Help with permissions, sharing, ownership?

6forty

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Hello. Two questions I'm seeking help with. Relatively minor, but I'd like to learn how this stuff works, so...

  1. I have two near-identical Dell PCs, freshly upgraded with SSDs and Win8 Pro. I have a habit of saving a text file in C:\ root to log basic install info. For some reason, on one PC I can't edit the file when it's saved in C:\, but on the other, I can (I get the message when trying to save: "Access to c:\file.txt denied"). I can save files to C:\, just can't edit/save it once there. As far as I can tell, the share and permission settings look the same (they should be, I don't believe I've changed any, but perhaps I'm not looking in all the right places.) On both PCs, I'm logged in under the original account created during install--so it's an adminstrator account, not standard. I'd appreciate any help identifying the issue. I don't make a habit of saving files to root, so I'm not looking to debate the merits--I'm more curious to learn why I'm blocked on one system and not the other. edit: To clarify, on both computers: the user account has ownership of the file, inherited permissions via the administrator group, no denials--I can't seem to find anything different between the two.)
  2. I'm moving user data folders from the SSD to secondary spinner (c:\users\logon\videos\, music, etc.) via the location tab in folder properties. However, I noticed when in the original C:\Users\ folder, they aren't visible to other users. It looks like maybe the permissions change when moving the folder? I'd like to keep those folders visible only to the original user unless explicitly shared.
Thanks for your help. Also, to learn more about permissions/sharing/ownership in Win8--is there a good tutorial or guide for non-techy laymen I could read? There's a lot of great tutorials on this site, including some specifics like how to take ownership, but I don't see something that looks like a general overview.
 
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My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
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    Dell Inspiron 530
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    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
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    stock
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    8GB
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    GeForce GT430
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M SSD + spinners
I've had this happen to me also. I would like to know the answer. ( Can't copy to C: drive or edit and save file on C: drive." you don't have permission") I am the Administrator. (It is my computer.)
 

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On "also, to learn more about permissions/sharing/ownership in Windows 8--is there a good tutorial or guide for non-techy laymen I could read?"

I am pretty good at making these things work on my home network. But, sometimes I don't even know what I did to fix things. And, I am still, after all these years, afraid to do certain things. I hate those topics, and I've never seen anything decent written on them--in the spirit of what you suggest.

Let me see if I can find you some links. Not sure you will like them though.

Edit: I can't find anything decent. Sorry.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
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Thanks for the attempt, znod, much obliged. :)

I know what you mean--when it comes to this stuff, I don't want to adjust a setting that's going to have a ripple effect and I'm going to find something else broken weeks or months from now as a result. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to find a network admin browsing this weekend who'll be kind enough to give us a layman's overview.

In this case, I've rechecked both PCs, and I'll be damned if I can see what's different in the permissions or share setting. It must be on the double-secret third level wizard advanced tab or something.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 530
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
    Motherboard
    stock
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT430
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M SSD + spinners
I've had this happen to me also. I would like to know the answer. ( Can't copy to C: drive or edit and save file on C: drive." you don't have permission") I am the Administrator. (It is my computer.)
That's interesting, even on the weird PC I'm able to copy to the C:\ root (through a UAC prompt, of course), just not edit/save. Still hoping someone may share an answer, I haven't been able to figure this out via Google to this point.

I understand the reason Windows wants us to avoid using the root directly, what brought me here was the inconsistent behavior, with all-but-identical setups, and one system doesn't even raise an eyebrow while the other one is on lockdown.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 530
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
    Motherboard
    stock
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT430
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M SSD + spinners
Thanks for the attempt, znod, much obliged. :)

I know what you mean--when it comes to this stuff, I don't want to adjust a setting that's going to have a ripple effect and I'm going to find something else broken weeks or months from now as a result. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to find a network admin browsing this weekend who'll be kind enough to give us a layman's overview.

In this case, I've rechecked both PCs, and I'll be damned if I can see what's different in the permissions or share setting. It must be on the double-secret third level wizard advanced tab or something.
You are very welcome.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
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    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
Thanks for the attempt, znod, much obliged. :)

I know what you mean--when it comes to this stuff, I don't want to adjust a setting that's going to have a ripple effect and I'm going to find something else broken weeks or months from now as a result. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to find a network admin browsing this weekend who'll be kind enough to give us a layman's overview.

In this case, I've rechecked both PCs, and I'll be damned if I can see what's different in the permissions or share setting. It must be on the double-secret third level wizard advanced tab or something.
Well, you could aways think about this thread, Trying to Get Password Protected Sharing to Work Properly, while you are waiting. And, note that chev65 is very good at this stuff. I located this thread finally, and note that there is a chev65-linked tutorial. Of couse, the thread only deals primarily with sharing--not with everything you always wanted to know about the combo permissions/sharing/ownership/security.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
I found this. I haven't tried it yet so I don't know if it works. But it sounds good though.

You don’t Have Permission ToSave In This Location | Fix Error Message

When downloading and installing a file you may get a error message “C:\Program Files…\…..exe. You don’t have permission to save in this location. Contact the administrator to obtain permission.
Would you like to save in the “some….” folder instead? “ Even trying to install them in different directories wont have good result as it may get back to the same error message. How to install the file orprogram?
Solution, the problem is, you may have an Administrator Account.. but your administrator account maynot have a password. Administrator appears beneath your user name. And you might have skipped creating a password as you may be the only user.
You should always assign a password to all Administrator accounts, even though you are the only user.This helps when a malicious file tries to gain access to the system and is also necessary for all of the built-in security components to work properly.
The easiest solution is to download the file to the Desktop. Right click the file and select the Run AsAdministrator option to install.
But, Downloaded files saved to ‘Desktop’ are messy/unsightly/cumbersome. But the best practice to use the ‘Downloads’ folder which is located within the user account folder, and for which an entry is present on the Start Menu. This is the system ‘default’ save location for downloads.
Remember, in Windows 7, all Administrator accounts operateas normal user accounts unless you explicitly ‘elevate’a function by using the run as administrator option or approve the UAC prompt when it pops up.
If downloads have been stored elsewhere on the system already the user may not be currently getting prompted to store files in the default ‘Downloads’ folder. This is easy to correct. When the next download is conducted, when prompted for a save location browse to:
System drive -> Usersfolder -> User account folder -> Downloads.
Afterwards, the system will prompt with the correct download folder, for subsequent downloads.
Solution:
· 1. Right-click onthe drive that is causing the problem.
· 2. Left-click on Properties.
· 3. Click on the Security tab.
· 4. In the first window click on Administrators (your computer name-PC Administrators).
· 5. Just below the window click on Edit.
· 6. Click on Administrators (your computer name-PC Administrators) again.
· 7. Here’s the key to making it work. If Apply is grayed-out, check a box in the Deny column. It will then bring up Apply.
· 8. Check a box in the Allow column. It should check all of the boxes except the last one and uncheck all of the boxes in the Deny column.
· 9. Click Apply. It should run a scan of the files in the drive. When the scan is finished, clickOk. The first box should still be open.
· 10. In the first window,click on Users (your computer name-PC\Users) and repeat steps 5-9, of course clicking on Users (your computer name-PC\Users) instead of Administrators (yourcomputer name-PC Administrators).
You may not have to click in the Deny column after the first scan is completed for step 10 asindicated in step 7.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Studio XPS 9100
    CPU
    intel i7 920 @ 2.67 GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    24 Gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5670
    Sound Card
    Internal
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Flat Screen HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Samsung EVO 850 250 GB SSD
    2 Seagate internal 1TB
    WD external 3TB USB 3
    WD external 2TB USB 3
    PSU
    550-W
    Case
    Mid
    Cooling
    Fans
    Keyboard
    US USB
    Mouse
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    Internet Speed
    3.84 Mbps Download .44 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    MS Defender
    Other Info
    Liteon DVD wrighter
    Liteon BD drive
    Monoprice Tablet
I found this. I haven't tried it yet so I don't know if it works. But it sounds good though.
Thanks, Clint. In my case, all logins have passwords--I set them up with Microsoft accounts, so the no-password possibility described doesn't apply, unfortunately.

Well, you could aways think about this thread, Trying to Get Password Protected Sharing to Work Properly, while you are waiting. And, note that chev65 is very good at this stuff. I located this thread finally, and note that there is a chev65-linked tutorial. Of couse, the thread only deals primarily with sharing--not with everything you always wanted to know about the combo permissions/sharing/ownership/security.
Thanks, will check that out!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 530
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
    Motherboard
    stock
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT430
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M SSD + spinners
Just a followup to close this one out.

I wasn't able to find any solution to the unusual permission behavior on the one computer. After checking out two other Win8 installs, comparing settings, and not finding any answers, I can only assume I encountered some kind of bug and did a refresh to fix it. I'm posting a followup question in a new thread regarding user folder permissions. Thanks to those that took the time to reply here!

And thanks for the link, znod, I'll soon delve into setting up the network sharing and homegroups stuff for the first time, and that helps.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 530
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
    Motherboard
    stock
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT430
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M SSD + spinners
You are very welome. Good luck with studies.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
Sorry to revive a two week old thread, but I'm seeing the same behavior again with changing permissions in Win8. Specifically, the text file in C:\ root that has been accessible on my main PC this whole time since install... the last two days, it now gives me the error message when I try to save an edit (this is not the PC that I refreshed to fix the issue last time, but one of the others I referred to that had no problems with access.)

I may have only the most basic understanding of security policy and file permissions and whatnot, but I've always been capable enough to manage the home PCs without issue (Vista, Win7). I'm completely at a loss as to why these things are suddenly seemingly changing on their own in Win8. Maybe this thread will catch somebody's eye who knows and can point to a possible explanation or solution.

Thanks for bearing with me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 530
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
    Motherboard
    stock
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT430
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M SSD + spinners
You guys really need to be working in the C:>Users folders and not in the C: drive itself.

The default shares are set up this way for a reason and the C:>Users folder is where it all begins.

In the following link I explain the easiest way to share or unshare folders which reside in the C:>Users folder. Any questions and I'll be happy to assist you. :)

http://www.eightforums.com/network-sharing/20146-shared-default.html
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
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    Home built
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    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
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    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
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    9 fans air cooled
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    G15 logitech
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    50mbps
You guys really need to be working in the C:>Users folders and not in the C: drive itself.

The default shares are set up this way for a reason and the C:>Users folder is where it all begins.

In the following link I explain the easiest way to share or unshare folders which reside in the C:>Users folder. Any questions and I'll be happy to assist you. :)

http://www.eightforums.com/network-sharing/20146-shared-default.html
Thanks for your reply, Chev... I'm on my way out right now, but will read through that later this afternoon.

To clarify, though, I don't make a habit of working in the root directory, and keep my data folders within Windows defaults. This is one text info file I keep in C:\, that's it. And it's not a huge deal. But what makes zero sense to me is why the security or permissions or whatever seemingly change at random. I can't see any reason why I'd be able to add a comment for weeks, then suddenly be locked out. Especially when I'm the only user on the PC currently in question. I'm curious by nature. Find myself wondering, is it a bug? Some new feature in Win8 to spice things up? ;) I don't know, but I'd like to find out.

Thanks again, I'll check back later today.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 530
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
    Motherboard
    stock
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT430
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M SSD + spinners
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