How can I control Shared Documents folder?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Billy Smith
  • Start date Start date
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Billy Smith

I'm trying to be system administrator to some machines running Win XP Pro.
Win XP
is kept up to date with live updates and overall the machines are in good
shape.
We have PCCillin antivirus running, continuous updated, realtime protection,
weekly scan,
and the scan logs show no clear virus problems.

But I have a problem.

1. Somehow the name of the Shared Documents folder has been changed to just
Documents (i.e. c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents).

2. Neither as as admin or limited user can I change the name back to Shared
Documents.
I get an error message saying it is a system file and cannot be renamed.
Yet it somehow
did get renamed recently and I don't know how.

3. The folder and all subfolders have the Read Only flag set so of course I
can't
add or delete any files to/from it or its subfolders.

4. When I clear the Read Only flag (as admin or limited user) I get no error
messages
(I think it even gives me progress messages saying it is changing the flags
on all
the subfolders) but afterward the Read Only flag is still set.

What's going on here? Specifically:

1. Is an admin user supposed to be able to change the name of Shared
Documents or is
it really supposed to be immutable? And how could it have gotten changed if
an
admin user cannot now change it?

2. Why can't an admin user now change the Read Only flag?

Thanks in advance.
 
The read only marker is not relative to who has access to a file. Only
Permissions are relevant.
Using "Simple File Sharing" only documents in the "My Documents" folders
structures can be shared. The "All Users" profile included.
 
"Shared Documents" folder renamed to "Documents"?:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/37/1/Shared-Documents-folder-renamed-to-Documents.html

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I'm trying to be system administrator to some machines running Win XP Pro.
Win XP
is kept up to date with live updates and overall the machines are in good
shape.
We have PCCillin antivirus running, continuous updated, realtime protection,
weekly scan,
and the scan logs show no clear virus problems.

But I have a problem.

1. Somehow the name of the Shared Documents folder has been changed to just
Documents (i.e. c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents).

2. Neither as as admin or limited user can I change the name back to Shared
Documents.
I get an error message saying it is a system file and cannot be renamed.
Yet it somehow
did get renamed recently and I don't know how.

3. The folder and all subfolders have the Read Only flag set so of course I
can't
add or delete any files to/from it or its subfolders.

4. When I clear the Read Only flag (as admin or limited user) I get no error
messages
(I think it even gives me progress messages saying it is changing the flags
on all
the subfolders) but afterward the Read Only flag is still set.

What's going on here? Specifically:

1. Is an admin user supposed to be able to change the name of Shared
Documents or is
it really supposed to be immutable? And how could it have gotten changed if
an
admin user cannot now change it?

2. Why can't an admin user now change the Read Only flag?

Thanks in advance.
 
Ramesh,

Thanks for the tip. It sounds like the missing desktop.ini file is my
problem. I'll try it next time I'm at the office.

--Billy


"Shared Documents" folder renamed to "Documents"?:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/37/1/Shared-Documents-folder-renamed-to-Documents.html

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I'm trying to be system administrator to some machines running Win XP Pro.
Win XP
is kept up to date with live updates and overall the machines are in good
shape.
We have PCCillin antivirus running, continuous updated, realtime protection,
weekly scan,
and the scan logs show no clear virus problems.

But I have a problem.

1. Somehow the name of the Shared Documents folder has been changed to just
Documents (i.e. c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents).

2. Neither as as admin or limited user can I change the name back to Shared
Documents.
I get an error message saying it is a system file and cannot be renamed.
Yet it somehow
did get renamed recently and I don't know how.

3. The folder and all subfolders have the Read Only flag set so of course I
can't
add or delete any files to/from it or its subfolders.

4. When I clear the Read Only flag (as admin or limited user) I get no error
messages
(I think it even gives me progress messages saying it is changing the flags
on all
the subfolders) but afterward the Read Only flag is still set.

What's going on here? Specifically:

1. Is an admin user supposed to be able to change the name of Shared
Documents or is
it really supposed to be immutable? And how could it have gotten changed if
an
admin user cannot now change it?

2. Why can't an admin user now change the Read Only flag?

Thanks in advance.
 
Hi Billy,

Another possibility is permissions, which is documented in the same link given. Good luck and keep us posted.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ramesh,

Thanks for the tip. It sounds like the missing desktop.ini file is my
problem. I'll try it next time I'm at the office.

--Billy


"Shared Documents" folder renamed to "Documents"?:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/37/1/Shared-Documents-folder-renamed-to-Documents.html

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I'm trying to be system administrator to some machines running Win XP Pro.
Win XP
is kept up to date with live updates and overall the machines are in good
shape.
We have PCCillin antivirus running, continuous updated, realtime protection,
weekly scan,
and the scan logs show no clear virus problems.

But I have a problem.

1. Somehow the name of the Shared Documents folder has been changed to just
Documents (i.e. c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents).

2. Neither as as admin or limited user can I change the name back to Shared
Documents.
I get an error message saying it is a system file and cannot be renamed.
Yet it somehow
did get renamed recently and I don't know how.

3. The folder and all subfolders have the Read Only flag set so of course I
can't
add or delete any files to/from it or its subfolders.

4. When I clear the Read Only flag (as admin or limited user) I get no error
messages
(I think it even gives me progress messages saying it is changing the flags
on all
the subfolders) but afterward the Read Only flag is still set.

What's going on here? Specifically:

1. Is an admin user supposed to be able to change the name of Shared
Documents or is
it really supposed to be immutable? And how could it have gotten changed if
an
admin user cannot now change it?

2. Why can't an admin user now change the Read Only flag?

Thanks in advance.
 
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