Permissions: Cannot delete meaningless folder tree


  1. VLMin
    Posts : 5
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Permissions: Cannot delete meaningless folder tree


    Greetings! Running Win 10.

    I am cleaning up from an old changeover to my present hardware. At the root of a non-system drive, I have a folder called "Program Files". This folder contains one folder called "ModifiableWindowsApps", which in turn contains nothing at all. I have tried changing the owner, permissions, etc. using Properties > Security tab > Advanced but have not succeeded, because permissions are denied.

    How can I change the permissions so that I can delete this little empty folder tree?

    Thank you.
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  3. Try3
    Posts : 16,932
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       New #2

    I have such a folder on a drive that contains my Maps data [so I accept that the system wanted it there].

    What has the drive you mention been used for in the past?

    If you are convinced that it is not required then you could boot from an installation disk so you could use its Command prompt to delete that folder.
    - At the screen with the Install now control, you select Repair your PC instead and then Troubleshoot, Advanced options, Command prompt.

    Denis
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  4. VLMin
    Posts : 5
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Thank you Denis. What a great suggestion. Meanwhile, late last evening, I FINALLY figured out how to change the permissions and was able to delete those folders. Apparently, one must go through the process twice, once to change the owner, then exit completely from the properties and make a second pass to add that user's permissions for that folder and its descendants (if the latter is desired, which is was in this case). The complete set of instructions that got me through this are here: How to take ownership of files and folders on Windows 10 | Windows Central.

    Microsoft certainly doesn't make it straightforward or easy to change permissions. I sometimes wonder whether the people who wrote Windows might be the same people who wrote the tax code.

    A blessed day to all.
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  6. Try3
    Posts : 16,932
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       New #4

    OK. I'm glad it's been sorted out.

    Take Ownership of Files and Folders - TenForumsTutorials
    Change Permissions of File, Folder, … - TenForumsTutorials

    It's really worth making time to browse through the Tutorial index - there's a shortcut to it at the top of every page.
    - At the foot of the Tutorial index is a shortcut to download it as a spreadsheet.
    - I download a new copy each month so I can benefit from Excel's filtering capabilities when I search for topics of interest.
    - Tutorials are also listed by category at Tutorials - there's also a shortcut to that at the top of every page.
    - Both tutorial pages are searchable.
    - You can also search for TenForumsTutorials in many general search engines, such as Google, by adding site:tenforums.com/tutorials after your search term. For example,
    taskbar toolbars site:tenforums.com/tutorials

    - And note that you can also search TenForums threads [rather than just searching tutorials] in many general search engines, such as Google, by adding site:tenforums.com after your search term. For example,
    Search for drivers by HardwareID site:tenforums.com
     [This is what the search box in the top-right corner of TenForums webpages does automatically]

    Oh, and welcome to TenForums.

    All the best,
    Denis
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  7. VLMin
    Posts : 5
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    My goodness, thank you! I was unaware of any of these things, even the site: suffix for searches. What a great place to learn!
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