In Windows XP, you have the ability to synchronize files so they are available offline. Typically, once the option is enabled (from explorer: Tools – > Folder Options -> Offline files) you can right click on network folders and check off the option to ‘Make Available Offline’. Now typically when we setup a users My Documents folder, we map it to a network home folder so we can easily back their data up. In the case where their was a previous user account setup on the computer, with offline files enabled for their My Documents folder – it seems that after that user profile is removed the sync settings are still in place. Now you would think that it would be as easy as logging in with an administrative account, right clicking the folder in question, and removing the check next to ‘Make Available Offline’. Not the case.The Make Available Offline option is greyed out and you cannot click it. Even after disabling offline files and re-enabling, the issue is still there.
This may because there is a GPO setting that is setup that disables the end user from doing this (more info on that here via technet) – but in the case that it is not an issue with the GPO setting, here is what you can do to fix it. Again in the menu option mentioned above (from explorer: Tools – > Folder Options -> Offline files) press CTRL + SHIFT and press the Delete Files button. This will remove all entries for synced folders and all local copies of the files. You can then reboot, and re-sync the folder that you do want in place. Something fairly simple that I figured I would just outline clearly. Hope it helps.
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