DOCUMENT:Q157069 02-OCT-2001 [winnt] TITLE :"Can't Access This Folder. Path Is Too Long" Error PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER::4.0,4.0a,4.5 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 - Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server versions 4.0, 4.0a, 4.5 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you log on to a computer running Windows NT Workstation or Server, you get a dialog box with the following error message or you get a blank desktop: Can't access this folder. The path is too long. RESOLUTION ========== Log on as the local Administrator and verify that either the user or a group (of which the user is a member) has at least read access to the root of the system drive. To accomplish this if the desktop is blank, follow the procedure below: 1. Start Task Manager by pressing CTRL+ALT+DELETE. 2. On the File menu, click New Task. 3. In the Run dialog box, start Explorer.exe or Winfile.exe. 4. View the security permissions of the system drive. If the user or group does not have this access, add it to the directory permissions for the user or group. Do not select the Apply To Subdirectories check box. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: ARTICLE-ID: Q148437 TITLE : Default NTFS Permissions in Windows NT MORE INFORMATION ================ If a user logs on to a workstation (either locally or to a domain) and is not listed by group or name to have any access permissions to the root directory where the system files reside, the following problems can occur: - If the user logs on to the domain from the workstation or member server, he or she will get a dialog box with the following error, followed by a blank desktop: Can't access this folder. The path is too long. However, a profile is created in the %SystemRoot%\Profiles directory for that user. - If the workstation or server is not a member of a domain, or if the user decides to log on locally, the error message may or may not be displayed, but a blank desktop with the profile created in the profiles directory will occur. The scenarios described above have only been confirmed with Windows NT 4.0 clients. The domain that a user logs on to can be either a Windows NT 3.51 or a Windows NT 4.0 domain with the same results. This is one type of scenario that can occur if directory permissions are not set up properly on a client. Additional query words: path profiles ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch kbAudDeveloper kbSBServSearch kbSBServ400 kbSBServ400a kbSBServ450 Version : :4.0,4.0a,4.5 Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.