Managing "My Documents" Folder and other settings

[Guest]

Hello,
I have a PC with Windows XP professional running on it. I have 3 different
user accounts on the computer. One for me, one for roomie and one for guest.

I just installed a 160GB Hard drive for storage. I have partitioned it into
4 logical sections of almost 40GB each. Here is what I want to achieve. I
dont even know if its possible so please help.

1. I want all of "My Documents" folder for my account to be on one logical
drive suppose E. I also dont want anyone else logged onto the computer to be
able to access "My Documents" Folder. I know when the Documents and Settings
folder is on C drive, one cant access other's folder. How can I change the
mapping and have it still be private from one user to another.

2. Is there a way to block access to a particular drive for one set of
users. I want to download some videos etc from my camcorder and store them on
suppose drive G. Can I setup the sharing etc in a way that only my user
account can access the files on that drive?


Thanks,
Shoaib
(shabu49)

 

[Juan]

Theres no need to move the My Documents folder to another drive, instead you
can redirect the "Save To" command to a rerouted destination in the second
hard drive. You can do this with Word and Excel, as o other program/formats
I don't know if there's a way to redirect the save to command, as I have not
been interested enough to find out. To change the "save to" command for
Word: in Tools\Options\File location\select Documents and press modify find
the folder which you can also name as My Documents. For Excel it's
Tools\Options\Save and type in the new location. I have done this and have
also created subfolders for each file format and named them Word and
Excel... so you see, what you want to do is entirely possible and in my
point of view, more than adviceable because you can keep your personal files
allready independent from the system drive in case you ever need to format.
This can also be done in another partition if there's only one hard drive
available.

As for privacy, first you need to find out in the C:\Properties if you are
running the NTFS file system and if not, apply it to be able to do this:
In the Control Panel\Folder Options\View\uncheck "Use simple file sharing
(recommended). next go to the drive properties and select Security. If you
are the only administrator, you should keep the administrators group and
remove other user groups, you should also keep the OWNER and SYSTEM
accounts. If you have an ordinary user account add that one also in the
security tab. You may need to take ownership of the drive before you make
the changes in the security tab. The following links have all the details
on how to change take ownership and change permissions in any file, folder
or drive.

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

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 in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308419

How to convert a FAT16 volume or a FAT32 volume to an NTFS file system in
Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307881

Regards.

---------------------------------------

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

1. I want all of "My Documents" folder for my account to be on one logical

drive suppose E. I also dont want anyone else logged onto the computer to be
able to access "My Documents" Folder. I know when the Documents and Settings
folder is on C drive, one cant access other's folder. How can I change the
mapping and have it still be private from one user to another.

How to Change the Default Location of the My Documents Folder
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310147

2. Is there a way to block access to a particular drive for one set of
users. I want to download some videos etc from my camcorder and store them on
suppose drive G. Can I setup the sharing etc in a way that only my user
account can access the files on that drive?

To make your folders private
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...ddocs/en-us/windows_make_folders_private.mspx

You Cannot Select the "Make This Folder Private" Option
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q307286/

Hope this helps.

--

Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

In memory of Alex Nichol
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/nichol.mspx

Folder customizations
http://newdelhi.sancharnet.in/minku

Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/protect