prevent users from deleting files

[Brian K]

I have a small XP workgroup with 1 machine sharing out all our files. I would
like to prevent users from deleting files and folders on this machine. I have
created a user account with limited rights on the XP workstation with the
share. My users map to that share using the limited user account. When I try
to go into security on the folder and check deny the delete and delete
subfolder, the users are unable then to rename a new folder they create, What
am I doing wrong and what is the work around. PS when I go to advanced
security and look at the effective permssions everything looks good.

Brian

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I have a small XP workgroup with 1 machine sharing out all our files.
I would like to prevent users from deleting files and folders on this
machine. I have created a user account with limited rights on the XP
workstation with the share. My users map to that share using the
limited user account. When I try to go into security on the folder
and check deny the delete and delete subfolder, the users are unable
then to rename a new folder they create, What am I doing wrong and
what is the work around. PS when I go to advanced security and look
at the effective permssions everything looks good.

Brian

You can make everything read only, but you can't stop them from deleting
files if you want them to be able to rename stuff.
Make sure you do good regular backups!

 

[Anteaus]

I could suggest two alternatives;

1. Make the folders non-deletable but leave the files as-is. This offers
reasonable protection against the usual 'Explorer slips' where a folder is
accidentally dragged-and-dropped, but doesn't prevent files being edited.
Users just have to be aware that they must get foldernames right first time,
once created they cannot be renamed.

2. Run a script periodically that 'locks-down' files which haven't been
modified for say, a week. You could do that with VBScript or AutoIt.