I have lost (access to) my Shared Documents folder

[Guest]

My home computer (Windows XP) has a number of user accounts on it.

As well as a Documents folder for each user there was previously a Shared
Documents folder accessible by all users.

The Shared Documents folder has disappeared and been replaced by a folder
called Documents which no user (including me, the adminstrator) has access to.

I think this occurred when I was recently trying to resolve probelms with my
internet connection. I tried setting up a network and set file sharing to
off. I think this disabled the Shared Documents folder.

I have tried everything to resolve this, including most options in Network
Connections.

I have a number of important files in the folder that I can no longer access
and am very keen to get the folder accessable again (while preventing access
to external users.)

If anyone has the solution, or suggestion to this problem it would be very
much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi Heski,

This is caused by incorrect permissions assigned to the Documents folder. See:

Access is denied when opening the Shared Documents folder:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/sdperms.htm

"Shared Documents" folder renamed to "Documents":
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/37/1/

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


My home computer (Windows XP) has a number of user accounts on it.

As well as a Documents folder for each user there was previously a Shared
Documents folder accessible by all users.

The Shared Documents folder has disappeared and been replaced by a folder
called Documents which no user (including me, the adminstrator) has access to.

I think this occurred when I was recently trying to resolve probelms with my
internet connection. I tried setting up a network and set file sharing to
off. I think this disabled the Shared Documents folder.

I have tried everything to resolve this, including most options in Network
Connections.

I have a number of important files in the folder that I can no longer access
and am very keen to get the folder accessable again (while preventing access
to external users.)

If anyone has the solution, or suggestion to this problem it would be very
much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[Guest]

Thank you Ramesh for your advice below.

Unfortunately users can still not access important files contained within my
Shared Documents folder.

I successfully ran your recommended commands in Command Prompt. This
renamed my folder to Shared Documents (from simply Documents) and gave
visibility of the files and subfolders within the Shared Documents folder.
Unfortunately when trying to access the majority of these files I get
messages such as:

"Excel cannot access 'XXXX.xls.' The document may be read-only or
encrypted." then
"Cannot access 'XXXX.xls'"

Or:

"Word cannot open the document: user does not have access privileges
(C:\..\XXXX.doc)"

I have tried to follow your recommendations to alter Permissions, however:

The files' Properties window does not have a Security Tab (nb in the
properties window, the Read-Only check box is not selected.)

and

In trying to switch off Simple File Sharing, I could not find any check
boxes pertaining to file sharing within the Advanced Settings section of the
View tab of Folder Options.

Ramesh I greatly appreciate your assistance so far, if you or anyone else is
able to assist me in gaining access to these files, I would be very thankful.

Regards,

Heski

Hi Heski,

This is caused by incorrect permissions assigned to the Documents folder. See:

Access is denied when opening the Shared Documents folder:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/sdperms.htm

"Shared Documents" folder renamed to "Documents":
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/37/1/

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


My home computer (Windows XP) has a number of user accounts on it.

As well as a Documents folder for each user there was previously a Shared
Documents folder accessible by all users.

The Shared Documents folder has disappeared and been replaced by a folder
called Documents which no user (including me, the adminstrator) has access to.

I think this occurred when I was recently trying to resolve probelms with my
internet connection. I tried setting up a network and set file sharing to
off. I think this disabled the Shared Documents folder.

I have tried everything to resolve this, including most options in Network
Connections.

I have a number of important files in the folder that I can no longer access
and am very keen to get the folder accessable again (while preventing access
to external users.)

If anyone has the solution, or suggestion to this problem it would be very
much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Heski,

Which method did you use in that article?

Simply File Sharing can't be turned off in Windows XP Home Edition. But you can access the "Security" tab when you login to Safe mode (as Administrator) in Windows XP Home Edition.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thank you Ramesh for your advice below.

Unfortunately users can still not access important files contained within my
Shared Documents folder.

I successfully ran your recommended commands in Command Prompt. This
renamed my folder to Shared Documents (from simply Documents) and gave
visibility of the files and subfolders within the Shared Documents folder.
Unfortunately when trying to access the majority of these files I get
messages such as:

"Excel cannot access 'XXXX.xls.' The document may be read-only or
encrypted." then
"Cannot access 'XXXX.xls'"

Or:

"Word cannot open the document: user does not have access privileges
(C:\..\XXXX.doc)"

I have tried to follow your recommendations to alter Permissions, however:

The files' Properties window does not have a Security Tab (nb in the
properties window, the Read-Only check box is not selected.)

and

In trying to switch off Simple File Sharing, I could not find any check
boxes pertaining to file sharing within the Advanced Settings section of the
View tab of Folder Options.

Ramesh I greatly appreciate your assistance so far, if you or anyone else is
able to assist me in gaining access to these files, I would be very thankful.

Regards,

Heski

Hi Heski,

This is caused by incorrect permissions assigned to the Documents folder. See:

Access is denied when opening the Shared Documents folder:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/sdperms.htm

"Shared Documents" folder renamed to "Documents":
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/37/1/

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


My home computer (Windows XP) has a number of user accounts on it.

As well as a Documents folder for each user there was previously a Shared
Documents folder accessible by all users.

The Shared Documents folder has disappeared and been replaced by a folder
called Documents which no user (including me, the adminstrator) has access to.

I think this occurred when I was recently trying to resolve probelms with my
internet connection. I tried setting up a network and set file sharing to
off. I think this disabled the Shared Documents folder.

I have tried everything to resolve this, including most options in Network
Connections.

I have a number of important files in the folder that I can no longer access
and am very keen to get the folder accessable again (while preventing access
to external users.)

If anyone has the solution, or suggestion to this problem it would be very
much appreciated.

Thanks in advance