How to see "My Documents" of other users

[Stephen Porter]

I just found this newsgroup in a search to find someplace
where I might find an answer to what might be a simple
question.

I've noticed that on the small networks that I use at home
and at work that I cannot access the "My Documents"
folders of other users on other computers across the net.
Every time I try I get an error message saying that the
folder is not accessible.

I've never really pushed figuring out how/why this works
this way, but today I had a situation where I really had
to access MY OWN "My Documents" folder from another
computer as my own computer was glitching badly and one of
the few capabilities I had left was to access the affected
drive across the network. I wanted to copy/backup the
"My Documents" folder to somewhere so the files would be
available when I needed them, figuring that I could very
likely have a terminal hard drive problem. But no
go..."not accessible."

Now I wonder why someone with administrator privileges
cannot access any files he/she wants to? Or is this the
case and I just don't know how to go about doing this.
From today's experience I can see that it really is vital
to have this kind of access. And for other reasons too.

Can someone here enlighten me on this point? TIA!

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Stephen,

which operating system are you using?

Hans-Georg

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
Stephen,

which operating system are you using?

Hans-Georg

After SP2 I have yet to be able to connect to the other
computers in my workgroup, however they did connect
before SP2, printers were shared and all. I have turned
off the "new" xp firewall, re ran the network setup and
all, but have yet to fix it. I will re reply when I do
find a solution, but if any others can advise, please do!

Thanks,
MDF

 

[Stephen Porter]

Windows XP Pro--pre SP1.

Sorry for leaving that out.

Stephen,

which operating system are you using?

Hans-Georg

--

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Windows XP Pro--pre SP1.

Sorry for leaving that out.

Stephen,

no problem, but it's a crucial question. Things are quite
different in this respect on Windows XP Home.

I think the main point when trying to share the My Documents
folder is that by default other users don't have any access
rights to it.

When you share a folder, you have to provide two different sets
of permissions, one for the share (a button on the share dialog
box), and one for the actual objects, i.e. the folder itself and
all of its content.

If you want to share the folder and all of its content, you have
to add permissions for each user or for a group or several
groups or for Everyone to the My Documents folder and also to
everything in it that you want to share. The method is the
advanced permissions dialog where you can check the choice to
inherit the permissions to all contained objects.

For some more general information, please have a look at
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxNetwork.htm.

I would also recommend to install Service Pack 2 to bring the
systems up to the latest update step.

Hans-Georg

 

[Stephen Porter]

Hans,

Thanks for the info. I will start digging into this ASAP--I
had to stop everything and install a new hard drive.

One question that comes to mind right away is why am I not able
to see the "My Documents" folders of other users who are using
XP Home either?

TIA.

Stephen Porter
Los Angeles, CA

Stephen,

no problem, but it's a crucial question. Things are quite
different in this respect on Windows XP Home.

I think the main point when trying to share the My Documents
folder is that by default other users don't have any access
rights to it.

When you share a folder, you have to provide two different sets
of permissions, one for the share (a button on the share dialog
box), and one for the actual objects, i.e. the folder itself and
all of its content.

If you want to share the folder and all of its content, you have
to add permissions for each user or for a group or several
groups or for Everyone to the My Documents folder and also to
everything in it that you want to share. The method is the
advanced permissions dialog where you can check the choice to
inherit the permissions to all contained objects.

For some more general information, please have a look at
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxNetwork.htm.

I would also recommend to install Service Pack 2 to bring the
systems up to the latest update step.

Hans-Georg

--

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

One question that comes to mind right away is why am I not able
to see the "My Documents" folders of other users who are using
XP Home either?

Stephen,

by default the My Documents folder is considered private and
confidential. The folder that's shared by default in Windows XP
Home is Shared Documents.

Hans-Georg