You receive an access denied message on a Windows Vista-based computer when you click offline files that are not synchronized with the file server

Consider the following scenario:

• The initial synchronization of files and folders in Offline Files is interrupted. (This occurs when the client is disconnected.)
• Windows Explorer or other applications are open and are accessing the files and folders that are being synchronized

In this scenario, Windows Vista does not resume synchronization, and later manual synchronization attempts do not fix the problem. Additionally, no errors are shown in Sync Center. When you try to access the affected folders while you are offline, you receive an “access denied” error.

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Vista. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for installing this hotfix.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Vista, x86-based versions

Windows Vista, x64-based versions

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

This hotfix will prevent the “Offline Files” cache from ending up in a bad state when the initial synchronization is interrupted.

Note Installing the hotfix on a system that already has this problem will not fix it. To restore the cache to a good state, follow these steps:

1. Make sure that the affected client is online and that the server that hosts the data is being synchronized by “Offline Files” is available.
2. Start a command prompt.
3. Do a recursive directory enumeration of the affected folder hierarchy. For example , type the following:
   DIR /S \\server\share\folder\cachedfoldersrootdir

Later Offline Files synchronization attempts will successfully cache the folders and files.
For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: