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Access is denied - Problem solved

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30 replies

by bruce

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

The following post was solved by TechExec2 and zlito. Thank you all very much!

Original Post:
I've placed my laptop hard drive in a hard drive enclosure kit (Laptop adaptor died) and tried to access the file through the USB port on my desktop. I can see and use all files except those in "My Documents". This is the error message I get:
_________________________________________________

An error occurred while trying to share My Documents. Access is denied.

The shared resource was not created at this time.
_________________________________________________

I have administrator privileges with both the laptop and the desktop, the laptop being Windows XP Home and the desktop Windows XP Professional.

I need to be able to access and modify the files in My Documents while a new AC Adapter is couriered from Dell in Austin Texas: 8 - 10 days).

Anyone know how I can access the My Document files on my laptop hard drive (presently attached by USB port to my desktop)?

Thanks,
Bruce

30 replies

by tig2

The way out that I found was to install the secong hard drive in another box, boot to it, and move those files out of "My Documents". Put them into a folder and share it. Then return to your original configuration.

If there is any way to get the lappie to boot with the drive in place and long enough to get those files into another location and create the share, that would be optimal.

Have no idea what the issue is except that My Documents in XP Pro is "different" than the same folder in Home. Which is a pain.

Good luck with it!

by bruce

"If there is any way to get the lappie to boot with the drive in place and long enough to get those files into another location and create the share, that would be optimal."

Unfortunately, the battery is dead also so I can't boot the laptop.
__________________________________________________

Regarding your other suggestion, how do I boot from the USB drive? Do I just change the boot order in the BIOS?

Bruce

by tig2

And I am an idiot- didn't even think of that.

What you are trying to get to is that folder in its native OS. That SHOULD resolve the problem.

by maevinn

No clue if it will work between HD's, but I know it works when logged in as one user and trying to open a file in someone else's directory. Use the Run As feature available in XP to open the folder using the login for the laptop. Pretty sure it's CTRL + Right Click--sorry, I'm on a Win2000 machine right now so can't double check that!

by bruce

Use the Run As feature available in XP to open the folder using the login for the laptop. Pretty sure it's CTRL + Right Click.

How do I do that? (I can't even click on the folder)

by maevinn

Sorry--I don't have access to an XP machine right now. I do know that it's available and works...If it's not control, try Alt or Shift. It works for folders, applications, etc. I've used it because I have 2 user accounts--one with admin privileges, one that's just a regular user account. From my user account, I can right click and select Run As, and it prompts me to enter the user name and password, then opens/runs the object under the admin account authorizations.

by ontheropes

1. Right click [b]My Computer[/b] and select [b]Manage[/b].
2. Double click [b]Services and Applications[/b].
3. Double click [b]Services[/b].
4. Scroll down the list of services and double click [b]Server[/b].
5. Click the [b]Start[/b] button.
6. Set the [b]Startup type[/b] to [b]Automatic[/b].
7. Click [b]Apply[/b] and [b]OK[/b].

Edited to add: I've had a similar problem before and I'm trying to remember exactly what I did to resolve it. I believe it was a Services related issue but... which one. You could make note of which Services are currently running then enable all Services by going to Start/Run/ type msconfig and go to the Services tab and enable all Services. Reboot and try again.

by bruce

...when I got to step 6, the screen indicated that the Startup type was already Automatic (ie. the Start button was greyed out).

I'll now try your second suggestion, thanks.

by bruce

...when I got to step 6, the screen indicated that the Startup type was already Automatic (ie. the Start button was greyed out).

I'll now try your second suggestion, thanks.
_________________________________________________

Tried Msconfig but all services were already enabled.
???????????

by wbrice

Thanks, I had a problem sharing a folder from the desktop to laptop. It worked vice versus but not from the laptop to the desktop... Apparently all the security setting turned OFF the server and network services. work's like a charm.. even got the printer to finally work from the laptop wireless. Thanks again guys!!

by pete

I had a simular issue after installing SP3. I changed the security of the share to everyone and then it worked. Changed it backagain and it stayed working. All now visable :-)

by zlitocook

To take ownership of a file or folder
Open Windows Explorer, and then locate the file or folder you want to take ownership of.
Right-click the file or folder, click Properties, and then click the Security tab.
Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.
In the Change owner to box, do one of the following:
To change the owner to a user or group that is not listed, double-click Other users and groups and, in Enter the object name to select (examples), type the name of the user or group, and then click OK.
To change the owner to a user or group that is listed, click the new owner.
(Optional) To change the owner of all subcontainers and objects within the tree, select the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects check box.

by bruce

I got as far as clicking Properties but the three choices I then had were: General Sharing & Customize?no Security tab.

??????

by w2ktechman

Click on the sharing tab, create a share on the folder, and give yourself full permissions to it

by techexec2

zlito is giving you good direction here. Here are some comments:

- The inability of your desktop to access the USB HDD (from your notebook) is likely caused by security settings. That's why zlito suggested you use the "Security" tab to take ownership of the files on the ext HDD.

- Your Windows XP Pro desktop defaults to using "simple file sharing". I suspect this is the mode your desktop is in because the "Security" tab is not shown on the Properties window. You need to disable "simple file sharing" as specified in (1) below.

- Note: Windows XP Home [i]only[/i] uses "simple file sharing".

- Once you have disabled "simple file sharing", the Security tab should appear in the Properties window. You should then be able to follow zlito's advice. Right click on the icon of the ext HDD, choose Properties. Choose the Security tab. Click the "Advanced" button. Click the "Owner" tab. Make yourself the owner of the files on the drive. Click OK all the way out.

REFERENCES

(1) How to enable Windows XP file permissions editing
http://whoozoo.co.uk/winxpFilePerms.htm

(2) How to disable simplified sharing and set permissions on a shared folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874/

edit: error correction

by bruce

Switching the boot order didn't work so I disabled all boot devices except the USB hard drive (from my laptop) and re-booted.

That gave me a system error with instructions to insert the system CD. I re-booted and re-set the boot order to the original configuration but that puts be back where I was before

????????????????????????

by tig2

XP doesn't travel from hardware to hardware. I had hoped that booting directly to the HDD would allow the version on the drive to run but I was evidently wrong. You will likely get the same result if you imported the drive to the desktop. The identifyers don't match.

I wish I knew what else to tell you. I'm currently at a loss. I will try testing a few solutions and let you know what I come up with- if anything.

Now I KNOW why I distrust "My Documents" folder!

by absolutely

I'm not sure about your laptop, but my desktop computer won't even recognize an external hard drive when I attempt system restore (that is a scary moment!) unless I go to the USB options in BIOS and enable USB storage devices, or some such. Hopefully, you have a similar setting to change in your laptop's BIOS.

by bruce

This is the reply I get when I try to convert the folder to 'sharing':

An error occurred while trying to share My Documents. Access is denied.

The shared resource was not created at this time.

by bruce

Thank you very much, (TechExec2). As soon as I disabled "simple file sharing" as specified in the first of your references above, I was able to follow zlito's advice and I now have access to my laptop files.

Fantastic! I really appreciate the efforts of everyone who took the time to offer suggestions for solving my problem.

Bruce

by jjbaker94

I read through this entire thread and have done all of the items listed here. I am running WinXP Pro on my laptop and accessing a HD via USB2.0 Drive Mate which came out of an HP laptop running Vista.

I'm posting this now and will attempt to find some other information as well as trying some things myself.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks,

James

by ruevil

The problem I am having with this is that it(my comp) is making me change the permissions one folder at a time. Well I have about 8,000 folders in there. is there any way to automate this process?

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