As Admin I can't access users home folder - (usershare)

Question

How can I access user's home folders
Setting up a new server and copied users home from SBS 2003 but having setup all the users I cannot access the users home folders as Admin at the Server console.
Obviously I can login to a users PC and upload the files from the but...
This is something I need to do frequently for users.
*** Edit ***
If I enable the disabled "Administrator" account - I am then able to access the folders!
(I would like to keep Administrator account disabled)
I added Admin to the Administrators group but that didn't work either!
I suppose I I work around by enabling administrator account but would much rather allow Admin to have same rights.
ChrisS

Answer 1

Hi
There is a GPO that controls the Redirected Folders.... the default in SBS is to restrict users redirected folders exclusively. That means 'Administrators' can not access the files, only the specified users who own it.
Ironically i also find this restricts viewing the files on these folders in the proper backup
To fix this you need to do a number of steps.
1. First of all remove the tick from the GPO for Exclusive access to redirected folders. When this is done any new users you add, the administrators (security group) will be able to access the folders and files.
However this will not fix the ones made when the PO exclusivity was enabled. To fix this there are methods on this forum about PowerShell access, and guides, all very complicated... but neded if you can;t access your users accounts. Like you I created 3
users before noticing this GPO issue.
I found a way around it.
User 1 is restricted.
1. So go to a client computer and log on as User 1
2. navigate to \\server\redirected folders\User 1
3. Select the Documents folder and right click, properties, security
4. Add the Administrators (note the s, administrators, not administrator) and give Full Control
5. Do the same to the Desktop Folder
You need to do this for each User that is restricted, as each User that is restricted. Each User owns their Desktop and Documents folder and can therefore apply whatever security they like to it.
The difference the GPO exclusive makes is whether or not Adminsitrators are added to the security for those folders, you are just manully setting this up
You do not need to take ownership, do not need to run powershell. Admitedly if your users are remote users, and you are never at the clients with the server, then I agree maybe the Ownership and Powershell route is the way to go, but odds are you will visit
the client and be able to do this on site s the user is logged in. This is the quickest and Easiest way
Tris