Accessing Documents and Settings, Program Files Over Network

[HTFiddler]

For the last decade, I've had this problem and I think it's about time
to find out why. I connect a couple of Windows computers on a home
network. Both users have admin. privileges, sharing is set up for
full access, and the 2 computers see each other just fine. But when I
go to copy files from the other computer's "Documents and Settings",
"Program Files" and maybe also "Windows" folders, I get good ole:

"you do not have permission ... contact the
administrator"

which of course is ME! I have always fudged a workaround, but I
figure it's time to learn how to do this the right way. All other non-
O.S. folders can be accessed just fine.

Anyone?

 

[John Wunderlich]

m:

For the last decade, I've had this problem and I think it's about
time to find out why. I connect a couple of Windows computers on
a home network. Both users have admin. privileges, sharing is set
up for full access, and the 2 computers see each other just fine.
But when I go to copy files from the other computer's "Documents
and Settings", "Program Files" and maybe also "Windows" folders, I
get good ole:

"you do not have permission ... contact the
administrator"

which of course is ME! I have always fudged a workaround, but I
figure it's time to learn how to do this the right way. All other
non- O.S. folders can be accessed just fine.

Anyone?

This is typical of "Simple File Sharing". When Simple File Sharing
is enabled (default on XP Pro and forced on in XP Home), it doesn't
matter what username or password you use to connect to the other
machine -- the other machine will *always* see you and treat you as
the "Guest" user. Default folder permissions do not let the Guest
user go into any directory under "Documents and Settings" (this is a
"level 2" folder -- not sharable on network) and also the other
folders you've discovered.

If you have XP Pro, you can disable simple file sharing and
authenticate as yourself, Administrator, or any user you choose.
Then you can wander anywhere on the disk you normally have
permissions...

"How to disable simple file sharing and how to set permissions on a
shared folder in Windows XP"
< http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874 >

If you have XP Home, it is a bit more involved. Since you will
always authenticate as "Guest", then you must give the Guest user
permissions to all the folders you need to get into. This can be
done from a command prompt window using the "cacls" command...

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/cacls.mspx?mfr=true

or you can boot into Safe Mode and log in as Administrator. This
will give you access to the "Security" tab in the File and/or Folder
Properties screen where you can alter access permissions to give
Guest user a wider roaming area on your disk.

"How to use the Simple File Sharing feature to share files in Windows XP"
< http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040 >

HTH,
John