Hi Kerry,
Regarding the line of text below that I have taken from your reply to Todd,
should the 'run as Administrator' option work when I get "file access is
denied. You don't have the required permission etc" message when attempting
to import my exported .pst files back into the same (personal) folders, in
the same application (Outlook 2003) on the same pc (Windows Vista Home
Premuim) that they were exported from when they were stored on either a FAT32
external USB2 hard drive or an NTFS external USB2 hard drive? There is no
such option when right clicking the Outlook 2003 icon on my Vista desktop but
there was on both THAT 'desktop icon' as well as on the little 'quick launch
icon?' before mistakenly deleted it from the taskbar (close to the other four
that are found near to the 'start' orb)
I am the owner of the pc, the only user, and only ever loged on as an
Administrator (password protected), so as I am a novice home user (despite
having had use of, (and having had no such problems with them) for a whole
three and a half years, three different versions of Office Outlook - 2000,
2002, 2003), I can't understand why I am denied access to my own files nor
how to get that access. As I have changed the original 'permissions' settings
in the security tab in my half assed attempt to get access and none of the
changes have helped I don't know how to get them back to the default and
start again when I eventually do (or IF I ever) get the right instructions.
Bob
File access is DIFFERENT than program access.
Using Vista if you've used XP or earlier versions of Windows before,
requires a small bit of unlearning. Forgot what you understood about
Administrative rights in earlier versions.
Because of the poor implementation of UAC (User Account Control) if
turned on Vista will act like a gatekeeper trying to defend the
system. Like most things Microsoft comes up with it is not thought
through, is needlessly bloated, adding layer upon layer of clumsy code
that slows the whole system down and worse of all was just dumped on
users without warning, so for many it was a rude awakening that they
could not longer access THEIR files. That's because they no longer are
your files in Vista's mind, but they belong to a particular owner
which you may need to change to match the user you logged in as.
Two ways to work around UAC.
1. Just turn the much cursed "feature" off (easy way)
2. Think like Vista thinks
If you want to keep UAC on to get some of the minimal benefits it
provides behind the scenes look at your system like Vista does.
What's new in Vista is it claims your root drive. If you look at the
left pane when your open up Windows Explorer you'll see a tiny Windows
icon next to your root (typically C) drive. This is Vista's way of
saying hands off, this drive is mine and I don't want you writing to
it. EXCEPT to the folders that come pre installed under each user you
set up like pictures, documents, etc..
If you must, then do not write directly to the drive itself, first
create new folders THEN take ownership of them. This is a murky topic
that has roots in UNIX. Generally, whatever creates a file originally
has ownership of it and the necessary permissions to do whatever is
necessary. The OS itself can "own" files, so can devices,
applications, but you can take ownership.
What confuses lots of people use to being an Administrator in XP where
they could do almost anything, Vista couldn't care less IF a file has
a different owner so being an administrator means nothing, it thinks
hey user X you don't own the file, the owner is "Y" so I'm not
granting you permission to access that file or I've limited what you
can do with the file.
So the hurdle you need to jump over is telling Vista you are the owner
of your hard drives, folders and files you want to control. Since you
don't need to "own" the operating system, best not to mess with any
permissions on your root drive.
Look at the "owner" as the user. So if you are the only user of the
system then you want to "own" everything, (exclusive of what Vista
claims in the root drive) while if you have multiple users on the
system each may own different things.
If you let Vista have your root drive like it wants (recommended) then
it should be smooth sailing more or less. Go to each of your non root
drives, D, E, F, G, whatever, and right click on it, then properties,
then security tab. Under Group or Users names there should be a list
of users. If you only set yourself up that's all that needs to be
there. If you don't see your log on "user" name listed, then you need
to add it. Click Edit, then the Add button. Follow on screen prompts.
Once you do see an entry in the previous window under group or user
names, highlight it, then make sure EVERYTHING in the allow column has
a check mark, press apply, then ok.
Now you "own" the drive and in theory any folder and files in it
should inherit the "rights" or ownerships/permission you just gave it
every time you log on as the user. In practice it doesn't always
work, but should in most cases. Repeat for all your other drives and
you should tame the UAC nag screens to a reasonable level with Vista
no longer nagging as much.
