Hiding user document files

[beezer000]

I must be the last person on earth to convert to WinXP (Believe it - I
just switched over an old Compaq Presario from WinME!)

After the conversion, I noticed that all Limited Account users are able
to access files found in other users' C:/Documents and
Settings/[Username] Documents folders. On my newer Dell, only those
with Administrator rights are able to see and access these files.
Limited Account users can see the [Username] Documents folder, but are
unable to access them.

I am using WinXP Home Edition Version 2002 SP2.

Any ideas from the assembled multitudes on how to protect my family's
files from each others' eyes is most appreciated.

Brian
beezer000-at-gmail-dot-com

 

[Malke]

I must be the last person on earth to convert to WinXP (Believe it - I
just switched over an old Compaq Presario from WinME!)

After the conversion, I noticed that all Limited Account users are able
to access files found in other users' C:/Documents and
Settings/[Username] Documents folders. On my newer Dell, only those
with Administrator rights are able to see and access these files.
Limited Account users can see the [Username] Documents folder, but are
unable to access them.

I am using WinXP Home Edition Version 2002 SP2.

Any ideas from the assembled multitudes on how to protect my family's
files from each others' eyes is most appreciated.

Have each user log onto his/her account and make their My Documents private.

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/private.htm - making stuff private
http://tinyurl.com/48x4w - MS website on How To Make Folders Private

Malke

 

[beezer000]

Malke,
That kind of begs the issue (let alone creating an ongoing maintenance
headache for all users.) I am curious as to why one installation of
WinXPSP2 automatically blocks non-admin access to these usert files,
while another installation allows access.

[snip]
Any ideas from the assembled multitudes on how to protect my family's
files from each others' eyes is most appreciated.

Have each user log onto his/her account and make their My Documents private.

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/private.htm - making stuff private
http://tinyurl.com/48x4w - MS website on How To Make Folders Private

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

 

[Malke]

Malke,
That kind of begs the issue (let alone creating an ongoing maintenance
headache for all users.) I am curious as to why one installation of
WinXPSP2 automatically blocks non-admin access to these usert files,
while another installation allows access.

Probably because one installation is XP Pro and the other is XP Home. Or
possibly one has Simple Sharing enabled and the other doesn't (if the
upgrade is indeed Pro). Or possibly it has to do with one being an
upgrade and one not. Since I can't see the computers and the
permissions, that's as good as I can guess.

XP Home does not permit sharing of users' home directories (My
Documents) or Program Files, but you can share folders inside those
directories. A better choice is to simply use the Shared Documents
folder. If you have XP Home, you can make the users' My Documents
private as previously suggested.

With only two computers, I hardly think there's any "ongoing maintenance
headache for all users".

If you want more control over XP Home, you can 1) upgrade to Pro; or 2)
use Doug Knox's free Security Console; or 3) use the free MS Shared
Computer Toolkit.

http://www.dougknox.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sharedaccess/default.mspx

Malke