Shortcuts cannot find target files in non-Onwer accounts

[sbrener]

Hi. I did a full system restore a few days ago (XP SP2).

Now, in the non-Owner accounts, a number of shortcuts in the Start|All
Programs list are blank and cannot reach the target file although the
properties show the proper targets. When the shortcut could not find the
file, I tried to browse to the Program folder, but the system would not let
me open the program folder due to a permissioning issue.

Any ideas?

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi sbrener,

Make sure that the "Users" group have "Read" permissions for the Program
Files folder and sub-folders.

How to set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions in Windows
XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308418/

How to set, view, change, or remove special permissions for files and
folders in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308419/

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"sbrener" > wrote in message
...
Hi. I did a full system restore a few days ago (XP SP2).

Now, in the non-Owner accounts, a number of shortcuts in the Start|All
Programs list are blank and cannot reach the target file although the
properties show the proper targets. When the shortcut could not find the
file, I tried to browse to the Program folder, but the system would not let
me open the program folder due to a permissioning issue.

Any ideas?

[sbrener]

Hi Ramesh,

Thank you for pointing me to those articles. However, when I go to the
files and right-click them, I do not get a Security tab. I've been looking
around for some sort of permissioning control, but have yet to find it.

I have XP Home SP2.

"Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:

> Hi sbrener,
>
> Make sure that the "Users" group have "Read" permissions for the Program
> Files folder and sub-folders.
>
> How to set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions in Windows
> XP:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308418/
>
> How to set, view, change, or remove special permissions for files and
> folders in Windows XP:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308419/
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
> Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
>
>
> "sbrener" > wrote in message
> ...
> Hi. I did a full system restore a few days ago (XP SP2).
>
> Now, in the non-Owner accounts, a number of shortcuts in the Start|All
> Programs list are blank and cannot reach the target file although the
> properties show the proper targets. When the shortcut could not find the
> file, I tried to browse to the Program folder, but the system would not let
> me open the program folder due to a permissioning issue.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>
>

[sbrener]

This is strange. After dragging the program folders of the problem programs
into Shared Documents folder, they now work. I did not have to do that
before. Any idea why this is the solution? (Actually, I don't really like
this solution because for the first time my program folders are split between
C:\Program Files and the Shared Documents in All Users.

"sbrener" wrote:

> Hi Ramesh,
>
> Thank you for pointing me to those articles. However, when I go to the
> files and right-click them, I do not get a Security tab. I've been looking
> around for some sort of permissioning control, but have yet to find it.
>
> I have XP Home SP2.
>
> "Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:
>
> > Hi sbrener,
> >
> > Make sure that the "Users" group have "Read" permissions for the Program
> > Files folder and sub-folders.
> >
> > How to set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions in Windows
> > XP:
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308418/
> >
> > How to set, view, change, or remove special permissions for files and
> > folders in Windows XP:
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308419/
> >
> > --
> > Regards,
> >
> > Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
> > Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
> >
> >
> > "sbrener" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > Hi. I did a full system restore a few days ago (XP SP2).
> >
> > Now, in the non-Owner accounts, a number of shortcuts in the Start|All
> > Programs list are blank and cannot reach the target file although the
> > properties show the proper targets. When the shortcut could not find the
> > file, I tried to browse to the Program folder, but the system would not let
> > me open the program folder due to a permissioning issue.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
> >
> >

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi sbrener,

Windows XP Home Edition

Start in safe mode, and then log in as Administrator or as Administrative
User. The Security tab is available for files or folders on NTFS volumes

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"sbrener" > wrote in message
...
Hi Ramesh,

Thank you for pointing me to those articles. However, when I go to the
files and right-click them, I do not get a Security tab. I've been looking
around for some sort of permissioning control, but have yet to find it.

I have XP Home SP2.

"Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:

> Hi sbrener,
>
> Make sure that the "Users" group have "Read" permissions for the Program
> Files folder and sub-folders.
>
> How to set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions in Windows
> XP:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308418/
>
> How to set, view, change, or remove special permissions for files and
> folders in Windows XP:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308419/
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
> Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
>
>
> "sbrener" > wrote in message
> ...
> Hi. I did a full system restore a few days ago (XP SP2).
>
> Now, in the non-Owner accounts, a number of shortcuts in the Start|All
> Programs list are blank and cannot reach the target file although the
> properties show the proper targets. When the shortcut could not find the
> file, I tried to browse to the Program folder, but the system would not
> let
> me open the program folder due to a permissioning issue.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>
>

[sbrener]

Hi Ramesh,

Thanks for letting me know how to get to the Security Tab in XP Home.

One approach to solve the problem was initially to move the folders to All
Users\Shared Documents. I didn't like that one though, and I never had to do
that before.

I then moved the program folders of the 'offending programs' back into
C:\Program Files\. I noticed that there were no groups associated with any
of those programs! I added a few to each one: Administrators; Owner; Users;
System; Original Owner. I wasn't sure which ones were the most appropriate,
but so far it seems to be working.

How do I avoid having to go through this again, that is, assigning groups?
I never had to do it before. I wonder what changed?

"Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:

> Hi sbrener,
>
> Windows XP Home Edition
>
> Start in safe mode, and then log in as Administrator or as Administrative
> User. The Security tab is available for files or folders on NTFS volumes
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
> Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
>
>
> "sbrener" > wrote in message
> ...
> Hi Ramesh,
>
> Thank you for pointing me to those articles. However, when I go to the
> files and right-click them, I do not get a Security tab. I've been looking
> around for some sort of permissioning control, but have yet to find it.
>
> I have XP Home SP2.
>
> "Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:
>
> > Hi sbrener,
> >
> > Make sure that the "Users" group have "Read" permissions for the Program
> > Files folder and sub-folders.
> >
> > How to set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions in Windows
> > XP:
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308418/
> >
> > How to set, view, change, or remove special permissions for files and
> > folders in Windows XP:
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308419/
> >
> > --
> > Regards,
> >
> > Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
> > Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
> >
> >
> > "sbrener" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > Hi. I did a full system restore a few days ago (XP SP2).
> >
> > Now, in the non-Owner accounts, a number of shortcuts in the Start|All
> > Programs list are blank and cannot reach the target file although the
> > properties show the proper targets. When the shortcut could not find the
> > file, I tried to browse to the Program folder, but the system would not
> > let
> > me open the program folder due to a permissioning issue.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi sbrener,

>> How do I avoid having to go through this again, that is, assigning
>> groups?

By default, the Users group have read access to the Program Files folder
(and sub folders). I don't know how the problem happened in your case, but
assigning the following Permissions helps.

Administrators - Full Control
SYSTEM - Full Control
Users - Read
Power Users - Modify (Power Users group is in XP Pro only)

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"sbrener" > wrote in message
...
Hi Ramesh,

Thanks for letting me know how to get to the Security Tab in XP Home.

One approach to solve the problem was initially to move the folders to All
Users\Shared Documents. I didn't like that one though, and I never had to
do
that before.

I then moved the program folders of the 'offending programs' back into
C:\Program Files\. I noticed that there were no groups associated with any
of those programs! I added a few to each one: Administrators; Owner; Users;
System; Original Owner. I wasn't sure which ones were the most appropriate,
but so far it seems to be working.

How do I avoid having to go through this again, that is, assigning groups?
I never had to do it before. I wonder what changed?

[sbrener]

Thanks Ramesh.

I noticed that for the Program Files folder the only group was Everyone with
special permissions. I added these other groups and the respective settings.
If the new applications I add inherit these permissions, then maybe the
problem is solved.

Thanks again for your help. It is always good when a problem becomes a
learning experience.

Steve

"Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:

> Hi sbrener,
>
> >> How do I avoid having to go through this again, that is, assigning
> >> groups?
>
> By default, the Users group have read access to the Program Files folder
> (and sub folders). I don't know how the problem happened in your case, but
> assigning the following Permissions helps.
>
> Administrators - Full Control
> SYSTEM - Full Control
> Users - Read
> Power Users - Modify (Power Users group is in XP Pro only)
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
> Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
>
>
> "sbrener" > wrote in message
> ...
> Hi Ramesh,
>
> Thanks for letting me know how to get to the Security Tab in XP Home.
>
> One approach to solve the problem was initially to move the folders to All
> Users\Shared Documents. I didn't like that one though, and I never had to
> do
> that before.
>
> I then moved the program folders of the 'offending programs' back into
> C:\Program Files\. I noticed that there were no groups associated with any
> of those programs! I added a few to each one: Administrators; Owner; Users;
> System; Original Owner. I wasn't sure which ones were the most appropriate,
> but so far it seems to be working.
>
> How do I avoid having to go through this again, that is, assigning groups?
> I never had to do it before. I wonder what changed?
>
>
>

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

You're welcome, Steve.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"sbrener" > wrote in message
...
Thanks Ramesh.

I noticed that for the Program Files folder the only group was Everyone with
special permissions. I added these other groups and the respective
settings.
If the new applications I add inherit these permissions, then maybe the
problem is solved.

Thanks again for your help. It is always good when a problem becomes a
learning experience.

Steve

"Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:

> Hi sbrener,
>
> >> How do I avoid having to go through this again, that is, assigning
> >> groups?
>
> By default, the Users group have read access to the Program Files folder
> (and sub folders). I don't know how the problem happened in your case, but
> assigning the following Permissions helps.
>
> Administrators - Full Control
> SYSTEM - Full Control
> Users - Read
> Power Users - Modify (Power Users group is in XP Pro only)
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
> Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
>
>
> "sbrener" > wrote in message
> ...
> Hi Ramesh,
>
> Thanks for letting me know how to get to the Security Tab in XP Home.
>
> One approach to solve the problem was initially to move the folders to All
> Users\Shared Documents. I didn't like that one though, and I never had to
> do
> that before.
>
> I then moved the program folders of the 'offending programs' back into
> C:\Program Files\. I noticed that there were no groups associated with
> any
> of those programs! I added a few to each one: Administrators; Owner;
> Users;
> System; Original Owner. I wasn't sure which ones were the most
> appropriate,
> but so far it seems to be working.
>
> How do I avoid having to go through this again, that is, assigning groups?
> I never had to do it before. I wonder what changed?
>
>
>