Changing folder attributes

[frankq]

I cannot get into the shared documents folder to view files over the network
because the shared doc folder is read only. I have tried the work around in
microsoft article 326549, changing the attributes at a command prompt with no
luck. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Malke]

I cannot get into the shared documents folder to view files over the
network because the shared doc folder is read only. I have tried the work
around in microsoft article 326549, changing the attributes at a command
prompt with no luck. Does anyone have any ideas?

The read-only attribute is not applicable to folders in XP so this is not
the source of your problem. Since you didn't tell us what happens when you
try to get into the Shared Documents folder, I'm going to guess that you
get an "access denied" error. If this is the case, see the troubleshooting
below. If this is not the case, then please post back with the exact text
of any error messages you receive and details about what versions of XP the
computers are running, if it ever worked, how your network is set up, etc.

A. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area Network (LAN)
traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, this means allowing File/Printer
Sharing on the Exceptions tab. Normally running the Network Setup Wizard on
XP will take care of this for those machines.The only "gotcha" is that this
will turn on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you aren't running a
third-party firewall or have an antivirus with "Internet Worm
Protection" (like Norton 2006/07) which acts as a firewall, then you're
fine. With third-party firewalls, I usually configure the LAN allowance
with an IP range. Ex. would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you
would substitute your correct subnet. Do not run more than one firewall.

B. For ease of organization, put all computers in the same Workgroup. This
is done from the System applet in Control Panel, Computer Name tab.

C. Create matching user accounts and passwords on all machines. You do not
need to be logged into the same account on all machines and the passwords
assigned to each user account can be different; the accounts/passwords just
need to exist and match on all machines. If you wish a machine to boot
directly to the Desktop (into one particular user's account) for
convenience, you can do this. The instructions at this link work for both
XP and Vista:

Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm

D. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center:

1. If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab) and create identical user
accounts/passwords on all computers.

2. If you don't care about using Pro's advanced features, leave the Simple
File Sharing enabled. Simple File Sharing means that Guest (network) is
enabled. This means that anyone without a user account on the target system
can use its resources. This is a security hole but only you can decide if
it matters in your situation.

Malke

 

[Bob I]

Have you checked the permissions? Access denied? And are you viewing
"attributes" to determine "folder attributes" or are you misinterpreting
the "tick box" on the folder properties "General" ab?

 

[frankq]

The error message reads:
file cannot be accessed. The file may be read-only or you may be trying to
access a read-only location. Or, the server the document is stored on may not
be responding.

The file is not read-only. The Shared Documents folder properties show that
it is read only, and will not change at all.

 

[Malke]

The error message reads:
file cannot be accessed. The file may be read-only or you may be trying to
access a read-only location. Or, the server the document is stored on may
not be responding.

The file is not read-only. The Shared Documents folder properties show
that it is read only, and will not change at all.

And the answers to my other questions? Operating systems and versions?
Network setup - workgroup or domain? Have you created identical user
accounts and passwords on the machines? Did this ever work and if so, what
changed? Etc.

Malke

 

[frankq]

The operating systems and versions are the same (XP 2002, SP2), both
computers are in the same workgroup. Creating identical user accounts and
passwords did not make any difference. The only change that I know of is that
the file I am trying to access was moved from another computer.

 

[Tim Slattery]

The file is not read-only. The Shared Documents folder properties show that
it is read only, and will not change at all.

To explain this: the folder is not read-only. What you're seeing is a
three-state box in its third state: neither checked nor unchecked.
It's there on the Properties page for the folder to be used as a
shortcut to set or clear the read-only attribute for *all* files in
the folder at once. So you check it (or clear it), click OK, the
action happens for all files. Then you show the folders property page
again and....there's the three-state box in the third state.

 

[Malke]

The operating systems and versions are the same (XP 2002, SP2), both
computers are in the same workgroup. Creating identical user accounts and
passwords did not make any difference. The only change that I know of is
that the file I am trying to access was moved from another computer.

OK, this is the last time I'm bothering with this thread since you are
unwilling to give anything except one incomplete piece of information in
each of your posts. It's like pulling teeth and I don't want to play that
game.

Go to the file and make sure Everyone has full access to it and that
ownership is appropriate. If there are multiple files in the folder, start
at the folder level and use the Advanced button and make sure that
permissions for child objects are inherited from the parent.

Here are links which will explain taking ownership and how to get the
Security tab:

Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP [Q308421] -
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

How Do I Get the Security tab in Folder Properties? -
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_security_tab.htm

Good luck, and EOT for me.

Malke