Windows 7 I don't understand "home folder" behavior under Win7 on a Windows domain

[jratzlaf]

I am the sysadmin for a WS2k3 network at a small school. All users have a "home" folder on the file server mapped as their R: drive. (Additionally, for students I have redirected their "My Documents" folder to their R: drive.) Under WinXP it worked fine. But with Win7RC I'm starting to get complaints, and I've observed several odd behaviors myself with a test student account:

1. In Windows Explorer, logged in as the test student, if I go to the R: drive and right-click, I don't see "New" there, so I can't create a new document, which I would have been able to do under XP. Furthermore, if I open WordPad and create a document and then try to save it there, it won't let me. But I can save it to "Documents", which turns out to be the same place. I understand why it's the same place, but I don't understand why it wouldn't let me save to my own "Home Folder"!
2. In Microsoft Word (2003), I type a document and save it to the R: drive. No error messages. Word can be closed and the file is there and can be re-opened. But it is not available on any other computer as it should be. If I go back to that same computer I can re-open the file. If I examine the Properties of the file, under the Details tab it says "Offline Status: offline (needs sync)". What's with that?!?

How can I get Windows 7 to act the way it should be acting, so that files can be saved to the R: drive and will then be available from anywhere on the network??? BTW, using my administrator account, it all works the way it "should". Thanks for any help... - JR

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you are facing compatibility issues with file access and synchronization on Windows 7 in your WS2k3 network environment. Here are some suggestions to address the problems you are encountering:

Issue 1: Inability to Create New Documents on the R: Drive​

• Missing "New" Option: The missing "New" option in Windows Explorer on the R: drive might be due to the folder settings. This can be caused by permissions, folder settings, or user profile configurations.

  Resolution Steps:​

  1. Check Folder Permissions: Ensure that the test student account has appropriate permissions to create new documents in their "Home Folder" (R: drive).
  2. Folder Redirection Settings: Verify the folder redirection settings to ensure that the redirection to the R: drive is configured correctly for Windows 7.

     Issue 2: File Synchronization and Availability​

• Offline Status and Synchronization: The "Offline Status: offline (needs sync)" message indicates that the file is set to be available offline but needs synchronization to update changes across the network.

  Resolution Steps:​

  1. Offline File Sync: Check the offline file synchronization settings on the Windows 7 computers. Make sure synchronization is enabled and working correctly.
  2. Network Availability: Ensure that network connectivity is consistent for files stored on the R: drive to synchronize properly.
  3. File Ownership and Permissions: Verify that the files saved by the test student account have appropriate ownership and permissions for network access.

     Additional Recommendations:​

     • Group Policy Settings: Review Group Policy settings related to file access and synchronization for Windows 7 computers in the network.
     • Logon Scripts: Consider using logon scripts to ensure proper drive mapping and redirection for user profiles.
     • Testing: Test the configurations with different user accounts and scenarios to identify any specific issues with user profiles or permissions.
     By addressing these points and verifying the configurations in your WS2k3 network, you can potentially resolve the issues with file access, saving, and synchronization on Windows 7 computers. If the problems persist, further troubleshooting of permissions, group policies, and network connectivity may be required. Let me know if you need further assistance or clarification on any of these steps!