Acessing Protected Folders

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bryce
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Bryce

As the solution to one of my problems, I reinstalled
windows XP over Windows XP, and now I am facing another
problem, though it is less critical. In my previous
installation, I had placed protection on my user folder.
However, I can no-longer access it. Is there any way I
can get into it?
 
As the solution to one of my problems, I reinstalled
windows XP over Windows XP, and now I am facing another
problem, though it is less critical. In my previous
installation, I had placed protection on my user folder.
However, I can no-longer access it. Is there any way I
can get into it?

You regain access to the files and folder by taking "ownership."

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421
 
Well, I tried following that, however I seem to be
missing vital tabs. There is no "security" tabs, though
there is a "sharing" tab, which has nothing the security
tab should. Is there any other way, or maybe a way for me
to get these tabs?
 
You have to disable simple file sharing before you can see that tab, try
again, see below:
Note, file ownership and permissions supersede administrator rights. How
you resolve it depends upon which version of XP you are running.



XP-Home



Unfortunately, XP Home using NTFS is essentially hard wired for "Simple File
Sharing" at system level.

However, you can set XP Home permissions in Safe Mode. Reboot, and start
hitting F8, a menu should eventually appear and one of the
options is Safe Mode. Select it. Note, it will ask for the administrator's
password. This is not your administrator account, rather it is the
machine's administrator account for which users are asked to create a
password during setup.

If you created no such password, when requested, leave blank and press
enter.

Open Explorer, go to Tools and Folder Options, on the view tab, scroll to
the bottom of the list, if it shows "Enable Simple File Sharing" deselect it
and click apply and ok. If it shows nothing or won't let you make a change,
move on to the next step.

Navigate to the files, right click, select properties, go to the Security
tab, click advanced, go to the Owner tab and select the user that was logged
on when you were refused permission to access the files. Click apply and
ok. Close the properties box, reopen it, click add and type in the name of
the user you just enabled. If you wish to set ownership for everything in
the folder, at the bottom of the Owner tab is the following selection:
"Replace owner on subcontainers and objects," select it as well.

Once complete, you should be able to do what you wish with these files when
you log back on as that user.



XP-Pro



If you have XP Pro, temporarily change the limited account to
administrative. First, go to Windows Explorer, go to Tools, select Folder
Options, go to the View tab and be sure "Use Simple File Sharing" is not
selected. If it is, deselect it and click apply and ok.



If you wish everything in a specific folder to be accessible to a user,
right click the folder, select properties, go to the Security tab, click
Advanced, go to the Owner tab,
select the user you wish to have access, at the bottom of the box, you
should see a check box for "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects,"
place a check in the box and click apply and ok.

The user should now be able to perform necessary functions on files in the
folder even as a limited account. If not, make it an admin account again,
right click the folder, select Properties, go to the Security tab and be
sure the user is listed in the user list. If not, click add and type the
user name in the appropriate box, be sure the user has all the necessary
permissions checked in the permission list below the user list, click apply
and ok.

That should do it and allow whatever access you desire for that folder even
in a limited account.
 
Well, I tried following that, however I seem to be
missing vital tabs. There is no "security" tabs, though
there is a "sharing" tab, which has nothing the security
tab should. Is there any other way, or maybe a way for me
to get these tabs?

As explained in the article:

If you have XP Pro, use Folder Options> View to turn off Simple File
Sharing. The properties sheets will now show the security tab.

If you XP Home, boot to Safe Mode and log on with an account in the
administrator group. Right click a folder or file while in Safe Mode and
you'll see the security tab.
 
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