Read Only File

[Jerry Currier]

This may not be the proper place to post this, but I thougt I'd start here. If I should post this somewhere else, please let me know what is the correct place.

I have a LinkSys wireless network which connects my HP Pavilion desktop and my Toshiba laptop. I'm running Windows XP (SP-1)on both machines.

My personal data files are in the Documents and Settings folder on the root directory of both machines.

I upgraded to the MS Office 2003 Suite on both machines. Now I can't save to any folders in the Documents and Settings folder on the desktop from the laptop.

For instance, when I am working on a Word document on the laptop and want to save it to the desktop I get error messages telling me that the file is "Read Only" if I try to save over a file or that I'm not allowed access to the folder if I try to change or create anything in the D&S folder.

I can save to any other folder except D&S, for instance I have a "Temp on C" folder that I use for various reasons.

When I view the properties of the D&S folder it shows a greyed check mark in the Read Only box. I have tried changing this and applying it to the folder and all the contents, but it comes back when I recheck the properties.

I have no problem accessing the files on the desktop from the apps on the machine itself and I can save to the laptop from the desktop.

The entire D&S folder is shared on both machines.

I was able to share both ways with Office 97 so I'm guessing that Office 2003 is behind this, but I may be looking under the wrong stone for a solution.

I've tried searching the MS Knowledge Base and come up empty.

Can anyone offer any suggestions.

Thanks
:)

[PrntRhd]

Welcome to the PC Guide forums.

Yes Applications would have been better place but that can be fixed later.
Are you using an Administrator or a User account when this takes place on the notebook PC?

More will comment I am sure.

[Jerry Currier]

As Administrator

[Paul Komski]

4 Qs.

XP pro or home on both boxes?

If XP pro then is simple file sharing enabled or disabled?

FAT or NTFS on both boxes?

Are you logging on with the same User Name on both boxes?

[Jerry Currier]

XP Home.

Administrator on both.

File sharing and changing allowed on both machines.

I don't know the file system.

However, I should have made it clear that this only started AFTER I installed MS Office 2003 on both machines.

I was able to access and change files on each machine from the other.

I do have Zone Alarm installed on both machines, but again, this only started happening after installing Office 2003.

Thanks for your assistance.

[Paul Komski]

Just a thought but is OfficeXP activated on both pcs. If not then it will only work in "reduced functionality mode" such as read only etc once the 50 uses have all been gobbled-up.

[Jerry Currier]

Not Office XP, Office 2003.

On both computers.

The thought occurs that I should repost this in Applications as you first suggested.

I hope that won't violate any rules?

Please let me know your thoughts.

[Paul Komski]

Let the mods move it if they take that notion - duplicated threads just confuse and annoy peeps.

Office 2000, XP and 2003 all use product activation AFAIK and would be subject to the same reduced functionality if not activated; that would be my guess. Of course perhaps its another problem altogether - but as you say it only started after upgrading to 2003.

Could it be
Collaborate with confidence. Designate certain sections of your document to be modified by specific people to better protect how your document is modified and reduce the number of conflicting comments you receive. You can even prevent reviewers from making changes unless they turn revision marks on, or make the entire document read-only with key portions that can be modified only by specific individuals. Also help protect the formatting and style of your document. from http://www.microsoft.com/office/word/prodinfo/overview.mspx#XSLTsection125121120120

.. or some googling .. http://www.google.com/search?q=word+2003+%22read+only%22 for a few other leads

[Jerry Currier]

These are activated versions and should have full funtionality.

Actually, I don't know if this is a problem with the Office suite since it seems to be only one way. That is, I can save from the desktop to the laptop and replace the files with the new ones. I just can't do it from the laptop to desktop and ONLY the Documents and Settings folder on the desktop seems to be affected.

Right now, I have sidestepped the problem by creating a folder on the root directory of the desktop called "Toshiba Save." I then save the file from the laptop to the desktop in this folder, then copy and paste it into the correct folder on the desktop.

It works, but is sort of a pain since I do a fair amount of work on the laptop while away from my home office and use the "Save As" feature to update the main (desktop) machine when I return.

Another option would be to just change office 2003 apps to save to a folder on the root directory, other than D&S. This isn't too appealing as I would have to reset a lot of stuff.

Anyway, I will leave this post alone and hope for the best. Maybe somthing brilliant will come to me. <gr>

[Paul Komski]

Have gone full circle and it looks more and more like a permissions thing. Are you sure both logon names are identical - the actual names - whether or not both have Administrator Status??

I have never used XP home but believe that it operates a bit like XP pro when it has simple file sharing enabled. Others more used to XP home should know much better. Basicallly with this type of file sharing one has two main folders within D&S - one private and one shared - at least I think that is the default setup - and to enable sharing you would drag the relevant files/folders into the "shared documents folder".

If you can set security settings for individual folders (and their children) maybe that is all you need to alter. The fact that the root is OK isnt surprising since this is the least secure place to save files to.