FAQShop.com : Does File and Print Sharing Need to be Enabled on XP Machines to Install the Client?

Does File and Print Sharing Need to be Enabled on XP Machines to Install the Client?

We have been told that SMS requires File and Print sharing must be enabled on XP for SMS to function. Does anyone know if this is true and why?

Is there a work around? We don't want F&P sharing on our XP desktops.

Contributed By: Bill Livezey [MS]
Not to function, but to push the installation via the NT remote method it does (SMS must access the admin$ share). You can still install the client manually or via the logon script methods.

Contributed By: Hans Schefske [MVP SMS]
As Bill mentioned, it will be required if you use NT Remote Installation or if you use logon installation and your users don't have local admin rights on their workstations (after the CCR gets created the SMS server must access the admin$ share to complete the installation with elevated rights).

Here is the KB article explaining the details:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;207429&

Either installation method, you will need to have enable it to get the SMS client installed, unless your users have local admin rights (where if you are that concerned about F&P sharing, I doubt your users have local admin rights).

I have known environments that have successfully run by enabling it for client installation then disabling after, but it required a lot of work to keep up with and to put a process around it.