"You'll need to provide administrator permission to delete this file"

I get this message when I try deleting a file from one of my external backup drives:

"You'll need to provide administrator permission to delete this file"

and when I try to copy a file to the drive I get:

"You'll need to provide administrator permission to copy to this folder"

Copying using fastcopy says "Access is denied."

I'm pretty sure I remember accidentally changing some setting in the drive properties a few years ago but I can't remember what it was now.

Is there a way to correct this without risking any damage or alterations to the files on the drive?

You will need to give Everyone user group full permission to the external drive.

Thanks. Can you explain how to do that?

Can you post screen shot of that file properties window security tab?
Do you see your user in list there does it any have rights? Like allow full control or modify?
If no can you add it?

Please open the Command Prompt by typing cmd.exe into Start Menu, right-click on Cmd.exe, and open it as an administrator.

Execute:

Code:

icacls X: /grant Everyone:F

Replace X: drive letter with external drive letter.

Is your account in administrators group? can you edit that list and add your username with at least allow modify?

FreeBooter said:

Please open the Command Prompt by typing cmd.exe into Start Menu, right-click on Cmd.exe, and open it as an administrator.

Execute:

Code:

icacls X: /grant Everyone:F

Replace X: drive letter with external drive letter.

Okay, so I did this, but I'm confused.

After running for a couple moments, it said "Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files"

I then tried copying a file over to the drive and it copied fine. Then I tried tot delete it and it deleted fine.

But when I click properties and the security tab, it's still the same as what I posted above - full control and modify is checked off under Administrators, but not under Users. And under everyone, nothing is checked off.

So what happened?

I have giving Everyone user group full permission to your external drive this should allow permission problem to be corrected.