Issues with "My Computer" "Files stored on this computer" display

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Guest

I'm having an issue with my re-mapped "My Documents" folders.

Running Windows XP Pro SP2.

I recently had to re-install WinXP (flaky hard drive). I have also
redefined various
User Accounts which previously existed. When I log on as "UserX" and open
the "My Computer" window and look at the "Files stored on this computer"
pane, I see a "Shared documents" folder and a "UserX's documents" folder.

This holds true for whatever User account I logon with. When I open the "My
Computer" window I see under the the "Files stored on this computer" pane; a
"Shared documents" folder and a single "Users documents" folder. The User
being the individual's account who I've logged on as.

This is with each User account's "My documents" folder left in it's default
placement on the C: drive.

But for all of these accounts, their "My documents" folder was already
existing prior to the rebuild and is actually resident in another partition
on a 2nd HDD. So, I re-map the "My Documents" folder for each user via
right-clicking on "My Documents", selecting "Properties" and then "Move", etc.

After I do this when each User logs on and accesses the "My Computer"
window, under the "Files stored on this computer" pane they now see "Shared
documents" as before, but they also see "UserX's documents", "UserY's
documents", "UserZ's documents", etc.

I don't think it was like this prior to my re-install.

So, I'm not sure if this is an artifact of the re-install, the redefinition
of User accounts and then attempting to have those User accounts link to
pre-existing folders from earlier users.

Or, is it an artifact of how I re-mapped the "My Documents" folder for each
user.

Ideally, I'd like the have each user just see the "Shared documents" folder
and their own "User's documents" folder when they open "My Computer" and view
"Files stored on this computer".

How do I do this?

Thanks in advance.

.... Bill
 
In
Willy K said:
I'm having an issue with my re-mapped "My Documents" folders.

Running Windows XP Pro SP2.

I recently had to re-install WinXP (flaky hard drive). I
have also
redefined various
User Accounts which previously existed. When I log on as
"UserX" and open
the "My Computer" window and look at the "Files stored on
this computer"
pane, I see a "Shared documents" folder and a "UserX's
documents" folder.

This holds true for whatever User account I logon with. When
I open the "My
Computer" window I see under the the "Files stored on this
computer" pane; a
"Shared documents" folder and a single "Users documents"
folder. The User
being the individual's account who I've logged on as.

This is with each User account's "My documents" folder left
in it's default
placement on the C: drive.

But for all of these accounts, their "My documents" folder
was already
existing prior to the rebuild and is actually resident in
another partition
on a 2nd HDD. So, I re-map the "My Documents" folder for
each user via
right-clicking on "My Documents", selecting "Properties" and
then "Move", etc.

After I do this when each User logs on and accesses the "My
Computer"
window, under the "Files stored on this computer" pane they
now see "Shared
documents" as before, but they also see "UserX's documents",
"UserY's
documents", "UserZ's documents", etc.

I don't think it was like this prior to my re-install.

So, I'm not sure if this is an artifact of the re-install,
the redefinition
of User accounts and then attempting to have those User
accounts link to
pre-existing folders from earlier users.

Or, is it an artifact of how I re-mapped the "My Documents"
folder for each
user.

Ideally, I'd like the have each user just see the "Shared
documents" folder
and their own "User's documents" folder when they open "My
Computer" and view
"Files stored on this computer".

How do I do this?

Thanks in advance.

... Bill
Click to expand...

Here's the easiest way to accomplish your goal:

Log on to one of the user accounts in question.
Open My Computer.
Right click on their My Documents folder.
Select "Sharing and Security" from the menu.
On the Sharing page, select "Make this folder private" in the
Local sharing and security section.
Click OK.

Do this for each account. Once you've finished, log back on as
each user to see if you've achieved the desired results.

Basically, what you have here is an NTFS permissions issue. I'm
taking for granted that the user accounts you created are
limited accounts. By default, limited user accounts will only
have access to their My Docs folder as well as the Shared
Documents folder.

My head starts to hurt whenever I try to explain how NTFS
permissions work so I'll be brief. The second hard drive
probably had the default permissions assigned which will give
the Everyone group Read permissions. When you move a folder to
a different hard drive, it will inherit permissions from its
parent. That would account for them being visible to all
accounts after being moved.

If you're curious do a Google search on NTFS permissions.

Good luck

Nepatsfan
 
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