Proper way to allow access to external drive for users

External Since: May 03, 2007 Posts: 1

I am the administrator on my XP Pro machine at home. I have an
external USB hard drive attached to my box and I use it to store all
of my data. I move my "MyDocuments" folder to the external so my data
is not with my OS. I also have two other user accounts on my system
that are limited. One for my daughter and one for my girlfriend. I
want to allow them access to a few folders on the external, but not
all of them. What is the best way to do this? I want them to be able
to access a music folder, a pictures folder and then be able to move
their "MyDocuments" folder off to the external also. I have turned off
"Simple File Sharing" in the folder options so I get the security tab.
When I right click on the music folder for example and allow access to
it for my girlfriend, when I login to her account and try to browse to
it in Windows Explorer, I cant. The External hard drive letter is E,
and when you click on it, it gives "Access denied". I found that if I
type the direct address into the address bar like E:\music, then it
will go. So that is fine for accessing the music and pictures I guess
cause I can make shortcuts using that address. BUt how do I do it for
hte MyDocuments folder? I have a folder setup on the external called
"_shana", I have given her full access to the folder, but when I try
to move her MyDocuments folder to that location, I cannot do it
because when I click on the "E" drive in the dialogue box, I get
access denied. How can I move her MyDocuments folder to the external?

THANKS,

E

External Since: Mar 03, 2005 Posts: 2380

Erich93063 wrote:
> I am the administrator on my XP Pro machine at home. I have an
> external USB hard drive attached to my box and I use it to store all
> of my data. I move my "MyDocuments" folder to the external so my
> data is not with my OS. I also have two other user accounts on my
> system that are limited. One for my daughter and one for my
> girlfriend. I want to allow them access to a few folders on the
> external, but not all of them. What is the best way to do this? I
> want them to be able to access a music folder, a pictures folder
> and then be able to move their "MyDocuments" folder off to the
> external also. I have turned off "Simple File Sharing" in the
> folder options so I get the security tab. When I right click on the
> music folder for example and allow access to it for my girlfriend,
> when I login to her account and try to browse to it in Windows
> Explorer, I cant. The External hard drive letter is E, and when you
> click on it, it gives "Access denied". I found that if I type the
> direct address into the address bar like E:\music, then it will go.
> So that is fine for accessing the music and pictures I guess cause
> I can make shortcuts using that address. BUt how do I do it for hte
> MyDocuments folder? I have a folder setup on the external called
> "_shana", I have given her full access to the folder, but when I
> try to move her MyDocuments folder to that location, I cannot do it
> because when I click on the "E" drive in the dialogue box, I get
> access denied. How can I move her MyDocuments folder to the
> external?

Did you change the File/Folder permissions at the ROOT of the drive?
If you do that - then they can add their stuff there as well.

You had the right method - you just didn't start at the base and work your
way out...

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html