessor support
• Multilanguage user interface
• Start menu option to show administrative tools
• Internet Information Services (IIS)

How can I use XP Home to access a domain network

WinXP HE can be included in a workgroup network, but not under a domain controller. However, you can logon XP Home locally and access the resources in a domain network (just like win9x). You do need to create a user account on the domain controller for logon and accessing the resources.

How can I view Security tab without joining a domain or running WinXP Home?

A: If you are not joined to a domain or are running Windows XP Home Edition and want to view the Security tab:

Windows XP Professional: Control Panel>Folder Options>View>Advanced settings, uncheck Use simple file sharing [Recommended].

Windows XP Home Edition: Boot into safe mode, and then log in as Administrator or an Administrative User. The Security tab is available for files or folders that are located on NTFS file system volumes.

How do I create a password for a user on WinXP Home?

My XP Home Edition does not automatically create any special shared ($) folders.
A: Because of security implications, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition does not automatically create the drive letter$, or Admin$ special shared folders.

XP Home doesn't store credentials

By design, XP home cache credentials. You can only store credentials for network resources on Windows XP Professional