MATLAB Warning message

I use Matlab in a networked computer with previous users and when I open Matlab at the startup it gives me a list of warnings regarding the directory access to a previous user account. Here is an example of some of these warnings:

Warning: Directory permission denied: C:\Documents and Settings\John.Smith\My Documents\MATLAB\SOURCE June 2009.

Warning: Directory permission denied: C:\Documents and Settings\John.Smith\My Documents\MATLAB\SOURCE June 2009\Bayes Net Functions.

Warning: Directory permission denied: C:\Documents and Settings\John.Smith\My Documents\MATLAB\SOURCE June 2009\Bayes Networks.

Warning: Directory permission denied: C:\Documents and Settings\John.Smith\My Documents\MATLAB\SOURCE June 2009\Contouring.

Warning: Directory permission denied: C:\Documents and Settings\John.Smith\My Documents\MATLAB\SOURCE June 2009\Data.

I tried to select a directory in the "Start in" field of the "shortcut" tab of the Properties for Matlab shortcut, but it did not help.

Answer 1

[Jason Ross]

I bet there's a pathdef.m hanging around that's being pulled in.

[Doctor61]

I said since I am a beginner in Matlab I don't know how to fix it even knowing the cause being what you suggested. So could you guideme through what I should do to fix it assuming that cause?

[Jason Ross]

Search the computer for files called "pathdef.m". When you find them, open them and see if one contains references to John Smith's directory.

http://www.mathworks.com/help/techdoc/matlab_env/br7ppws-1.html