XP shortcut/desktop/security setting question

[kayak99]

Bought a new Dell laptop for a group I belong to then loaded Windows Office Pro on it. (Using Windows XP operating system)

I can get a shortcut icon to the desktop but it gives me an error message: Windows cannot access the specified file... You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.

I have a similar problem when I click the "My Documents" icon on the desktop getting the message: Your current security settings do not allow this action.

FYI, I do show as the Administrator. How do I correct this? I can't seem to find a place to change security settings for these permissions. Thanks

 

[khalidaaa]

Have you joined any domains yet? You might have logged in to an active directory domain where there was group policies applied to your laptop!?!

Regards,
Khalid

 

[linney]

Have you looked at the Security Permissions of the actual Target file? Is the Target on the same machine or elsewhere? In Office, what happens if you click on the .exe in its folder?

Shortcuts now keeping 'Target' a secret??
thread779-1268860

How do I modify a programs shortcut to open a file?
thread779-1299396

Unable to Create Shortcut
thread779-1275449


What happens if you create a general Shortcut to My Documents rather than using the "Special Folder" Shortcut, or use Desktop Properties to remove the current "Special Folder" icon Shortcut and then after that use it again to replace the icon via the Customize Desktop tab?

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP (Q308421)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/4/21.asp

Error Message: "Access Is Denied" When You Try to Open NTFS File System Folders

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q823306#appliesto

 

[kayak99]

khalidaaa - I have joined no domains.


linney - I cannot access the security permissions of the folders. For example, right clicking on the My Documents folder produces the message - Your current security settings do not allow this action. Using Word, for example, I can produce a shortcut icon but the shortcut does not open Word. (same with Excel, etc)

Thanks

 

[linney]

How To Reset Security Settings Back to the Defaults

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=313222#1

"Your current security settings do not allow this action", is this message followed by any offer to allow you to Take Ownership?

How are things in Safe Mode, perhaps with the built-in Administrator?

 

[kayak99]

linney, no message followed. Never checked safe mode but after consulting with Dell (they had no idea on how to fix) they suggested I backup my files (not many since it was new) and do a system restore. I did so and all is well, thanks.