User account's hidden "My Documents" folder

[Guest]

(I'm new to this forum. If there's an entry in Knowlege Base, or elsewhere,
to address this issue, please kindly direct me there. I couldn't find
anything, but perhaps I'm using the wrong terminology in my search.)
Family computer, WinXP home. Auto updates for Windows, McAfee, AdAware,
Spyware Blaster.
I'm Administrator, others (including Peter) have regular user accounts.
When I click on My Computer, I see "Shared Documents folder, and "Documents"
folders for all accounts EXCEPT Peter. Opening "Local Disc (C", then
"documents and Settings" shows a "Peter" folder, but Windows says it's empty
and won't open it.
Peter says he hasn't "done anything" to make this happen. He also has no
problem accessing his documents when logged into his desktop.
As Administrator, I could change Peter's password, open his desktop, and try
tracing the path of some of his documents. I'd rather --MUCH rather--fix the
system so I can check his stuff anytime, without this rigamarole.

 

[Guest]

He probably fibbed about putting a check in "Make my folders private". I
would 'take ownership' If you're on Home Ed. log on as default
"Administrator" by booting to Safe Mode (F8 on restart)

HOW TO Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q308421

Exclude his user name from what you find. Be sure to assign a passsword to
the default admin account.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

If a user uses the Make this folder private option for his My Documents
folder, the folder will be hidden in Shared Documents.

"This option is only available for folders included in your user profile.
Folders in your user profile include My Documents and its subfolders,
Desktop, Start Menu, Cookies, and Favorites. If you do not make these
folders private, they are available to everyone who uses your computer."

"When you make a folder private, all of its subfolders are private as well.
For example, when you make My Documents private, you also make My Music and
My Pictures private. When you share a folder, you also share all of its
subfolders unless you make them private."

HOW TO: Set the My Documents Folder as "Private" in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/298399

How to undo "Make this folder private" option
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/undoprivate.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In