I have several windows 8 devices now in a homegroup.  One of them acts as a main media center in which I have added additional folders on a second drive letter source to the libraries such as a 2nd internal hard drive or USB drive.  I have added the HomeUsers group to each of the libraries and set it for FULL access permissions but after each reboot all of the libraries keep getting reset back to read only for homegroup users on the folders I have added to the libraries from the second drive letter source. 

This worked perfectly in windows 7.

I have thoroughly tested this.  This is 100% reproducible.  Create a home group.  Configure libraries and add folders to the libraries from a 2nd drive letter source.  Grant HomeUsers group full access and it only works until you reboot on the folders you have added to the libraries from the second drive letter source.

This only happens on folders you add to a library on a 2nd drive.  Not the default library folder.  

Here are links to other threads on this issue and lack of microsoft repsonse:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-networking/share-to-homegroup-does-not-keep-the-edit/deb46a2d-fe1c-490a-a22d-de99e5ae5046?page=3&tm=1377202832475

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/feedback/forum/mods/moderator-abandoned-win-8-web-and-networking-forum/f87ba671-329e-4b3c-83a0-b657148d415a?tab=question&status=allreplies&page=1

• Changed type Leo HuangMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Tuesday, January 29, 2013 1:43 AM
• Changed type Ronnie VernonMVP, Moderator Friday, February 22, 2013 6:52 AM Question
• Edited by davidb1234 Thursday, August 22, 2013 8:22 PM

I've a workaround but I'm unable to post the link to my thread.

I copy it here.

Hi at All,

as somebody, I faced the famous issue that reset HomeGroup permission to Read and eXecute on folders that reside in a different drive than C and that  are in the Windows 8 default libraries.

I explain you how I solved this issue. It's a workaround not a solution, I hope Microsoft is going to publish a patch for this nasty bug.

In few words, I use Scheduled Tasks to start every logon a script which set Homegroup permission to Full control on the folder of interests.

I publish how to apply this workaround.

1) List all folders that you have added in your Windows Library
     For example, I have added F:\Pictures F:\Video F:\Music F:\Documents in my Windows 8 Library.

2) Create a text file with notepad in C:\folderslist.txt and write the folder you listed in the previous step.
     Remember to put one folder per line, not more. For example, my folderslist.txt is :

     F:\Pictures
     F:\Video
     F:\Music
     F:\Documents

    Save the file and close it.

3) Create a text file, again with notepad, named setPerm.cmd  and save in C:\ .
     Please write these command in the file:

     FOR /F %%I IN (C:\folderslist.txt) DO icacls "%%I" /C /Q /T /grant HomeUsers:(OI)(CI)(F)

     Save and close it.
     When we run this script, it reads the file folderlist.txt , get the path of  folders we listed in the step 1 and set Read and Write permission for Homeusers.

4) Now test it. If all worked correctly you should be able to write from a computer in the Home Group.

5) We have to schedule this permission every logon. How do we do? With this command:

    SCHTASKS /Create /SC ONLOGON /TN setPermTask /TR c:\setPerm.cmd /DELAY 0002:00 /RU System

    You must run this command in an elevated command prompt. Open the Task Manager, click File, click New Task, write cmd , check the flag run as Administrator and click run.

    You should see a command prompt, copy the line above, paste in the black window and press enter.

    If you do that correctly, you won't see error messages.

    Ok, what did we do? We created a task that run every logon and start the script which set correctly homegroup permissions on our folders.

    The task doesn't start at once, the system wait 2 minutes before run the script.  Remember that the bug reset the folder permission after we logon, so we have to take a while before setup permission correctly. If we don't care about this, we will have broken permission.

   The last detail, our PC run the script as System user so we won't see the ugly black box, if you want to see remove /RU System from the command above.

6) Reboot your computer and check if the workaround works.

Please comment the workaround and tell me if it works for you. If you know other workarounds please tell me.

 Emiliano

<Here is the link to the original thread that Emiliano posted>

Workaround for HomeGroup reset permission issue:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w8itpronetworking/thread/5ec5746b-fc5e-4897-880d-23bbd74cd47d/#5ec5746b-fc5e-4897-880d-23bbd74cd47d

• Edited by Ronnie VernonMVP, Moderator Friday, February 22, 2013 6:52 AM Edit
• Marked as answer by Ronnie VernonMVP, Moderator Friday, February 22, 2013 6:53 AM

Thanks you for compliments.

We have to hope that Microsoft publish the patch asap.

Stick the question as answered.

 Emiliano

• Edited by EmilianoB Thursday, February 21, 2013 12:45 AM

Hi,

I too am having this problem and it is very annoying! I had no problems sharing when I had files on my old XP desktop sharing with my Windows 7 laptop. However, now I have a lovely new Windows 8 PC which stores all my main files, it is a nightmare trying to access from my Windows 7 laptop.

I too have set up a Homegroup. For me, my data files are on a separate partition from my OS. I change permissions to allow the Homegroup Read/Write access and all works fine for a while. Then mysteriously the permissons change so the Homegroup only has Read Only access and cannot be accessed.

I haven't yet pinned down whether it only resets when the Windows 8 machine is rebooted or if it happens at other times.

If it is just at Reboot then I will give Emiliano's workaround a go (thanks for that). If it happens at other times though, I will have serious problems as I will have to teach my two daughters how to change file permissions just so they can do their homework!

This seems a pretty big bug in Windows 8. Any news on when it will be fixed and if it has even been acknowledged as a bug?

• Edited by Stef45 Thursday, March 21, 2013 1:21 PM

This is incredible that the issues still persists...I initially responded way back in DavidB's original thread...I've simply just not used libraries since this PC is more of a media server anyways.  But I'd like to use the file history for backup....and can't, because they require the use of libraries.  Was hoping to follow up and see if it was resolved in 8.1.  Sounds like it isn't...

I guess I could use the script posted above...that was a good idea...but a shame that it's necessary after this much time has passed.

• Edited by bschiav21 Saturday, June 29, 2013 1:02 PM Typo

Boy am I glad to find this thread. I'm having the same problem and it's been driving me nuts. Was beginning to think it was just me! I hadn't noticed the correlation between restarts & losing access. I'll have to try the temporary work around while we wait for Microsoft to fix this extremely annoying bug. It's obnoxious, results in some of my programs not working. I also believe it may be causing a massive memory leak in my system. But that will take more work to prove out.

We are still waiting for a fix for this bug after months and months.   Microsoft where are you?

Another request to fix the same problem. I use FreeFileSync to synchronise files between my W7 desktop and my W8 laptop over my home WiFi. Both computers are members of the Homegroup; obviously the laptop needs to have its folders set to 'view and edit' for the sync to work.

After re-starting my laptop, I have to re-set this permission before I can synchronise. With my old (W7) laptop there wasn't a problem..

Just wanted to let everyone know that this issue appears to still be present in 8.1  

If this is not fixed in 8.1 it is really pathetic of Microsoft. Why is there no response from them on this topic?

I was able to resolve my issue by going in and fixing the NTFS permissions of the "HomeUsers" group on the security tab.  My Pictures library permissions would reset back to RO shortly after I applied them.  Once doing it under NTFS permissions the Home group stuff has worked flawlessly.

jesse66 - please could you provide a step by step description of what you did so a thicky like me can attempt to do it.

Also, for the workaround from EmilianoB - does this render file history useless if the size of the storage is very large as every file gets changed every time the system boots up? Or am I missing something?

Just one more confirmation that this IS a problem. Please FIX.

Just one more confirmation that this IS a problem. Please FIX.

same issue

Same problem here, Windows 8.  Occurs on C: drive files.

• Edited by dmwinsd Sunday, December 01, 2013 3:09 PM

MS, really?  This thread is incorrectly marked as Answered -- it needs to be updated as NOT ANSWERED.  This is still a problem with Windows 8.1.  How frustrating.

• Edited by BradfordBunch Thursday, January 16, 2014 6:38 AM

Leo:  thanks for your offer to assist with this problem.  I am experiencing the same thing.  I have 3 Windows 8 computers.  I set sharing to allow the Homegroup to view and edit.  It lasts until a reboot.  Then I have to re-enable it.  

No.  8.1 did not fix the problem for me

Exactly how does one do that?

I do systems work for small businesses and personal computing. A few of my customers have this problem with Windows 8.1. Upon restart, shared folders (in libraries) revert to read only from full control.  8.1 has not resolved the issue.

I am able to reproduce the issue on Windows 10 pro.

• Edited by EZtouch 22 hours 49 minutes ago

I am able to reproduce the issue on Windows 10 pro.

• Edited by EZtouch Monday, August 03, 2015 8:34 AM