Member Avatar for simes69

I have about 30 folders containing digital photographs in my Shared Folders/Shared Picures directory. While most of them are accessible to other users, five of them are not. Note - I am referring to sharing folders on the one computer, not on a network.
The MS Help does not give much information about how shared folders works, so does anyone know what else I should check on these folders to make sure that other users of my computer can see them? Does each folder have a security property for example?

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For the problem described by (a few folders on one Windows machine that other local accounts cannot open), the usual causes are filesystem permissions, ownership and where the folders live. was correct that turning on network file sharing helps for remote access, but local account access on the same PC is governed by NTFS ACLs and inheritance. The checklist below covers the fastest, safe checks and fixes.

Check and fix (safe, ordered)

  • Confirm the partition is NTFS (right‑click the drive → Properties). NTFS supports per‑user permissions; FAT/FAT32 does not.
  • Inspect the folder ACLs from a command prompt (Administrator). Example commands to view and to grant Read access follow; run these only after confirming the path and making a backup copy if contents are important.
cacls "C:\full\path\to\folder"
cacls "C:\full\path\to\folder" /E /G Users:R
cacls "C:\full\path\to\folder" /E /T /G Everyone:R

Explanation: the first shows existing ACL entries; /E edits (does not replace); /G user:perm grants permission; /T applies recursively. Prefer granting the minimal right (Read) rather than Everyone:F.

GUI and quick workarounds

  • On XP Professional the Security tab (Folder Properties) can be shown by disabling Simple File Sharing (Tools → Folder Options → View). That tab lets one view Effective Permissions and inheritance. On XP Home the Security tab is typically hidden; use the command line or move the folders into the shared public area (the "Shared Documents"/All Users shared location) to guarantee visibility to all local accounts.
  • Check for explicit Deny ACEs on the folder or any parent folder (Deny overrides Allow). Also check for hidden/system attributes that might affect visibility.

Cautions

  • Avoid blanket Everyone:F unless necessary. Back up data before changing ACLs. Test access by signing into another local account (non‑administrator) to confirm the fix.

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Member Avatar for gefflong

I have about 30 folders containing digital photographs in my Shared Folders/Shared Picures directory. While most of them are accessible to other users, five of them are not. Note - I am referring to sharing folders on the one computer, not on a network.
The MS Help does not give much information about how shared folders works, so does anyone know what else I should check on these folders to make sure that other users of my computer can see them? Does each folder have a security property for example?

Are you using Windows XP home or pro?

Member Avatar for simes69

Are you using Windows XP home or pro?

I'm using Windows XP Home edition, SP1

Member Avatar for gefflong

I'm using Windows XP Home edition, SP1

I don't really ever work with XP home, so I can't really tell you details about it. Personally, I would just turn on file sharing and do it that way

Here is a site that explains file sharing for XP a little bit.

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