Windows 7 Will NOT Allow File Sharing

[LadyFaire]

OK, I've read the OLD posts on this problem, and tried the 'fix' described. Doesn't work. I've reset the permissions, I've done everything I can think of, and this blasted OS will NOT allow me to change from the LOCKED/Nobody setting.

HELP! This is driving me crazy [crazier?] and I REALLY need to get to my files, as it won't even allow me to upload photos and files to my website!

There HAS to be an easy fix for this. And no, going into control panel/networking and changing the permissions does NOT work.

 

[seavixen32]

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums LadyFaire.

Sorry to read of the problems you are experiencing.

Some background information would help.

Have you had this problem from day 1?

Is your operating system an OEM version of Windows or a retail version?

Have you tried a repair install?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

Have you tried setting up a Homegroup?

HomeGroup from start to finish - Help & How-to - Microsoft Windows

 

[LadyFaire]

It is an OEM install. I have had the problems since day one. I gave up and just used my laptop, but it died a slow, painful death yesterday (coffee in the keyboard!) so I'm back on the desktop. I did a 'repair' and it didn't find any problems. I set up a homegroup and can see the other computers, but the sharing just does NOT work on drive 'C' for whatever reason. My other drives will share (at least SOME of them) but not the 'C'. I have no idea WHY MicroSoft just HAS to make things difficult, but they do. I've had my tech on the phone for hours with some of the problems.

Oh, I was a certified computer tech until just before Windows 7 came out - I DO know what I'm doing for the most part - just not with Win7.

 

[LadyFaire]

OH, forgot to mention - it won't even let ME get into some folders on THIS computer! I'm not even talking about network access - I'm the administrator, I set the permissions - and I can't even open them. I open up the explorer to see the drives/folders etc. Click on Documents and Settings, and it tells me I don't have the necessary access! I can't even SEE what's in the folder, much less set up sharing. Tell me it isn't a screwed up system!

 

[fseal]

[er... nm... ]

Ok first off, the "Documents and Settings" folder is not actually a folder, it's a junction to your users/username/my documents folder for use by legacy (and badly written) programs.

If you want to do ANYTHING with your "Documents and settings" do it directly with your user's My Documents folder.

With that out of the way, are there any other folders that are giving you local permission problems?

Is the computer you want to share on part of the homegroup? Or is it still a workgroup machine or something?

 

[LadyFaire]

OK, let me see if I can clarify. I have a business website. I work on the pages on my computer (updating, new pages, etc) and upload them to the server. My computer is NOT a server, nor is it set up as a server (home or otherwise) - at this point, since the laptop died, it isn't even part of a homegroup. I cannot even access some folders on my computer FROM the same computer if I'm using a separate application (WS-FTP, or even IE) to copy, upload or otherwise use the files. There are some folders on this computer that will not allow me to access them at all. I get the 'don't have necessary access' error. Yes, I'm signed in. Yes, I have full administrator access/permissions - I set up the computer when I first got it - I was the first to log in, etc.

The 'sharing' problem I've having doesn't even have to do with another computer! It is this same computer, and for some reason it sees me as an intruder who doesn't have access to files, folders or drives. I've logged off, restarted the computer and so forth, and it still has me locked out. It's MY computer! Why can't I access the files/folders/drives?

I'm sorry if I seem strident, I'm just very frustrated. At least I understood XP, as buggy as it was, I knew my way around. Windows 7 is just TOO confusing.

 

[seavixen32]

In all honesty, it does seem that you have a corrupted operating system.

Rather than beat yourself up over it, I'd be inclined to just back up your important data and reinstall Windows.

If I was a betting man I'd say there's something badly wrong with your folder setup - in particular junction points.

http://pherricoxide.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/windows-vistawindows-7-junctions-access-denied-problem/

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb968829(v=vs.85).aspx

 

[LadyFaire]

OK, with OEM operating system, just HOW do I re-install? There are no disks... I made a set of recovery disks when I got the computer, but if the system is corrupted (remember, it has always been like this), then the recovery disks are no good either, right?

 

[fseal]

Ok well the documents and settings issue should be out of the way at this point. They made the users documents and setts folders much more sane in Windows 7 (and Vista) than they were on XP but there is a ton of badly written legacy software out there that even violated the "rules" for XP programming and needed direct, unasked for access to the old "Documents and Settings" folder. So when that folder was moved, this mechanism for creating a junction (only when needed/on demand) when a legacy program tries to access it was implemented. But it's not directly acessable by users, and all it does it point to your new, real, My Documents folder.

In general, the only time you get permission problems with files on the local machine with the locally logged in user is if the files were actually created/saved by another user on the same machine or if they were transplanted from another machine, say by swapping a data HD from one machine to another.

In that case, you can simply take ownership of the files though the permissions UI, or by using the "Take Ownership" context menu item. (Be careful, do NOT use that shortcut on the root of the C drive, or /windows, /users or /Documents and Settings!!!)

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut.html

Again if you give the exact location of the problem files, more specific advice can be given. I don't want to suggest something too general then have you accidentally apply it somewhere it shouldn't be and make things worse I.e. using the take ownership shortcut can be dangerous if used in any system folder.

 

[LadyFaire]

For one thing, I'm trying to upload photos from the My Pictures folder. I've tried numerous times to 'allow sharing', since it keeps telling me that I don't have 'necessary access' and the cute little lock is STILL on the share. I try to access the photos from Internet Explorer (upload photos to eBay, Craig's List or where ever) and get the uh-uh, nope, can't do it. If I go into the folder just sitting here, I see the photos just fine. Have the same problem when I try to use WS-FTP to upload photos or documents - I don't have the necessary access, again.

 

[seavixen32]

OK, with OEM operating system, just HOW do I re-install? There are no disks... I made a set of recovery disks when I got the computer, but if the system is corrupted (remember, it has always been like this), then the recovery disks are no good either, right?

Personally, I would bite the bullet and go for a factory restore seeing as you have a set of recovery discs.

At best, you'll finish up with a pristine system. At worst, you'll be no worse off than you are now.

As a matter of interest, who is your computer manufacturer? If you carry out a factory restore and you still have the same problem it will prove that the system was corrupt from day one.

In that case you would have redress against the system builder and you would be within your rights to insist they give you a fully-working non-corrupted operating system.

If you have access to a Windows 7 DVD (a friend's DVD for example) you could use that to carry out a clean install of Windows using your OEM product key to activate it.

You could also download a Windows 7 ISO and use that to reinstall Windows.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/174907-clean-install-factory-coa-activation-key.html

 

[LadyFaire]

The computer is a no-name from a small 'boutique' that closed due to the "economic downturn" about 3 months ago. I actually got the computer for Christmas 2010 - very high end, at the time - quad processor, high ram, 2 - 1TB drives, Lightscribe DVD/blue ray drive, etc. The access problem is the only thing that has ever come up. I ascribed it to Windows 7, since I just couldn't get THAT only to work. Figured I was doing it wrong. Now that I no longer have the laptop to do my online 'things', I'm getting totally PO'd by the entire mess.

As for the restore disks, I made them myself, when I finished setting up the computer. My concern is that they will ALSO be corrupted, if that was the problem from the start.

 

[seavixen32]

In that case, I'd be inclined to grab a copy of Windows 7 and carry out a clean install.

Honestly, it'll be worth it in the end and will save you from the grief you're putting yourself through now.

 

[fseal]

A reinstall is an AWFULLY huge step. having to backup and restore data, reinstall driver software etc...

We still haven't actually gotten down to any brass tacks here.

Other than the Documents and Settings folder, is there an example of a file that you are trying to look at that is still giving you trouble on the local machine? (Or is the goal to find files that have been saved under Documents and Settings by a particular program?)

This may just come down to a misunderstanding of the changes in behaviour of the file system and the lowering of the standard admin account permissions between XP and 7. All of which are workable situations (and won't change with a reinstall)

So far there has been no evidence of anything actually being wrong... The behaviour of Documents and Settings is exactly as expected. I'd save the reinstall until we reach a point where something is actually found to not be working as expected.

 

[seavixen32]

I accept your viewpoint fseal, but I don't think the OP is in any sort of a mood to listen to reason!

By her own admission she was a computer technician at some point, has spent hours with a technician to solve this problem and just wants this issue to go away.

Under the circumstances I think a clean install is probably the quickest solution, not necessarily the best solution.

 

[LadyFaire]

I accept your viewpoint fseal, but I don't think the OP is in any sort of a mood to listen to reason!

By her own admission she was a computer technician at some point, has spent hours with a technician to solve this problem and just wants this issue to go away.

Why thank you. I didn't realize I came off as an impatient know-it-all. I always appreciate constructive criticism.

 

[seavixen32]

I accept your viewpoint fseal, but I don't think the OP is in any sort of a mood to listen to reason!

By her own admission she was a computer technician at some point, has spent hours with a technician to solve this problem and just wants this issue to go away.

Why thank you. I didn't realize I came off as an impatient know-it-all. I always appreciate constructive criticism.

"I'm getting totally PO'd by the entire mess."

Your words, not mine, which was the reason I suggested that reasoning and long-winded solutions were perhaps not the best course of action to follow.

I had no intention of upsetting you and apologise if I did so.

 

[gerry410]

It sounds to me like you have screwed up your Administrator permissions. Probably the easiest way to fix the problem is create a new Administrator and standard account.
log into the new Administrator account and on the folders you want to share Right click and select share read/write. You don't need to be touching permissions at all. You probably messed it all up.

 

[gerry410]

in suspense

Hi Miss lady. just wondering what was the outcome? Did you solve the problem?