UnauthorizedAccessException when running desktop application from shared folder

Question

I created a desktop application using VS 2008.

When I run it locally, all works well.

I shared my output folder (WITHOUT allowing network users to change my files) and ran my exe from another Vista computer on our intranet.

When running the shared exe, I receive "System.UnauthorizedAccessException" when trying to read a file.

How can I give permission to allow reading the file? Should I change the code? Should I grant permission to the application\folder on the Vista computer? how?

Notes:

• I do not use ClickOnce. the application should be distributed using xcopy.

• My application target framework is ".Net Framework 2.0"

• On the Vista computer, "controlPanel | UninstallOrChangePrograms" it says it has "Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 SP1"

• I also tried to map the folder drive, but got the same errors, only now the fileName is "T:\my.ocx"

  ' ----------------------------------------------------------------------

  ' my code:

  Dim src As String = mcGlobals.cmcFiles.mcGetFileNameOcx()
  Dim ioStream As New System.IO.FileStream(src, IO.FileMode.Open)

  ' ----------------------------------------------------------------------

  Public Shared Function mcGetFileNameOcx() As String

  ' ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Dim dirName As String = Application.StartupPath & "\"
    Dim sFiles() As String = System.IO.Directory.GetFiles(dirName, "*.ocx")
  
    Dim i As Integer
    For i = 0 To UBound(sFiles)
      Debug.WriteLine(System.IO.Path.GetFullPath(sFiles(i)))
      ' if found any - return the first:
      Return System.IO.Path.GetFullPath(sFiles(i))
    Next
    Return "" 
  
  End Function
  

  ' ----------------------------------------------------------------------

  ' The Exception I receive:

  System.UnauthorizedAccessException: Access to the path '\\computerName\sharedFolderName\my.ocx' is denied.
    at System.IO._Error(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)
    at System.IO.FileStream.Init(...)
    at System.IO.FileStream..ctor(...)
    at System.IO.FileStream..ctor(String path, FileMode mode)
  

  ' ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Answer 1

found it.

According to MSDN, [FileStream Constructor (String, FileMode) ]

. . . For constructors without a FileAccess parameter,

• if the mode parameter is set to Append, Write is the default access.
• Otherwise, the access is set to ReadWrite.

-> my code used the default, with ioStream.CanWrite:=True, and I do not have Write permission on the shared folder.

so I added FileAccess parameter:

new code:
Dim ioStream As New System.IO.FileStream(srcOcx, IO.FileMode.Open, IO.FileAccess.Read) 

old code:
Dim ioStream As New System.IO.FileStream(srcOcx, IO.FileMode.Open) 

Answer 2

Starting with .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 you are allowed to run an application from a network share. You don't have to target it, you just have to have it installed.

References

• .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 Allows managed code to be launched from a network share!
• Run a .NET program from a mapped drive or shared folder