Access Denied, Hacking past ..\Documents

[21stHermit]

A piece of software I'm trying to run claims a file is missing. When I try to go there, I get an Access Denied message. XP (I assume) will not let me past C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents

I've located the missing file in a Program Files directory. I need to hack past C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents so I can see what the problem is.

I've tried the Command Line (C:\ Prompt) and even there I get an Access Denied.

I'm running WinXP Home.

BTW, C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents doesn't even show up in Windows Explorer, I can only see it at C:\

 

[Crusty]

Is your account an Admisistrator account?

 

[21stHermit]

I don't know. Its a laptop, I'm the only user, its not on a network.

This may be easier than I thought, How do I make myself adminstrator?

 

[21stHermit]

Did further checking, yes I am the computer administrator.

 

[blcjr]

I've located the missing file in a Program Files directory. I need to hack past C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents so I can see what the problem is.

I don't really understand what you are saying here. But if you are getting an "Access Denied" message trying to traverse the ..\Documents folder, try taking ownership of it. I'm not very familiar with XP, but in 2000 you would right-click on the folder, select Properties, select Security, Click on the Advanced button, and click on Owner. Once you've changed the owner to Administrator, then you'll need to give the Administrator the Full Control permission. On the Permissions tab of the Advanced dialog, make sure that the check box to reset permissions on all child objects is checked.

That shouldgive you access to everything in ..\Documents and below.

 

[ryejay98]

Hrm. I have a "shared documents" folder, but no "documents" folder in that particular directory.

And if you are the admin of that PC, you should have access, by default, to every single file on their. Hence the admin

But what the previous poster said should give you access if you don't have it already.

 

[zigCorsair]

Look for "My Documents" under your username.

 

[21stHermit]

While the process you explained for Win 2000 wasn't exact for XP, it was close enough for me to blunder along and get access past ..\Documents. The new software now works.

I thank you so very much.

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: 21stHermit
While the process you explained for Win 2000 wasn't exact for XP, it was close enough for me to blunder along and get access past ..\Documents. The new software now works.

I thank you so very much.

Welcome to the Forums :beer:

 

[blcjr]

And if you are the admin of that PC, you should have access, by default, to every single file on their. Hence the admin

Not so. It is very easy to configure a folder so that no one but the owner, or a particular user, has access. Admin's don't get access unless the administrator or admin group (or a domain or enterprise admin group) is explicitly added. And there are settings where only a particular user is granted access (such as in roaming profiles).

Hence the "take ownership" attribute. This allows admins to get access when needed. If they had it "by default" then there would be no need for this attribute.