File owner unknown, cannot delete files


  1. Riley7
    Posts : 37
    Win 10 Pro x64 Version 21H1 Build 19043.1348
       New #1

    File owner unknown, cannot delete files


    I have a folder of pictures I cannot view or delete. The problem is ownership of the pictures is unknown. It seems I can only fix that one file at a time by adding owner then adding myself as a user. There is about 170 pictures, is there an easy to do this?

    Safe mode did not work.
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  3. hsehestedt
    Posts : 4,187
    Windows 11 Pro, 22H2
       New #2

    You should be able to take ownership of all those files in on shot. See this tutorial for details:

    Change Owner of File, Folder, Drive, or Registry Key in Windows 10
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  4. Try3
    Posts : 16,948
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       New #3

    Boot from a Windows 10 installation disk and all ownerships & permissions will be ignored.

    Instead of deleting them, you should be able to copy [not move] them to an external disk and the copies should be viewable / editable / deletable when you reboot into Windows normally afterwards.

    This guide might help you browse around in the installation disk's command prompt.
    Use InstallUSB Notepad as a rudimentary File explorer to backup files [post #33] - TenForums

    Denis
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  6. Riley7
    Posts : 37
    Win 10 Pro x64 Version 21H1 Build 19043.1348
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    So I fixed the owner issue. Still need to add a group or username to each file so I can delete them.

    Thanks

    - - - Updated - - -

    Riley7 said:
    So I fixed the owner issue. Still need to add a group or username to each file so I can delete them.

    Thanks
    I have it fixed now. All I needed to do was inherit permissions after changing owner.

    Big thanks to both of you!
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