Two user accounts, same My Documents?

[Guest]

Hello,

I am using Windows XP Pro SP2, and currently have one account on my PC for
my own use. This account has administrator privileges (it's the one created
when Windows was first installed). For safety's sake, I would like to create
a second user account with limited privileges for day-to-day use. Now,
here's what I need help with: I would like both accounts to use the SAME "My
Documents" folder.

The reason for this is that I need access to the same documents and data
files from both accounts. If I just copy the relevant files and
subdirectories from one "My Documents" folder to the other, then changes made
using one account wouldn't be reflected in the other account. Also, many
apps and games will put their data files in a subfolder of "My Documents",
and I would like both accounts to use the same data when I run those
programs. In any case, I don't want to put the files in "Shared Documents"
because there are other family members with their own accounts on this PC and
they don't need access to these files (I wouldn't want them to be
accidentally deleted or overwritten).

I know how to move "My Documents" out of "C:\Documents and Settings\<user
profile>", and in fact have already done so for my original account (moving
it to another drive entirely, in fact). To have the second account gain
access to the same folder, is it sufficent to log in and move its "My
Documents" folder to point to the same location? Or do I have to futz with
NTFS file/folder permissions so that both accounts have the same access?

Thanks,
Karl

 

[Frankster]

Personally, I never use My Documents for any files of import specifically
because of this, and also because since it is part of your "profile" it is
more subject to corruption, from my experience.

However, here's something that might work for you...

-Logon to your Administrator account
-Right click My Computer and choose Properties
-Select Advanced | Settings
-Highlight the OTHER profile (not the one you are logged on to)
-Choose "Copy to"
-Under the "Permitted to use" heading select Change
-Click Advanced
-Click Find
-Scroll down to the Administrator account and highlight it
-Select OK
-Select OK

I believe that will allow you to access the Administrator profile (and
associated My Documents) while you are logged on as a the other user.

Caveat - I've never actually done this myself. But I think it will work.

Really, the "right" way to do this is to use an independent directory
outside of your profile structure and adjust those pesky file permissions
IMHO.

-Frank