i have xp with 2 accounts, an admin and a limited user. when i try to format a partition i want to use for data storage, i formatted it from the admin account. the limited user account couldn't access the disk management control. problem is, when i do it this way, the limited user doesn't seem to have the permission to access the partition. i tried giving the limited user admin rights by changing the account type. i formatted the partition from this newly changed account and was able to use it. when i changed the account back to limited, though, i was again locked out. how do i format a partition so that limited users can access it? how can i change whatever i need to change for this partition so that everyone can use it? thanks, BabaG

on the newly formatted drive make sure "everyone" is assigned with full control. You review this via the properties page and the security tab.

Also see inherit checkbox. "Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, antivirus, anti-spyware, Live CD's, backups, are in my top 10

thanks for the tips. this is a new install and simple file sharing was on which threw me at first as the options you pointed out don't appear when it's on. once i found it and turned it off i was able to solve the problem. thanks again, BabaG