Windows XP & NTFS: Permissions

[jameslee]

Can anyone provide a simple explanation of how Windows XP and NTFS handle permissions/ownership of files and folders? I've disabled simple file sharing, if that matters.

Basically, i have a structure of folders and files on one computer. The permissions for these files and folders relate directly to the users on this computer. If i copy the structure to another computer with different users, how are the permissions changed -- are the original users still authorized, even though they don't exist on the new computer, or are those users completely replaced?

I'm certain objects and inheritance are involved, which is probably the reason why i'm having such a hard time grasping the concept. For some reason OOAnything and DBs give me the hardest time.

Sorry for all the posts recently, but i've been putting off posting for some time looking for my own answers.

[Jeffbx]

OK, working from memory here, but I believe this is the way it works (someone please correct me if I'm wrong):

COPY a file/folder to a new location on the same computer: file permissions on the new file are set according to the folder you move it to. I.e., the file inherits permission from the new folder.

MOVE a file/folder to a new location on the same computer: file permissions follow the file to the new location

MOVE or COPY a file/folder to a different computer: same as COPY above - permissions are set based on the folder you move the files into. Original file permissions are not kept.

However, I beleive there are tools available (in the resource kit, perhaps) that give you more control over keeping permissions attached to files during a move/copy.

[topane]

Jeffbx is correct ;). The way I remember it is moving a file on the same PC doesn't really "move" the file, Windows just updates the pointers to the file. Since the file doesn't physically move, it keeps its permissions. In all other situations, Windows copies the file first (in a new location), so it inherits the permissions from the target folder/PC.

[jameslee]

Thanks for the quick response and great explanation.