BudV said:
We're new at working under Vista Home Premium SP1.
My daughter was working as a standard user and found that she was not
authorized to delete or rename her own files. She had to log off, then
switch to an administrator in order to do this. (Administrator couldn't
do anything either until standard user logged off.)
It makes sense that a standard user should not be able to manipulate files
of another user, but you'd think that she should be authorized to deal
with her own files. Is there a parameter to allow this?
Hi Bud--
I have to say with all respect to the UAC team, that they have put out a lot
of documents that purport things principles that don't see the light of day
in the real world.
For example, they write in Vista Help:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/f49eaa8a-2f17-4668-b4ce-d699a4db90681033.mspx
"When you use a standard account, you can use most programs that are
installed on the computer, but you can't install or uninstall software and
hardware, delete files that are required for the computer to work, or change
settings on the computer that affect other users. If you're using a standard
account, some programs might require you to provide an administrator
password before you can perform certain tasks."
I have found that in fact, on many many ocassions, that there are a number
of folders even running as an Administrator (and the rule is always to run
with as low privileges as possible for maximal security) or at times in
Vista even renaming folders was prohibited. I've also seen lack of
consistency in the renaming privileges and working with folders.
The first thing I do on a dual boot of 2 Windows OS's is drag a shortcut to
the desktop of the other OS for convenience so that I can drag and drop or
work with folders on the other desktop from one boot. I've seen in Vista
and recently in Windows 7 that there is a lock on the folder and I have to
tweak UAC permissions at the security tab in order to open the other desktop
folder. It's a pain, and although in Win 7 UAC is less time consuming, it
still poses some absurd hurdles.
What I'd advise you to do is this:
Right click the folder where she is running into an obstacle renaming or
deleting her files>properties>security tab:
Edit>add>type "users" in the box without the quotes>OK>put a check in every
box under "allow">apply>okay.
If this does not do it, then do this, and it will:
Right click the folder where she is running into an obstacle renaming or
deleting her files>properties>security tab:
Advanced Button>Owner Tab>Edit>other users button>users>ck. in replace owner
on subcontainers and objects>apply>okay and this may take a few minutes.
I respectfully feel that UAC should be reworked to have less obstacles while
maintaining security, and I know that the dialogue boxes behind the security
tab should be named in terms that end users understand.
I am fully aware that the Security configuration is, according to MSFT a
huge factor in enterprise sales, but there is nothing user friendly about
tweaking the security tab where a parent might want to do it for the rest of
the family.
hth,
CH
