Permissions on Windows 8 libraries keep resetting for homegroup users to read only!! HELP!

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

January 10th, 2013 8:14pm

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

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February 20th, 2013 1:51pm

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
February 21st, 2013 12:42am

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
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March 21st, 2013 1:20pm

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
June 29th, 2013 1:00pm

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

  • Edited by dmwinsd Sunday, December 01, 2013 3:09 PM
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December 1st, 2013 3:08pm

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.
January 16th, 2014 6:26am

I am able to reproduce the issue on Windows 10 pro.
  • Edited by EZtouch Monday, August 03, 2015 8:34 AM
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August 3rd, 2015 8:33am

Yes, me too. New Windows 10 Pro upgraded by update from Windows 8.1 Pro. Default user folders redirected to D:\Documents. Each time I restart permissions for HomeUsers users are reset - HomeUsers lose Full Control / Modify / Write permissions. Even though I am logged in as Administrator, membership of HomeUsers trumps this permission, and I am unable to save to these folders until resetting permissions manually.
August 12th, 2015 7:37am

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