I place my common files on any location that everyone has access and priviliges to.

The direcotry C:\program files\common files\ is not a good place for that. The common notation may be throwing you off. THis directory is inteded to store files, dll's and such that may be common to different programs. Shared between common programs. Not shared between users.

for instance C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VFP is where the foxporo runtime files are held, and Im sure you dont want users modifying those files.

I would just create a share and map a drive on the clients.

Hope this helps