Documents is not accessible. Access is denied
My Computer
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents is not accessible.
Access is denied.
OK
This error appears when attempting to access the Shared Documents folder (which appears to be renamed to “Documents”)
I recently had this problem on the main computer here at my home. This same problem prevented Adobe Acrobat 6.0 from working, and prevented a reinstall (or uninstall and install), as well.
I’ve finally found a fix. And it’s quite a simple one. Follow these steps.
1. Choose Start > Run, type %allusersprofile% in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Right-click the Documents folder, and choose Properties.
3. Click the Sharing tab, and then unselect “Share This Folder on network” if it is selected. If it’s not selected, select it.
4. Apply. If you had to unselect the box in step 3, now select it again and Apply.
This causes the name of the folder to change to Shared Folder. This also allows Adobe Acrobat 6.0 to install.
Other helpful resources
support.microsoft.com
www.adobe.com
I experienced the problem after installing XP Service Pack 2. Your fixed worked miracles and saved me much turmoil. Many thanks for sharing this fix.
Yours was the first entry on Google when I searched for “windows shared documents not accessible”. You fix worked. What can I say? Just “thank you”
I had this problem when trying to set up a network on XP. When it happens iIt looks like everything is lost, which would have meant a lot of work restoring files. Thank you more than words can say for publishing this fix!
Aaaah, thank you for the simple fix for this very irritating problem!
Re: Documents is not accessible. Access is denied
Thank you for this supportive posting. The “helpful” comments that followed yours in my Google search were way over the top and way off base for the problem I was trying to solve.
I have about six PCs in my peer-to-peer home network, and I like to move files around to/from my kids’ and wifes’ PCs, but a few folders won’t open like the others on our network. Your solution was right to the point, and taught me a new process to look into for future troubleshooting.
Thank you! Alan
THANK YOU!!!
I was about to format when I googled my problem and came across your solution…YAY!!!
I just wanted to add my thanks. I was upgrading from Acrobat v.5 to v.7 and got that error. I could not figure out how I didn’t have permission when I only have one user–the admin. I was especially perplexed since I had never before had a problem installing Acrobat. Thankfully I came across your post and was able to finish the install.
Thanks again!
Thanks!
In my settings, the ‘Share This Folder on network’ is greyed out so it cannot be ticked or unticked (it is currently blank).
I too have had the Shared Documents folder renamed to Documents and cannot access it.
Any ideas anybody?
when i do this steps
the shared resourse was not created at this time
what can i do
please help me
Thanks bud! For a moment I thought I had lost everything in Shared Documents, and was about to pay Dell $99 for a support call. Your blog to the rescue.
hi
ok I got the same pb when I wanted to reinstall adobeacrobat.
I try your solution but when I clic on sahring tab the “make this folder private” is not accesible.
if I try tto clic on the blue text “shared document” I get
access denied.
help!!
my email is [email protected]
Thanks for saving me a lot of grief!!!
Well, I tried what this article said and it did not work I checked another article in google groups and fixed the issue and this is what it said to do if you think that the permissions might have become changed by third party software
1. Restart Computer
2. Before windows boots up press F8
3. Once it askes you what you want to do go to safe mode in windows XP then log in as the administrator this will allow full control over the computer
4. Then I right clicked on the folder then clicked the security tab then give permissions to everyone
5. Sometimes you might want to see the permissions with each folder within the root directory to ensure that all have the nessary permisions.
This worked wonders. I had changed my file sharing preferences, and then started getting all kinds of Adobe installation errors (and I wasn’t trying to do an upgrade). I don’t know why this works, but it fixed my problem and Adobe installed fine (I had removed it in an attempt to fix the errors.
Thank you So much. This fixed my same problem also. I am so glad there are people on the net that care enough to put their fixes online for others to see. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Thaaaaaaaaanks!!!
A weird solution for a weird problem, but it works!!!
I was really desperate, but I’m glad I found this simple fix!
My computer started doing something crazy like this out of nowhere. One day it was fine, and the next day the computer doesn’t have the desktop picture or any icons. Now, everytime I try to type an address in internet explorer it pulls up the same message: user and settings not accessible…user access denied. i tried the first fix, and it wasn’t available. i am trying to fix it now, but i am curious–why is this happening? i have PLENTY of other problems with my computer right now. If anyone has an answer for me, please help!
Thanks alot man…when i did this it said Access denied so i just clicked apply again and it worked…weird.
Exactly what I needed. Got scared there for a minute!!
THANKS!!!!
This saved my life. Turned my computer on this morning and this problem appeared from nowhere. Tried systems restores and re-installing registry from last night’s backup, and the Microsoft website solution- none of them worked.
Oddest thing is that when I tried to do this fix I got an error message that I didn’t have access rights to make the change. I ignored the message and the computer whent ahead and made the changes anyway! Bizarre.
Thank goodness for this blog! I’m what some people would call a computer expert and this had me panicking – but this sort problem is the kind of thing that gets novices and luddites totally paranoid that THEY did something wrong. Mystery is- what causes them in the first place?
Thanks again.
So many thanks for this simple solution to what looked to me to be a major MSsystem/Adobe problem. Why Adobe has a crucial start up file under “Documents” is incomprehensible. And why does ‘windows installer’ not indicate the name of the program it is trying to install. MS & Adobe, two of the larger names in the software business!!! Thankyou again for teaching me.
Sorry, I had already tried your suggestion and it did not fix my problem. However, this very short, very clear fix direct from Microsoft did, so I present it to help others frustrated with the problem.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;897103&sd=rss&spid=3223
or
http://tinyurl.com/m6xys
Thanks so much for posting this!!!
Thanks a million. Had a fresh install, and couldn’t get Adobe installed either! Weeeiiiirrrrd error …
S