Folder Permissions

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Hello,

I'm using XP SP2 home edition with the NTFS filesystem. I've only started
using Windows a week ago, so I'm sure this is very basic, but... this is the
"basics" group, right? I have three users set up, one administrator and two
normal ones. When I tried to install an application as the normal user,
Windows refused and said I needed to do it as the administrator. So I did
that. The problem is that now, when the normal users run the application,
they can't save their settings because all of the application-specific
folders installed by the administrator account are read-only.

When I right-click on the folder and bring up the Properties I see a
checkbox for "Read Only" so I uncheck that and click Apply. A second dialog
box then comes up asking if I want to apply the change "unset readonly" to
just the folder or to the folders and all subfolders and files. I choose all
subfolders and files, click OK, OK on the main dialog box, and everything
appears to succeed. There are no error messages, anyway.

But the normal users still can't save their settings. What's worse, when I
go back to the same folder(s) and look at their properties, the "read only"
checkbox is checked again! What's the solution to this? Ideally what I want
is to keep most of the application read-only but allow write access to the
folders that contain per-user settings information.

I looked around at the support documents, but they're either obsolete or
ignore the separation between "home edition" and "professional," so they talk
about assigning permissions to specific users and groups, which I can't do
with Home Edition. If upgrading is the only solution, I'll do that, but would
rather save my pennies for other things.

Thanks!

Tim

PS Can anyone recommend a good book? I write kernel code for embedded
systems, so I don't need the touch-feely "Wow! This is a window!" sort of
thing. I need to know how to make XP a usable tool, and do the kind of stuff
here that I could accomplish with a few keystrokes in any other OS. Any
suggestions would be very helpful.
 
In addition to Read-only, there are specific file/folder permissions that may be at issue here. For XP Home, by default, you can only access the Security tab (File/Folder properties) via Safe Mode. See Help and Support for more information on Safe Mode.

Additionally, you can add the Security tab in XP Home, outside of Safe Mode.

How Do I Get the Security Tab in Properties - XP Home (makes the Security tab appear outside of Safe Mode)
http://www.dougknox.com, Win XP Tips section

HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308418

HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove Special Permissions for Files and Folders
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308419
 
Dunno if this will help you or not, but Windows won't let Limited User
Accounts access certain files. As the other folks have said, you'll have to
start changing permissions on the files/directories that are locked.

Now, doing this enables the Limited User to have access to files/directories
that are normally reserved only for Administrators. This can cause problems,
especially with technically oriented users who want to mess around in these
directories.

Most well-behaved programs will allow the user to save things to areas that
are pre-defined by the software developer. I'd suggest you talk to the
softwere manufacturer for a solution.
 
Hi Tim,

First off, ignore the "read only" attribute on the folder. The system does
and so should you, it is not the root cause of your problem. The problem, as
Doug has mentioned, is in the folder permissions. As your users need to
write to the folders, you will need to give them "read and execute" and
"write" permissions. Probably easier to just give them "full control" (one
shot deal). As this is WinXP Home, you need to restart in Safe mode and
logon as administrator to do this.

How to start in Safe mode:
http://www.rickrogers.org/fixes.htm#Safe mode

Also: http://rickrogers.org/xpsware.htm on software in WinXP.

Quick and dirty way from the command prompt:

cacls C:\Program_path /g username:F

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
Thanks very much for all your help! This has gotten me MUCH closer to where I
wanted to be!

Tim
 
Rick "Nutcase" Rogers said:
Quick and dirty way from the command prompt:

cacls C:\Program_path /g username:F

Ohhhhh... There's a command line interface? Very interesting.

Thanks!

Tim
 
Hello Doug

I downloaded and installed the Security Tab in Properties - XPHome as per
your website. I do not know if that is related to a problem I have since had
with my CD-ROM burning. It may be a media issue and I am returning all the
Staples CD's I bought because they seem to be problematic. I have a CD
burner by Artec WSM-52Z version 1.10 which worked fine for all previous burns
but am getting errors where I cannot complete the burn process even though
the Speed test and Simulation burns report successful. I use Nero Express
5.5 and have never had a problem before. I run SP Home SP1 (I've heard horror
stories about installing SP2 with my genealogy program which is a passion of
mine)

One of the last messages on the aborted burn process is:
Registry Keys:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\windows NT\Current Version|WinLogoAllocateCEROMs : 0
(security option)

I don't know what this means. I am logged on with administrator rights
during this process. Does the installation of the the Security Tab have
anything to do with this message?

I have contacted Nero. I was finally able to do a burn via Windows Media
player on a Verbatim RW-CD. Then I noted that altho XPHome will erase RW-CD's
the command does not appear for me. When I checked the Microsoft KB they
suggest contacting the manufacturer for a firmware upgrade. But I cannot
find such a manufacturer website although there are plenty of references to
this particular brand of CD-Rom. Most referring sites are looking to sell me
the cd-rom.

So until I get the Nero software issue resolved I am stuck with Windows
Media and will not be able to erase any of my RW-CD's????

If by installing the Security Tab in XPHome I have created this problem, how
do I get rid of it? There is nothing on Add/Remove in Control Panel.
 
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