How to set, view, change, or remove special permissions for files and folders in Windows XP

Set, view, change, or remove special permissions for files and folders

To set, view, change, or remove special permissions for files and folders:

1. Click Start, click My Computer, and then locate the file or folder where you want to set special permissions.
2. Right-click the file or folder, click Properties, and then click the Security tab.
3. Click Advanced, and then use one of the following steps:
   • To set special permissions for an additional group or user, click Add, and then in Name box, type the name of the user or group, and then click OK.
   • To view or change special permissions for an existing group or user, click the name of the group or user, and then click Edit.
   • To remove an existing group or user and the special permissions, click the name of the group or user, and then click Remove. If the Remove button is unavailable, click to clear the Inherit from parent the permission entries that apply to child objects. Include these with entries explicitly defined here check box, click Remove, and then skip steps 4 and 5.
4. In the Permissions box, click to select or click to clear the appropriate Allow or Deny check box.
5. In the Apply onto box, click the folders or subfolders where you want these permissions applied.
6. To configure security so that the subfolders and files do not inherit these permissions, click to clear the Apply these permissions to objects and/or containers within this container only check box.
7. Click OK two times, and then click OK in the Advanced Security Settings for FolderName box, where FolderName is the folder name.

CAUTION: You can click to select the Replace permission entries on all child objects with entries shown here that apply to child objects. Include these with entries explicitly defined here check box. Therefore,all subfolders and files have all their permission entries reset to the same permissions as the parent object.If you do this, after you click Apply or OK, you cannot undo this operation if you click to clear the check boxes.

Important: If you are not joined to a domain and you want to view the Security tab:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Appearance and Themes, and then click Folder Options.
3. Click the View tab, and then click to clear the Use simple file sharing [Recommended] check box in the Advanced settings box.

Notes:

• The Everyone group does not include the Anonymous Logon permission in Windows XP.
• If you click to select the Inherit from parent the permission entries that apply to child objects. Include these with entries explicitly defined here check box, the file or folder inherits permission entries from the parent object.
• You can set permissions only on drives that are formatted to use NTFS .
• If the check boxes in the Permissions box are not available, the permissions are inherited from the parent folder.
• To change permissions, you must be the owner or have permission to change permissions by the owner.
• Groups or users who have Full Control permissions for a folder can delete the files and the subfolders in that folder, regardless of the permissions that protect the files and the subfolders.