Retain and manage access to files for removed user accounts

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Applies To: Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials

The network administrator can delete a user account, but can choose to keep the users files for future use. In this scenario, the removed user account can no longer be used to log on to the network; however, the files for this user will be saved in a shared folder, which can be shared with another user.

To remove a user account but retain access to the user’s files

  1. Open the Windows SBS 2011 Essentials Dashboard.

  2. On the main navigation bar, click Users.

  3. In the list of user accounts, select the user account that you want to remove.

  4. In the <User Account> Tasks pane, click Remove the user account. The Delete a User Account Wizard appears.

  5. On the Do you want to keep the files? page, make sure that the Delete the files for this user account check box is clear, and then click Next.

    A confirmation page appears that warns you are deleting the account but keeping the files.

  6. Click Delete account to remove the user account.

After the user account is removed, the administrator can give another user account access to the shared folder.

To give a user account permission to access a shared folder

  1. Open the Windows SBS 2011 Essentials Dashboard.

  2. On the main navigation bar, click Server Folders and Hard Drives, and then click the Server Folders tab.

  3. In the list of folders, select the Users folder.

  4. In the Users Tasks pane, click Open the folder. Windows Explorer opens and displays the contents of the Users folder.

  5. Right-click the folder for the user account that you want to share, and then click Properties.

  6. In <User Account> Properties, click the Sharing tab, and then click Share.

  7. Type or browse for the user account name with whom you want to share the folder, and then click Add.

  8. Choose the Permission Level that you want the user account to have, and then click Share.