Sharing a folder under My Documents?

[Yousuf Khan]

I'm trying to share out a folder under My Documents and when I do that,
the sharing dialog box says wait a few minutes, and then it comes back
and says, "Your folder can't be shared". That's it, that's all, nothing
else of explanation. Are stuff in My Documents not shareable?

Yousuf Khan

 

[Carroll Robbins]

Are stuff in My Documents not shareable?

I have no trouble sharing folders in My Documents or the entire c drive. I
use Advanced Sharing with Password Protection. How are you trying to share
it?

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Yousuf.

WHICH "My Documents"? The real one, or the one that is only a Junction
Point in Win7?

In Windows Explorer, in C:\Users\RC, there are TWO My Documents folders.
One has the typical "folder" icon; the other has an icon that looks similar
except that it is overlaid with an arrow. When I click the one with an
arrow, I get an error message that says "C:\Users\RC\My Documents is not
accessible. Access is denied." When I click the other My Documents, the
folder opens and I see all my files inside.

To me, this "...not accessible" message is misleading - maybe even moronic.
:>( What it really means is that this "folder" is NOT a folder; it is only
a Junction Point put into Win7 (and Vista) for the benefit of programs
written for WinXP and prior that are really looking for WinXP's C:\Documents
and Settings\RC\My Documents - which are now in C:\Users\RC\My Documents.
(You should also find some other "folders" with this arrow on the icon, such
as My Pictures.)

Microsoft's developers make some strange decisions sometimes. :>(

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail Version 2011 (Build 15.4.3002.0810)) in Win7 Ultimate x64

"Yousuf Khan" wrote in message
I'm trying to share out a folder under My Documents and when I do that,
the sharing dialog box says wait a few minutes, and then it comes back
and says, "Your folder can't be shared". That's it, that's all, nothing
else of explanation. Are stuff in My Documents not shareable?

Yousuf Khan

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Hi, Yousuf.

WHICH "My Documents"? The real one, or the one that is only a Junction
Point in Win7?

I only have one My Documents as far as I can see, the one in the
C:\Users directory. I upgraded from XP, and so all of my old files from
the old "Documents and Settings" directory were transferred to here.

In Windows Explorer, in C:\Users\RC, there are TWO My Documents folders.
One has the typical "folder" icon; the other has an icon that looks
similar except that it is overlaid with an arrow. When I click the one
with an arrow, I get an error message that says "C:\Users\RC\My
Documents is not accessible. Access is denied." When I click the other
My Documents, the folder opens and I see all my files inside.

I don't have a shortcut-style My Documents. Just a real folder.

To me, this "...not accessible" message is misleading - maybe even
moronic. :>( What it really means is that this "folder" is NOT a folder;
it is only a Junction Point put into Win7 (and Vista) for the benefit of
programs written for WinXP and prior that are really looking for WinXP's
C:\Documents and Settings\RC\My Documents - which are now in
C:\Users\RC\My Documents. (You should also find some other "folders"
with this arrow on the icon, such as My Pictures.)

I don't get a "not accessible" message, I get a "not shareable" message.

Microsoft's developers make some strange decisions sometimes. :>(

RC

Yes.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Yousuf Khan]

I have no trouble sharing folders in My Documents or the entire c drive. I
use Advanced Sharing with Password Protection. How are you trying to share
it?

I'm using the simple sharing mechanism, as when I go into advanced
sharing (through the Properties page for that directory), it gets stuck.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Yousuf Khan]

I'm using the simple sharing mechanism, as when I go into advanced
sharing (through the Properties page for that directory), it gets stuck.

Yousuf Khan

Actually here's an update, I finally was able to get into advanced
sharing (it must've taken 10 minutes of it doing something before it
finally gave me access). However, even while trying it with Advanced
sharing, I was still given the "not shareable" message.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Carroll Robbins]

Actually here's an update, I finally was able to get into advanced
sharing (it must've taken 10 minutes of it doing something before it
finally gave me access). However, even while trying it with Advanced
sharing, I was still given the "not shareable" message.

In "Control Panel -> Network and Sharing Center -> Advanced sharing
settings" have you set "Turn on file and printer sharing" and "Turn on
password protected sharing"? Does your username have a password? Have you
set up a Workgroup?

For me, the Advanced Sharing window opens in about a second.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

In "Control Panel -> Network and Sharing Center -> Advanced sharing
settings" have you set "Turn on file and printer sharing" and "Turn on
password protected sharing"? Does your username have a password? Have you
set up a Workgroup?

All of that was turned on, except the Password Protected Sharing. I have
Windows XP machines on the network, so I believe I need to keep that off
to share with them.

I try it with the Password Protected Sharing and see what happens.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Carroll Robbins]

All of that was turned on, except the Password Protected Sharing. I have
Windows XP machines on the network, so I believe I need to keep that off
to share with them.

I try it with the Password Protected Sharing and see what happens.

Password Protected Sharing is the traditional network sharing method. I
have an NT4, an XP Home, an XP Pro, and a Win7 HP all sharing with it on.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Password Protected Sharing is the traditional network sharing method. I
have an NT4, an XP Home, an XP Pro, and a Win7 HP all sharing with it on.

I did the change, but it didn't help.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Carroll Robbins]

I did the change, but it didn't help.

There are separate settings for public and private networks. Did you change
the right one?

 

[Yousuf Khan]

There are separate settings for public and private networks. Did you change
the right one?

I changed the setting for the "home and work" networks, which I assume
is the private network.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Carroll Robbins]

I changed the setting for the "home and work" networks, which I assume
is the private network.

Yes. My settings for "Home or Work (current profile)" are
Network discovery: on
File and printer sharing: on
Public folder sharing: off
Media streaming: off
Use 128 bit: on
Password protected sharing: on
Homegroup connections: Use user accounts and passwords

I have not setup a homegroup.