Can't access Shared Documents

Im trying to access Shared Documents on my Laptop (windows XP Home and logged on as administrator) but I get an error message saying;

C: Documents and Settings\All users\Documents is not accessible

Access is denied

I have not always had this message, I copied some documents from my Laptop to my Desktop (via wireless network) and then after doing this I tried to delete some files in the Shared Documents folder on my laptop, but I got the error message "Make sure file is not in use/write protected etc."
So I canged the Shared Documents folder to unshared, (which changed the name of it from Shared Documents to Documents??) now I cant access the folder at all, I get the message outlined above.

I have read some troubleshooting guide on microsoft telling me to click on properties then secuity tab, but there is no security tab

Any ideas anyone?

 

Don't really like bumping my threads, but has anybody got any idea about this?

 

Is this correct ?
- You have a laptop-computer
- You have a desktop-computer
- The laptop-computer have a "Shared Documents" folder for all the users on the laptop.
- The "Shared Documents" folder is shared so other computers on the network can access the folder.

Can't you access the document-folder on the laptop, while logged in as administrator on the laptop ? (If so then check the NTFS permissions for the documents-folder. Boot in safemode and right click the folder select the Security-tab and add the "Everyone"-group to access the folder for read/write)

Can't you access the shared document-folder on the laptop from the network, while logged in as administrator on the desktop ? (Windows XP Home Edition : Sharing Disks and Folders)

Note the Shared Documents folder is located at C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared Documents

 

Yes, all the above are correct.

There is no longer a folder called Shared Documents, It's name has changed to Documents. I didn't change its name.

I will try booting in safe mode and clicking on the security tab (although it isnt there in normal mode.)

I will report back my results.

 

Seems the Shared Documents folder is rather special, maybe consider using a system restore point.

Shared Documents folder renamed
XP Pro "Shared Documents" gone
Shared Documents Now Called "Documents"
Shared Documents gone Not Shared

It seems that it is a special Desktop.ini, which changes the name from Documents to Shared Documents. So as you said the Shared Documents location is at:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents

 

System restore has been off for about 6 months
Dont think I have ever created a restore point!

I followed your advice, botted into safe mode etc.
I can now open the Documents folder and I can delete some folders within that folder, but i can't delete all of the files in it. (which is what I want to do as it is taking up over 2gb of space!)

Thanks for the help so far and any more ideas?

 

What kind of error do you get when trying to delete the files ? (If you don't have access, then you need to do the security thing again with those files, and assign you permission to delete them)