Can't access file folder

[Gizmo]

Hey guys,

Just now I was browsing through my computer and navigated to my Documents file folder, but when I try to get into it, an error box comes up saying access is denied. Does anyone have any ideas?

TIA...

[Gizmo]

Anyone? The folder is completely empty, would there be any problem by deleting it? Since I have no access to it for some reason anyway.

[glc]

You can't delete it unless you have access, and I bet it may not be empty. Try taking ownership of the folder.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;308421

[Gizmo]

Thanks glc,

The instructions say that I have to disable Simple File Sharing before I can carry out the procedure. How do I do that?

[Gizmo]

Hehe, silly me, there's a link in the article which takes you to another How To page on disabling Simple File sharing in XP. Disabled it, added my own permissions as Administrator and normal user and did it. Thanks very much glc!

There's a couple of things that confuse me though. If Simple File sharing is enabled, wouldn't that mean that you can access all files and folders because they're being shared between user accounts? Or does the keyword "Simple" add limitations? Also, I have a user account so that makes me a regular user, and since I'm also the only person who uses the computer, I'm an Administrator. Is that correct? If it is, does than mean that before I disabled Simple File sharing, the Administrator rights were not active, so I couldn't access the security area of the folder?

[glc]

Simple file sharing hides all the security stuff from users. That's all you have in XP Home, one reason I can't stand Home. You have to start in safe mode to access the Administrator account.

In Pro, there are 3 levels of users - administrators, power users, and limited users. Home only has administrators and limited users.

[Gizmo]

That makes sense. Didn't know that about Home and Pro actually. I thought Simple File sharing did the same as when you set a file or file folder to be shared in a network, but because of the Simple part, there were some limits. that's why I got confused. I'm logically guessing that Power users have a few more priveleges than Limitied users but not as many priveleges as Administrators. Thanks for clearing that up for me glc!