Windows Vista Need help - can't transfer some files

Hi,
I need some expert help here as I am at wits end trying to transfer some files from my XP machine to my laptop which is Vista. I am using a wired network and almost all files transfer quickly and perfectly (I just drag and drop between computers, no Vista easy transfer). The files I am having problems with are .gz, .xml and some .pdf & .exe files (not all) and I get the "You need permission to perform this action" and I have never been able to transfer those files ever. Never had any problem before transferring from XP to XP machines so how do I fix this?
Thanks in advance for your help, I think I have tried everything.
Gene

 

I gave up relying on Drag and Drop in Win 95 Try reading about synchronising folders in Help and Support.

I use this for synchronisation:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download/SyncBackSE_d4386.html
If there should be a problem with running it in Vista, you can try going to the executable (.exe), right-click on it and select "Run as administrator ".

Matt

 

Matt,
Thanks for responding but as I said before I always had XP on both machines before and never ever had a problem with drag & drop to one or the other. I don't feel I should have to buy other software or install any free software either to transfer files as 99% of the files transfer perfectly well already from the XP to the Vista laptop, it is just those few that stop the process and tell me I can't. I have full access to my computers and I SHOULD be able to do what I want with those files.
Gene

 

While I don't have the full picture of your problem, you may try the following work-around methods:

• Try using same account name with adminstrator rights on both XP and Vista.
• Turn off UAC
• Transfer to an intermediate storage media, e.g. a USB thumb drive and see if it's transfer-out or transfer-in problem.
• right-click on the file and click Properties, then click Advanced button under Shortcut tag, and check Run as administrator.

Good luck.

 

IvanH,
Have done all of what you suggested before and I can copy to a usb flash drive and then to the laptop with no problems, just won't transfer over the network. Vista will not let me take ownership of the file(s) either.
Gene

 

For those files unable to transfer, have you checked their attributes? Any findings?

 

I have checked the attributes and anything I do to change them pops up the Vista message "You will need to provide administrator permission to change these attributes ". I am the administrator and logged in as such.
Gene

 

Be careful, if you do this!

Hi Genetoy,

you may explore (but I don't suggest you to change it before you can fully master it) more about "elevation ", which relates to the core of UAC.

By default, members of the administrators group are not running with a full administrative token. Some tasks that would have been possible under Windows XP do not work under Windows Vista with the same behaviour.


Take a look at this:

Click on Start, and type "cmd" (don't hit Enter) on the start search box. Then you'll see the cmd.exe icon appearing somewhere on the menu. Right-click on the cmd.exe icon and select Properties. Then you'll see the Permissions for Administrators. If you edit the permission to "Full control ", then you can do much more (I'm not sure it's everything) dangerous tasks; e.g. delete explorer.exe from c:\windows.

But I suggest you don't do it.

I am not familiar with the configuration of UAC Policy. But it's the area you can pursue.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for the help agin Ivan. I tried what you suggested and any group I try to change permissions on Vista pops up a message saying "Unable to save permission changes on cmd.exe - Access is denied "
Gene

 

o.k. I need more information...

• How did you install the Vista, from upgrade, or fresh?
• From which OS version to which Vista version?
• Which user account was first created during installation? Are
• Are you in a standalone PC or in a domain?
• How do you ensure you're having administrator privilege?
• Can you create another user account as administrator?
• Can you disable UAC and how?
• Did you reboot after disabling UAC?
• From Start > Run, you enter cmd and open a command prompt window and type "whoami /priv ", what do you see?

And back to square one:
You can drag and drop some other files from an XP folder to a Vista folder, but not some other files with specific file extension, am I correct?
If this is the case, can you use the "MOVE" command from the command prompt to transfer the sticky files in fulfiling the goal?

By the way, try logon in safe mode and see if there is a Built-in Administrator.

 

Ivan, thanks again for trying to help me with this

• How did you install the Vista, from upgrade, or fresh?
• A) Came with my new Gateway laptop pre-installed
• From which OS version to which Vista version?
• A) XP Home ver 5.1 SP2 to Vista Home Premium ver 6.0
• Which user account was first created during installation?
• A) My acct “Gene” as admin
• Are you in a standalone PC or in a domain?
• A) standalone, just two computers on cat5 cable w router connected to cable modem
• How do you ensure you're having administrator privilege?
• A) I can log in under “Administrator” or “Gene” and same exact problem
• Can you create another user account as administrator?
• A) Yes under Administrator or Gene
• Can you disable UAC and how?
• A) Yes, User Accounts> Turn User Account Control on or off> check or un-check “Use User Account Control” (has been disabled/off for some time now)
• Did you reboot after disabling UAC?
• A) Yes
• From Start > Run, you enter cmd and open a command prompt window and type "whoami /priv ", what do you see?
• A) laptop17\gene & a list of “Privilege Names” a list of “Descriptions” and a list of “State” which all say disabled

And back to square one:
You can drag and drop some other files from an XP folder to a Vista folder, but not some other files with specific file extension, am I correct?
A) Yes, I can drag & drop 95% of the files except some pdf (which by the way I can do a “save as” on the xp computer to a different location and those I can then transfer). The .gz and .xml files won’t transfer.
If this is the case, can you use the "MOVE" command from the command prompt to transfer the sticky files in fulfiling the goal?
A) Have not tried this as I have to move the files repeatedly as they are website backup files and I store them on both computers.

By the way, try logon in safe mode and see if there is a Built-in Administrator.
A) Same logon "Administrator" & "Gene ". Also tried dragging & dropping in safe mode and got same permissions message.
Gene

 

I don't know about .xml, but I think that .gz and some .pdf files have built-in security. Vista is wary of .exe's, that's part of it's increased security.

I know you would like things to work the way they did. If it was an XP/XP system or a Vista/Vista system there may not be these problems. I expect the "cross platform" of the two versions is at the heart.

Vista has a higher level of security. Turning off the security protocols just to make Drag and Drop work would be, for me, . I would find a new method, but it looks like you are determined to override the security, maybe leaving your system exposed.

Good luck.

Matt

 

Hi Genestoy,

1. You mentioned pre-installed OS but then from XP Home to Vista Home Premium. It confused me. When you received the Gateway notebook, which OS is bootable? If it's done by Gateway, I'd suggest you to contact them and see what specific configuration they've done for Vista.
2. Try disabling firewall and security software on both computers and try again. If you have intrusion concern, unplug the cable modem before you try. And remember to turn them back on after the trial.
3. It may also be a problem of the ownership. Have you tried dragging from the XP, and dragging from the Vista? Do they have the same problem?
4. See if it's the ownership problem: If you start from Windows Vista, right-click the file of trouble and then click Properties, then click the Security tab, click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab, then click Edit, and click the name of the person you want to give ownership to, e.g. gene in your case. See if it works.
5. You also mentioned that you need to move the files repeatedly, so you may (if you haven't yet) create a network drive on each computer and drag the files from a local drive to a network drive. In this case, they will be treated as within the same computer, to certain extent.
6. Lastly, you mentioned that you can't "save" the modified rights on Administrator. Are you referring to the XP's administrator, or the Vista's administrator? As the user groups are not equivalent in each OS, in long term, you may consider to standardize them on Vista.

Respond to Mattman text, I have no idea about .gz files; but .pdf files with built-in DRM (Digital Rights Management) will not affect transfer, but only affect file open, in my limited experience, and .xml files are just text files. So, I prefer to toss my dice on the ownership of the tricky files.

Genestoy, from your information, I wish I have solved the problem. But you're the one to do the surgery; and a lot of situational combination of techniques and decisions to make that I can't help in a blogging environment. If you really need on-line help, you may consider to join some paid-services that provide remote desktop services which will take over your desktop and resolve the problem in an hour, to my believe.

Good luck!

 

Ivan,
Thanks again for trying to help me, I really appreciate someone trying to help solve the problem rather than telling me why I shouldn't try to do it. It is my two computers and I should be able to transfer the files from one computer to another if I want to. I will just do a workaround for now and will probably get rid of Vista on the laptop and install XP. I am not alone in this as there are literally thousands of unhappy users around the globe that can't transfer files, or delete their own files within Vista.
What is so strange with Vista is I can make a test folder on the XP machine and copy the gz and xml files, place them in the test folder and transfer them just fine to the original folder and copy and replace them just fine, makes no sense to me, same files!
Gene

Update,
I found another workaround, don't know why it works it just does. I originally had a folder with two other folders inside that folder and was saving the gz and xml files in the original folder. I made another folder inside the original so there are now three folders and saved the gz and the xml files from my website inside the third folder and can now transfer those exact same files with no problem! I saved them directly from the website as I have always done, no copies. For some reason Vista does not like to transfer these files that sit alongside other folders (not files). So I now have three folders with gz & xml files in each of the three folders and they all transfer with no problem.

 

Hi Genestoy,

Just back from a busy week. I'm glad to know you've found a workaround way. Keep blogging!