How do I change folder and file Permissions?

Anonymous
2009-09-23T15:44:33+00:00

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?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2009-09-23T15:52:40+00:00

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 groupsand, 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 clickYes*.*

Notefolder 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.

Was this answer helpful?

50+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2010-01-10T00:53:31+00:00

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.

Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

45 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
  1. Anonymous
    2013-06-10T19:44:21+00:00

    The "Folder and file permissions" link - which directs to http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/2464a180-e5dc-45d1-a2b8-3c8a2b571e9d1033.mspx - is now broken, in case anybody was checking these posts.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2013-04-01T13:42:15+00:00

        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 clickYes*.*

    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.

    I thought I did what you suggested, but I got bogged down somewhere around "Can't find this object".  I don't even know what that means.  The permissions security tab tells me that three entities have full control:  Systems, Myself-PC, and Myself-PC/Administrator.  Yet "Favorites" just snubs me when I try to add or remove a webpage.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2012-09-15T17:17:51+00:00

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

    I dont understand the 6th step. Reapply permissions and security settings thazt you want  for the folder and its contents. Is this a step from one of the previous steps listed here?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments