# Need help with a 2003 Server permissions/sharing problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 7, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-2003-server-permissions-sharing-problem/552938 "2010-09-07T16:38:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-2003-server-permissions-sharing-problem/552938/1 "2010-09-07T16:38:50Z")
I’m working on a Windows 2003 Server and having an odd permissions or sharing problem. The customer had previously had a software package installed on their server in a Programs share that was accessible to the users via. that share using, say, \server\Programs$\program\program.exe. Last night we upgraded the software to the newest version and now the program doesn’t run correctly using the share. However, if you run the program directly from the c:\programs\program\program.exe it works fine. The error I get when using the script and the share is “Windows Cannot Access the Specified Device, Path or File. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the file”. If you simply go to the share by typing in \server\programs$\program and then attempt to run program.exe you get the same error. However, if you go to the c:\programs\program directory and then run program.exe it works fine. I figure it’s some kind of permission problem, but I’ve looked at the share and everything looks fine (for instance, you can go to \server\program$\program, see the directory, create and delete files, and even see the permissions on program.exe…which are full permissions). I’ve tried to propagate file system rights to the child objects throughout the share and I still get the same results. Anyone have any thoughts? I’m totally stumped here. -XT ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-2003-server-permissions-sharing-problem/552938/2 "2010-09-07T17:02:27Z")
It’s probably a firewall or antivirus problem. If you had the old program.exe exempted anywhere you need to re-do it. Also try adding [\server](file://\server) to trusted sites in IE. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-2003-server-permissions-sharing-problem/552938/3 "2010-09-07T17:08:24Z")
I thought of that but it doesn’t seem to be the case. What it looks like to me now is that you can’t run ANY executable from a share for some reason. Just for drill I tried to go into another share and run a completely different program and I got the exact same error. This is as domain Admin btw. So, there seems to be something wrong with the server itself. -XT ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-2003-server-permissions-sharing-problem/552938/4 "2010-09-07T17:08:37Z")
Also restart after putting [\server](file://\server) in trusted sites. ETA: On both the server and the client. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-2003-server-permissions-sharing-problem/552938/5 "2010-09-07T17:14:59Z")
[QUOTE=yoyodyne] Also restart after putting \server in trusted sites. ETA: On both the server and the client. [/QUOTE] I’m thinking of doing a restart at noon. I’m not sure exactly what you mean by putting it in ‘trusted sites’ on both the server and the client. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before. -XT ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-2003-server-permissions-sharing-problem/552938/6 "2010-09-07T17:20:52Z")
Open Internet Explorer, go to Tools, Internet Options, Security. Click on Trusted Sites, the Sites button. In the “Add site…” box put [\server](file://\server), and uncheck the “Require server verification…” box. OK out and restart. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-2003-server-permissions-sharing-problem/552938/7 "2010-09-07T17:23:23Z")
Oh…yeah, I know what that is. How would that help, though? That’s for browser security. This isn’t a browser issue, but a file/share issue, seemingly. I’m starting to think that there is something fundamentally wrong with this server, since it doesn’t seem I can run any executable from a share. -XT ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-2003-server-permissions-sharing-problem/552938/8 "2010-09-07T17:25:36Z")
It’s both actually. Did you upgrade IE on the server recently? Have IE Enhanced Security on? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-2003-server-permissions-sharing-problem/552938/9 "2010-09-07T17:31:54Z")
Nope…though IE is on the server, they are actually using FireFox. I rebooted the server without making the changes, and everything seems to be working now. It was VERY odd…never seen anything like it before. I’m curious why a browser setting would make a difference though. Does Microsoft have their file and sharing system integrated with their browser?? That seems strange. -XT ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-2003-server-permissions-sharing-problem/552938/10 "2010-09-07T17:44:29Z")
They are tied together and yes it’s strange. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-a-2003-server-permissions-sharing-problem/552938/11 "2010-09-07T17:46:47Z")
Well, learned something new then. 🙂 Thanks for the help! -XT