I've read the same question 2 weeks ago on a dutch forum and since I was busy programming shell extensions I looked into programming a so called shell copy hook.
A shell copy hook can prevent the accidental move of folders by presenting a pop-up window where the user has to confirm that he/she wants to move the folder(s) and if not cancel the action.
After I made the utility I did a search on Google for similar programs/problems/solutions which turned up this topic.
As I'm new here first a question (don't want to become known as a spammer):
Is it ok to post a link to this utility here (it's freeware for personal and private use and for non-profit organizations)?
Here's also some information I've used before when dealing with drag&drop problems:
(this was on Netware but the same can probably be done with ntfs folder rights)
---
Say you have these 3 folders underneath each other in explorer:
test1
test2
test3
and you want to prevent or make it harder for the user to move any files with drag & drop from test2 to test1 or test3 (and the test2 folder has to have rwcemf rights for all users)
Solutions:
1) Prevents any moving of files by drag & drop with the folder:
(note: this uses the file system rule that you cannot copy, move or create a folder in a folder where there is already a file with the same name of the folder to be copied/moved/created)
Create in test1 and test3 a read only file with the name test2 (no extension) (maybe protect the file further with delete inhibit and rename inhibit rights so only supervisors can do anything with these files).
2) Warns the user they are going to move a folder
Flag the test2 folder read only. This then produces a dialog to the effect: "Are you sure you want to move the read-only folder ..." to which your users should say "No". Regrettably they can still choose Yes and the harm will be done.
3) A bit of a hassle and it creates unnecessary folders:
Make folders test1 and test3 read only folders where only supervisors have create rights (those folders are most of the time no longer useful for normal use) (note: I have not tested this)
4) Make the sensitivity of drag & drop a bit greater so the inadvertent small move doesn't happen so easily:
Use Tweakui to set in mouse sensitivity the drag item to a greater number (this might have a negative effect on other programs where you want to have a high sensitivity for dragging).
I would go with option 1,2 & 4 but this means more administrative overhead and when users change the sorting of the explorer display from name to f.e. date you have another problem (more folders to store a test2 file in) to deal with.
Hope this helps a little, but an enhancement request to MS for a folder property of don't drag & drop would be more appropriate (or a mandatory confirm box for drag & drop)
---
(A mandatory confirm box is what I created with my utility)
![[thumbsup2]](/data/assets/smilies/thumbsup2.gif "[thumbsup2] [thumbsup2]")
