Remote folder disappear

Hi, all

I have a strange problem. There are three Windows XP Pro computers. Local
WinXP with SP2, NTFS. Remote system WinXP SP1, NTFS. Third machine is WinXP
SP2.

There is a shared folder on the remote system. User A is the power user on
this machine. He also has all permissions except 'Full Control" against this
shared folder and its sub-folders. However, user A couldn't access some
sub-folders in this shared folder ( he can open the sub-folder but see no
content in this sub-folder). I even reset the permission for this folder to
full control, but didn't work. I logged on as administrator on the local
machine but had the same problem (can't see the contents in some folders)
even if I am the administrator for both systems.

I created a test sub-folder under the shared folder, I created a text file
under the new subfolder. I keyed in some text into the file and exited the
text editor, the icon of the text file disappeared from file explorer
immediately after I close the editor. Then I can't see any content under this
folder again! However, all the existing content and the new text file can be
seen on remote and Third system, no matter whom you log in as.

Any help will be highly appreciated. Thanks.

Yuggie

On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 19:28:02 -0800, Yuggie <Yuggie@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>Hi, all
>
>I have a strange problem. There are three Windows XP Pro computers. Local
>WinXP with SP2, NTFS. Remote system WinXP SP1, NTFS. Third machine is WinXP
>SP2.
>
>There is a shared folder on the remote system. User A is the power user on
>this machine. He also has all permissions except 'Full Control" against this
>shared folder and its sub-folders. However, user A couldn't access some
>sub-folders in this shared folder ( he can open the sub-folder but see no
>content in this sub-folder). I even reset the permission for this folder to
>full control, but didn't work. I logged on as administrator on the local
>machine but had the same problem (can't see the contents in some folders)
>even if I am the administrator for both systems.
>
>I created a test sub-folder under the shared folder, I created a text file
>under the new subfolder. I keyed in some text into the file and exited the
>text editor, the icon of the text file disappeared from file explorer
>immediately after I close the editor. Then I can't see any content under this
>folder again! However, all the existing content and the new text file can be
>seen on remote and Third system, no matter whom you log in as.
>
>Any help will be highly appreciated. Thanks.
>
>Yuggie

Yuggie,

This sounds like corrupt NTFS permissions to me. The solution, that we've found
in the past, is to run "cacls" to reset permission on the problem folders.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/09/server-access-authorisation.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...orisation.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

Hi, Chuck

Thanks for the reply.

I changed the permission in both Security tag and "cacle". I saw the
permission for the folder was everyone/full control on the remote machine.
However, I still couldn't see any content under the shared folder on the
remote system when I used the local machine.

I upgraded the remote machine to SP2 and ran disk check, it didn't help.

Then I unplug the hard drive and put it into a good WinXP machine. I share
the same folders and I can see all folders from the local machine.

So I have to rebuild the remote machine. Hope it help.

Thans again for the info.

Yuggie

"Chuck" wrote:

> On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 19:28:02 -0800, Yuggie <Yuggie@discussions.microsoft.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Hi, all
> >
> >I have a strange problem. There are three Windows XP Pro computers. Local
> >WinXP with SP2, NTFS. Remote system WinXP SP1, NTFS. Third machine is WinXP
> >SP2.
> >
> >There is a shared folder on the remote system. User A is the power user on
> >this machine. He also has all permissions except 'Full Control" against this
> >shared folder and its sub-folders. However, user A couldn't access some
> >sub-folders in this shared folder ( he can open the sub-folder but see no
> >content in this sub-folder). I even reset the permission for this folder to
> >full control, but didn't work. I logged on as administrator on the local
> >machine but had the same problem (can't see the contents in some folders)
> >even if I am the administrator for both systems.
> >
> >I created a test sub-folder under the shared folder, I created a text file
> >under the new subfolder. I keyed in some text into the file and exited the
> >text editor, the icon of the text file disappeared from file explorer
> >immediately after I close the editor. Then I can't see any content under this
> >folder again! However, all the existing content and the new text file can be
> >seen on remote and Third system, no matter whom you log in as.
> >
> >Any help will be highly appreciated. Thanks.
> >
> >Yuggie
>
> Yuggie,
>
> This sounds like corrupt NTFS permissions to me. The solution, that we've found
> in the past, is to run "cacls" to reset permission on the problem folders.
> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/09/server-access-authorisation.html>
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...orisation.html
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
> Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
> My email is AT DOT
> actual address pchuck mvps org.
>

On Mon, 14 Nov 2005 22:27:02 -0800, Yuggie <Yuggie@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>"Chuck" wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 19:28:02 -0800, Yuggie <Yuggie@discussions.microsoft.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Hi, all
>> >
>> >I have a strange problem. There are three Windows XP Pro computers. Local
>> >WinXP with SP2, NTFS. Remote system WinXP SP1, NTFS. Third machine is WinXP
>> >SP2.
>> >
>> >There is a shared folder on the remote system. User A is the power user on
>> >this machine. He also has all permissions except 'Full Control" against this
>> >shared folder and its sub-folders. However, user A couldn't access some
>> >sub-folders in this shared folder ( he can open the sub-folder but see no
>> >content in this sub-folder). I even reset the permission for this folder to
>> >full control, but didn't work. I logged on as administrator on the local
>> >machine but had the same problem (can't see the contents in some folders)
>> >even if I am the administrator for both systems.
>> >
>> >I created a test sub-folder under the shared folder, I created a text file
>> >under the new subfolder. I keyed in some text into the file and exited the
>> >text editor, the icon of the text file disappeared from file explorer
>> >immediately after I close the editor. Then I can't see any content under this
>> >folder again! However, all the existing content and the new text file can be
>> >seen on remote and Third system, no matter whom you log in as.
>> >
>> >Any help will be highly appreciated. Thanks.
>> >
>> >Yuggie
>>
>> Yuggie,
>>
>> This sounds like corrupt NTFS permissions to me. The solution, that we've found
>> in the past, is to run "cacls" to reset permission on the problem folders.
>> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/09/server-access-authorisation.html>
>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...orisation.html

>Hi, Chuck
>
>Thanks for the reply.
>
>I changed the permission in both Security tag and "cacle". I saw the
>permission for the folder was everyone/full control on the remote machine.
>However, I still couldn't see any content under the shared folder on the
>remote system when I used the local machine.
>
>I upgraded the remote machine to SP2 and ran disk check, it didn't help.
>
>Then I unplug the hard drive and put it into a good WinXP machine. I share
>the same folders and I can see all folders from the local machine.
>
>So I have to rebuild the remote machine. Hope it help.
>
>Thans again for the info.
>
>Yuggie

Yuggie,

I presume that this is a workgroup setup? If so, take my advice about multiple
tests as literally as possible, but don't overdo. With workgroups, I
acknowledge that you cannot duplicate access from every computer to every
computer. Just do the best that you can. That's why I like domains.

You have some files / folders that can be seen accessed, and some that can't?
Is this still after running cacls? If you run cacls to just list permissions,
does it show any difference between the ones that can, and the ones that can't,
be accessed?

Your original report mentions "User A", and you, having this problem. Do your
specific problem folders equal his, or are they different?

There is one other known problem which is related to your symptoms. Don't take
the exact symptoms described in here too literally, this problem is much more
versatile than this article would suggest.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/895900/

Moving the hard drive to another server was an excellent bit of diagnosis, and
points, primarily, to a problem with the server (host computer containing hard
drive). Now, dig deeper. Try accessing the files that could, and couldn't be
accessed originally, from more than 1 client (you have 3 computer, so use 1 as a
server, and 2 as clients). Then put the drive back into the original host, and
do the same. See if client has anything at all to do with the problem too. And
check both "User A" and yourself, again, in all cases.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...-tutorial.html

I'll give you the advice, but you gotta do the leg work. Develop multiple tests
cases, and compare results.

Rebuilding a computer might be the final answer, but make sure that you know
exactly where the problem is first. Don't rebuild the wrong computer.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...ghborhood.html

And learn to bottom post. Help me to help you.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/how-to-post-on-usenet-and-encourage.html#TopPosting>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...tml#TopPosting

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

Hi, Chuck

These computers are in a domain. The remote system is used as a file storage
without application installed.

I put the drive to a good computer and share the folders, all other systems
could access to the shared folders. However, when I put it back to the remote
system, the content disappear again.

I think I better tell you in details. I shared folder "Level-1". There are
sub-folders "Level-2", then sub-folder "Level-3" so on. At some of the
folders at Level-3, I could see level-4 when I open level-3 on local system.
No matter which user logged on which mean the problem is not user/profile
relative.

The strange thing was, I creatd a text file and keyed in some text. I can
see the icon of this text file. But when I saved and closed the notepad, I
saw the icon disappeared from the file browser immediately. When I jumped to
the remote system and open "My Computer", the text file was still there!

It is access deny issue but looks like the local system "want" to hide the
content in certain folders. I compaired the permission but they were the same
in the viewable or non-viewable folders. Also, if I could create a text file
at the non-viewable folder, there should be no permission issue.

Since the remote system is a file storage, it is very easy to re-install it
instead of takecouple days to diagnose it. My bose was behind me

After I re-installed it. Everything worked nicely.

Thanks again for such rich information on your website. It helped me a lot.

Cheers,

Yuggie

=======================
"Chuck" wrote:

> On Mon, 14 Nov 2005 22:27:02 -0800, Yuggie <Yuggie@discussions.microsoft.com>
> wrote:
>
> >"Chuck" wrote:
> >
> >> On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 19:28:02 -0800, Yuggie <Yuggie@discussions.microsoft.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> >Hi, all
> >> >
> >> >I have a strange problem. There are three Windows XP Pro computers. Local
> >> >WinXP with SP2, NTFS. Remote system WinXP SP1, NTFS. Third machine is WinXP
> >> >SP2.
> >> >
> >> >There is a shared folder on the remote system. User A is the power user on
> >> >this machine. He also has all permissions except 'Full Control" against this
> >> >shared folder and its sub-folders. However, user A couldn't access some
> >> >sub-folders in this shared folder ( he can open the sub-folder but see no
> >> >content in this sub-folder). I even reset the permission for this folder to
> >> >full control, but didn't work. I logged on as administrator on the local
> >> >machine but had the same problem (can't see the contents in some folders)
> >> >even if I am the administrator for both systems.
> >> >
> >> >I created a test sub-folder under the shared folder, I created a text file
> >> >under the new subfolder. I keyed in some text into the file and exited the
> >> >text editor, the icon of the text file disappeared from file explorer
> >> >immediately after I close the editor. Then I can't see any content under this
> >> >folder again! However, all the existing content and the new text file can be
> >> >seen on remote and Third system, no matter whom you log in as.
> >> >
> >> >Any help will be highly appreciated. Thanks.
> >> >
> >> >Yuggie
> >>
> >> Yuggie,
> >>
> >> This sounds like corrupt NTFS permissions to me. The solution, that we've found
> >> in the past, is to run "cacls" to reset permission on the problem folders.
> >> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/09/server-access-authorisation.html>
> >> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...orisation.html
>
> >Hi, Chuck
> >
> >Thanks for the reply.
> >
> >I changed the permission in both Security tag and "cacle". I saw the
> >permission for the folder was everyone/full control on the remote machine.
> >However, I still couldn't see any content under the shared folder on the
> >remote system when I used the local machine.
> >
> >I upgraded the remote machine to SP2 and ran disk check, it didn't help.
> >
> >Then I unplug the hard drive and put it into a good WinXP machine. I share
> >the same folders and I can see all folders from the local machine.
> >
> >So I have to rebuild the remote machine. Hope it help.
> >
> >Thans again for the info.
> >
> >Yuggie
>
> Yuggie,
>
> I presume that this is a workgroup setup? If so, take my advice about multiple
> tests as literally as possible, but don't overdo. With workgroups, I
> acknowledge that you cannot duplicate access from every computer to every
> computer. Just do the best that you can. That's why I like domains.
>
> You have some files / folders that can be seen accessed, and some that can't?
> Is this still after running cacls? If you run cacls to just list permissions,
> does it show any difference between the ones that can, and the ones that can't,
> be accessed?
>
> Your original report mentions "User A", and you, having this problem. Do your
> specific problem folders equal his, or are they different?
>
> There is one other known problem which is related to your symptoms. Don't take
> the exact symptoms described in here too literally, this problem is much more
> versatile than this article would suggest.
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/895900/
>
> Moving the hard drive to another server was an excellent bit of diagnosis, and
> points, primarily, to a problem with the server (host computer containing hard
> drive). Now, dig deeper. Try accessing the files that could, and couldn't be
> accessed originally, from more than 1 client (you have 3 computer, so use 1 as a
> server, and 2 as clients). Then put the drive back into the original host, and
> do the same. See if client has anything at all to do with the problem too. And
> check both "User A" and yourself, again, in all cases.
> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html>
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...-tutorial.html
>
> I'll give you the advice, but you gotta do the leg work. Develop multiple tests
> cases, and compare results.
>
> Rebuilding a computer might be the final answer, but make sure that you know
> exactly where the problem is first. Don't rebuild the wrong computer.
> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html>
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...ghborhood.html
>
> And learn to bottom post. Help me to help you.
> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/how-to-post-on-usenet-and-encourage.html#TopPosting>
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...tml#TopPosting
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
> Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
> My email is AT DOT
> actual address pchuck mvps org.
>

On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 17:22:03 -0800, Yuggie <Yuggie@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>"Chuck" wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 14 Nov 2005 22:27:02 -0800, Yuggie <Yuggie@discussions.microsoft.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >"Chuck" wrote:
>> >
>> >> On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 19:28:02 -0800, Yuggie <Yuggie@discussions.microsoft.com>
>> >> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >Hi, all
>> >> >
>> >> >I have a strange problem. There are three Windows XP Pro computers. Local
>> >> >WinXP with SP2, NTFS. Remote system WinXP SP1, NTFS. Third machine is WinXP
>> >> >SP2.
>> >> >
>> >> >There is a shared folder on the remote system. User A is the power user on
>> >> >this machine. He also has all permissions except 'Full Control" against this
>> >> >shared folder and its sub-folders. However, user A couldn't access some
>> >> >sub-folders in this shared folder ( he can open the sub-folder but see no
>> >> >content in this sub-folder). I even reset the permission for this folder to
>> >> >full control, but didn't work. I logged on as administrator on the local
>> >> >machine but had the same problem (can't see the contents in some folders)
>> >> >even if I am the administrator for both systems.
>> >> >
>> >> >I created a test sub-folder under the shared folder, I created a text file
>> >> >under the new subfolder. I keyed in some text into the file and exited the
>> >> >text editor, the icon of the text file disappeared from file explorer
>> >> >immediately after I close the editor. Then I can't see any content under this
>> >> >folder again! However, all the existing content and the new text file can be
>> >> >seen on remote and Third system, no matter whom you log in as.
>> >> >
>> >> >Any help will be highly appreciated. Thanks.
>> >> >
>> >> >Yuggie
>> >>
>> >> Yuggie,
>> >>
>> >> This sounds like corrupt NTFS permissions to me. The solution, that we've found
>> >> in the past, is to run "cacls" to reset permission on the problem folders.
>> >> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/09/server-access-authorisation.html>
>> >> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...orisation.html
>>
>> >Hi, Chuck
>> >
>> >Thanks for the reply.
>> >
>> >I changed the permission in both Security tag and "cacle". I saw the
>> >permission for the folder was everyone/full control on the remote machine.
>> >However, I still couldn't see any content under the shared folder on the
>> >remote system when I used the local machine.
>> >
>> >I upgraded the remote machine to SP2 and ran disk check, it didn't help.
>> >
>> >Then I unplug the hard drive and put it into a good WinXP machine. I share
>> >the same folders and I can see all folders from the local machine.
>> >
>> >So I have to rebuild the remote machine. Hope it help.
>> >
>> >Thans again for the info.
>> >
>> >Yuggie
>>
>> Yuggie,
>>
>> I presume that this is a workgroup setup? If so, take my advice about multiple
>> tests as literally as possible, but don't overdo. With workgroups, I
>> acknowledge that you cannot duplicate access from every computer to every
>> computer. Just do the best that you can. That's why I like domains.
>>
>> You have some files / folders that can be seen accessed, and some that can't?
>> Is this still after running cacls? If you run cacls to just list permissions,
>> does it show any difference between the ones that can, and the ones that can't,
>> be accessed?
>>
>> Your original report mentions "User A", and you, having this problem. Do your
>> specific problem folders equal his, or are they different?
>>
>> There is one other known problem which is related to your symptoms. Don't take
>> the exact symptoms described in here too literally, this problem is much more
>> versatile than this article would suggest.
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/895900/
>>
>> Moving the hard drive to another server was an excellent bit of diagnosis, and
>> points, primarily, to a problem with the server (host computer containing hard
>> drive). Now, dig deeper. Try accessing the files that could, and couldn't be
>> accessed originally, from more than 1 client (you have 3 computer, so use 1 as a
>> server, and 2 as clients). Then put the drive back into the original host, and
>> do the same. See if client has anything at all to do with the problem too. And
>> check both "User A" and yourself, again, in all cases.
>> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/solving-network-problems-tutorial.html>
>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...-tutorial.html
>>
>> I'll give you the advice, but you gotta do the leg work. Develop multiple tests
>> cases, and compare results.
>>
>> Rebuilding a computer might be the final answer, but make sure that you know
>> exactly where the problem is first. Don't rebuild the wrong computer.
>> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html>
>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...ghborhood.html
>>
>> And learn to bottom post. Help me to help you.
>> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/how-to-post-on-usenet-and-encourage.html#TopPosting>
>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/0...tml#TopPosting

>Hi, Chuck
>
>These computers are in a domain. The remote system is used as a file storage
>without application installed.
>
>I put the drive to a good computer and share the folders, all other systems
>could access to the shared folders. However, when I put it back to the remote
>system, the content disappear again.
>
>I think I better tell you in details. I shared folder "Level-1". There are
>sub-folders "Level-2", then sub-folder "Level-3" so on. At some of the
>folders at Level-3, I could see level-4 when I open level-3 on local system.
>No matter which user logged on which mean the problem is not user/profile
>relative.
>
>The strange thing was, I creatd a text file and keyed in some text. I can
>see the icon of this text file. But when I saved and closed the notepad, I
>saw the icon disappeared from the file browser immediately. When I jumped to
>the remote system and open "My Computer", the text file was still there!
>
>It is access deny issue but looks like the local system "want" to hide the
>content in certain folders. I compaired the permission but they were the same
>in the viewable or non-viewable folders. Also, if I could create a text file
>at the non-viewable folder, there should be no permission issue.
>
>Since the remote system is a file storage, it is very easy to re-install it
>instead of takecouple days to diagnose it. My bose was behind me
>
>After I re-installed it. Everything worked nicely.
>
>Thanks again for such rich information on your website. It helped me a lot.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Yuggie

Yuggie,

Thanks for the update, and the feedback. Please keep in touch.

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.