How Permissions Are Handled When You Copy and Move Files and Folders (310316)

SUMMARY

In Windows 2000, you have the option of using either the FAT32 file system or the NTFS file system. When you use NTFS, you can grant permissions to your folders and files to control access to those objects. When you copy or move a file or folder on an NTFS volume, the manner in which Windows Explorer handles the permissions on the object varies, depending on whether the object is copied or moved within the same NTFS volume or to a different volume. This article describes how Windows Explorer handles file and folder permissions in different situations.

MORE INFORMATION

By default, an object inherits permissions from its parent object, either at the time of creation or when it is copied or moved to its parent folder. The only exception to this rule occurs when you move an object to a different folder on the same volume. In this case, the original permissions are retained.

Additionally, note the following rules:

The Everyone group is granted Allow Full Control permissions to the root of each NTFS drive.
Deny permissions always take precedence over Allow permissions.
Explicit permissions take precedence over inherited permissions.
If NTFS permissions conflict -- for example, if group and user permissions are contradictory -- the most liberal permissions take precedence.
Permissions are cumulative.
To preserve permissions when files and folders are copied or moved, use the Xcopy.exe utility with the /O or the /X switch.

The object's original permissions will be added to inheritable permissions in the new location.
To add an object's original permissions to inheritable permissions when you copy or move an object, use the Xcopy.exe utility with the -O and -X switches.
To preserve existing permissions without adding inheritable permissions from the parent folder, use the Robocopy.exe utility, which is available in the Windows 2000 Resource Kit. For additional information about the Windows 2000 Resource Kit, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/2000/server/reskit/en-us/default.asp

You can modify the way in which Windows Explorer handles permissions when objects are copied or moved to another NTFS volume. As described at the beginning of the "More Information" section of this article, when you copy or move an object to another volume, the object inherits the permissions of its new folder. However, if you want to modify this behavior to preserve the original permissions, modify the registry as follows.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
Locate and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following registry value:
Value name: ForceCopyAclwithFile
Data type: DWORD
Value data: 1
Quit Registry Editor.