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Question

How do I change folder and file Permissions?

I am trying to delete a folder on my computer and am getting a message box saying I need permission to do this.
Why is this, and how do I change it?
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Answer

    Folder and file permissions

 Here are the steps to modify ownership and permissions of folders and files:

  1.       Right-click the file or folder, click Properties, and then click the Security tab.

  2.       Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.

  3.       Click Edit, and then do one of the following:

 ·         To change the owner to a user or group that is not listed, click Other users and groups and, in Enter the object name to select (examples), type the name of the user or group, and then click OK.

  ·         To change the owner to a user or group that is listed, in the Change owner to box, click the new owner.

  4.       If you want to take ownership of the contents of the folder, select the Replace owner on sub containers and objects check box.

  5.       Click OK, and then click Yes when you receive the following message:

          You do not have permission to read the contents of directory folder name. Do you want to replace the directory permissions with permissions granting you Full Control?

          All permissions will be replaced if you click Yes.

Note folder name is the name of the folder that you want to take ownership of.

  6.       Click OK, and then reapply the permissions and security settings that you want for the folder and its contents.

  Additional considerations

   ·         An administrator can take ownership of any file on the computer.

   ·         Assigning ownership of a file or a folder might require you to elevate your permissions using User Access Control.

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John Rubdy

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Answer

Hi,

The below also works on 32 and 64 bit Vista

Download - SAVE - go to where you put it - Right Click on - RUN AS ADMIN

FileAssassin - Free
http://www.malwarebytes.org/fileassassin.php

Force Delete (Cannot Delete) Locked or In Used Files or Folders with FileASSASSIN
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/12/27/force-delete-cannot-delete-locked-or-in-used-files-or-folders-with-fileassassin/

Download - SAVE - go to where you put it - Right Click on - RUN AS ADMIN

And this - MoveOnBoot

MoveOnBoot
http://www.softwarepatch.com/software/moveonboot.html

Hope this helps.

Rob - Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.
    • Child exploitation or abuse
    • Harassment or threats
    • Inappropriate/Adult content
    • Nudity
    • Profanity
    • Software piracy
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    • Virus/Spyware/Malware danger
    • Other Term of Use or Code of Conduct violation

SpiritX MS MVP

Community Moderator
Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

Was this helpful?

26

Votes

Answer

    Folder and file permissions

 Here are the steps to modify ownership and permissions of folders and files:

  1.       Right-click the file or folder, click Properties, and then click the Security tab.

  2.       Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.

  3.       Click Edit, and then do one of the following:

 ·         To change the owner to a user or group that is not listed, click Other users and groups and, in Enter the object name to select (examples), type the name of the user or group, and then click OK.

  ·         To change the owner to a user or group that is listed, in the Change owner to box, click the new owner.

  4.       If you want to take ownership of the contents of the folder, select the Replace owner on sub containers and objects check box.

  5.       Click OK, and then click Yes when you receive the following message:

          You do not have permission to read the contents of directory folder name. Do you want to replace the directory permissions with permissions granting you Full Control?

          All permissions will be replaced if you click Yes.

Note folder name is the name of the folder that you want to take ownership of.

  6.       Click OK, and then reapply the permissions and security settings that you want for the folder and its contents.

  Additional considerations

   ·         An administrator can take ownership of any file on the computer.

   ·         Assigning ownership of a file or a folder might require you to elevate your permissions using User Access Control.

    • Child exploitation or abuse
    • Harassment or threats
    • Inappropriate/Adult content
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John Rubdy

Forum Moderator

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Can you tell me how to do this when there is no Security tab on the properties for a file?  I have an external hard drive and I am having the same problems when I try to rename folders on it.  All of the files on the external drive have only 3 tabs for properties - General, Sharing, and Customize.
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Hi, I am having the same problem, i have read many articles and tried many ways but still I cant move or delete. my folder i have also turn off UAC but still nothing happen. These are articles i have read and tried thier solution but still no ____ happens.

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP (or Vista)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421/en-us

Error Message: "Access Is Denied" When You Try to Open NTFS File System Folders
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q823306#appliesto

Set permissions for folders and files (a XP example but a good guide for Vista)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/security/permissions.mspx#top

This might help if it is a compatibility type problem.

Make older programs run in this version of Windows
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/bf416877-c83f-4476-a3da-8ec98dcf5f101033.mspx

Please advise more solutions.

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thank a ____ alot man...i was dying for this solution...b4 this i had to permit myself to allllll the folders one by one...thanks alot man...btw i voted for ur answer...

chears :D
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Hi,

Here are easy ways to Take Ownership and Grant Full Admin Control

Add "Take Ownership" to Explorer Right-Click Menu in Win 7 or Vista
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/add-take-ownership-to-explorer-right-click-menu-in-vista/

Take and Grant Full Control Permissions and Ownership in Windows 7 or Vista Right Click Menu
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/05/21/take-and-grant-full-control-permissions-and-ownership-in-windows-7-or-vista-right-click-menu/

Hope this helps.

Rob - Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.
    • Child exploitation or abuse
    • Harassment or threats
    • Inappropriate/Adult content
    • Nudity
    • Profanity
    • Software piracy
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SpiritX MS MVP

Community Moderator
Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

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Dear MS,

I am trying to delete a huge (slightly over 1GB) Adobe Acrobat file on a NTFS formated 250GB external hard drive.  I am the administrator and the only user of this computer (need fingerprint swipe to log on), running Vista 64bit Home.  I have gone through the above steps and taken "ownership" of the file and still can't delete it. My "Program File Properties" window has an "allow"  check mark only beside "Special Permissions".  Clicking "Advanced>Permissions" shows that I have full control.  (There are six different permission entries, which surprises me since I'm the only user).  Any advice on how to get control and delete this file?
    • Child exploitation or abuse
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    • Nudity
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    • Software piracy
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    • Other Term of Use or Code of Conduct violation

Was this helpful?

1

Vote

Answer

Hi,

The below also works on 32 and 64 bit Vista

Download - SAVE - go to where you put it - Right Click on - RUN AS ADMIN

FileAssassin - Free
http://www.malwarebytes.org/fileassassin.php

Force Delete (Cannot Delete) Locked or In Used Files or Folders with FileASSASSIN
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/12/27/force-delete-cannot-delete-locked-or-in-used-files-or-folders-with-fileassassin/

Download - SAVE - go to where you put it - Right Click on - RUN AS ADMIN

And this - MoveOnBoot

MoveOnBoot
http://www.softwarepatch.com/software/moveonboot.html

Hope this helps.

Rob - Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.
    • Child exploitation or abuse
    • Harassment or threats
    • Inappropriate/Adult content
    • Nudity
    • Profanity
    • Software piracy
    • SPAM/Advertising
    • Virus/Spyware/Malware danger
    • Other Term of Use or Code of Conduct violation

SpiritX MS MVP

Community Moderator
Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

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If there are Deny permission in Special or Effective Permissions then they take precedence.  Look to see if there's a Deny listed.
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did you ever find the answer to the question about setting folders to not read only when thier is no security tab ?
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Was this helpful?

No, I never did.  I took my OS back to XP and that helped with some of the problems I was having though.
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