Can't drag folders from another computer on LAN?

[Everett Joline]

When I attempt to drag a folder from another computer on my LAN to my Win2K
computer I get message:
"You cannot move or copy this item to this location.
Do you want to create a shortcut to the item instead?"

But it doesn't say WHY!
Both folders are shared and not read-only.

Thanks,
E-Jo

 

[Bruce Sanderson]

You can't copy or move a "Share", but you can copy or move the contents of a
Share.

The share is the object that exposes a folder on the network and is an
artifact of the computer on which it is defined. So, you use the Share to
get access to the underlying folder, but it does not make sense to move or
copy the Share itself.

Thus, you can not move or copy \\computer\sharename, but you can copy or
move \\computer\sharename\subfoldername.

If you really want to copy or move the entire content of
\\computer\sharename:

1. in Windows Explorer display the contents of the shared folder in the
right pane
2. click Edit, Select All
3. drag the contents from the right pane to the destination folder

I suggest using the right mouse button for dragging things like this because
you will get a context menu allowing you to decide to Copy, Move or Create
Shortcut.

 

[Everett Joline]

Well, thanks very much Bruce. This seems like a common problem, but is the
first I have heard about it.
And your explanation was very cogent!
E-Jo

 

[Everett Joline]

But, I think MS could have done a better job on this situation.
E.Jo

 

[Bruce Sanderson]

Perhaps, but it has been this way since at least the Windows for Workgroup
3.1 days!

--
Bruce Sanderson MVP Printing
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.